{"id":2191436,"date":"2026-06-09T06:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T05:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2191436"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:33:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:33:18","slug":"it-has-webbed-feet-a-powerful-rudder-like-tail-and-a-water-resistant-coat-7-wild-cats-that-are-incredible-swimmers-with-1-underwater-specialist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/it-has-webbed-feet-a-powerful-rudder-like-tail-and-a-water-resistant-coat-7-wild-cats-that-are-incredible-swimmers-with-1-underwater-specialist\/","title":{"rendered":"“It has webbed feet, a powerful rudder-like tail and a water-resistant coat.” 7 wild cats that are incredible swimmers, with 1 underwater specialist"},"content":{"rendered":"
We think cats hate swimming \u2013 and while many do \u2013 you might be surprised to hear that many\u00a0wild cats\u00a0swim regularly, and (whisper it) they don\u2019t actually hate it.<\/p>\n
From jungle rivers to\u00a0African\u00a0wetlands, several wild cat species are not only capable swimmers, they actually\u00a0enjoy<\/em>\u00a0it. Whether it\u2019s hunting, cooling off or just exploring their\u00a0habitat, these felines prove that swimming comes naturally. Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n
Can all cats swim?<\/h2>\n
Generally speaking, yes. Instinct will kick in if they need to swim, and they\u2019ll do it. But most\u00a0domestic cats\u00a0dislike getting wet and won\u2019t swim unless they have to. This is most likely due to the fact that they are thought to have descended from\u00a0desert-dwelling wild cats, which didn\u2019t encounter many bodies of water.<\/p>\n
Do wild cats like swimming?<\/h2>\n
While domestic cats often dislike water, this isn\u2019t so much the case with wild cats, many of whom enjoy swimming.\u00a0Big cats\u00a0such as\u00a0tigers,\u00a0jaguars\u00a0and\u00a0leopards\u00a0are good swimmers, and often swim to cool off or even travel distances. They will often live in habitats near\u00a0rivers\u00a0and\u00a0lakes, so will be used to wading through water to regulate their body temperature.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, cats often catch prey near water sources, so sometimes they are required to swim or wade through water to feed.<\/p>\n
Which cats are the best swimmers?<\/h2>\n
Fishing cat<\/h3>\n\n
Fishing cat in the water catching fish (credit: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
Fishing cats\u00a0are famed for their remarkable ability to hunt in water. Their webbed feet and powerful tail (used as a rudder for swimming) and water-resistant coat enable them to move about freely in the water. Their diet mostly consists of fish, so they can get most of the food they need from bodies of water.<\/p>\n
Ocelots are extremely proficient animals when it comes to climbing, leaping and swimming \u2013 they\u2019re the ultimate multi-sport athletes. As a result, these nocturnal feline hunters can track down prey in a number of environments, eating fish, insects, small\u00a0mammals, birds and\u00a0reptiles.<\/p>\n
Jaguarundis are sometimes known as \u201cotter cats\u201d because of their otter-like appearance and innate swimming ability. They can swim across medium-sized rivers, but are also efficient climbers.<\/p>\n
Serval<\/h3>\n\n
Serval jumping across a river (credit: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
The graceful\u00a0serval cat\u00a0isn\u2019t just one of the\u00a0world\u2019s fastest cats\u00a0\u2013 it often wades into water to hunt\u00a0flamingos and fish. In its native Africa, it inhabits grasslands and wetlands, catching prey in and around water.<\/p>\n
We named the serval as one of the\u00a0weirdest wild cats.<\/p>\n
Tiger<\/h3>\n\n
Bengal tigers having a swim (credit: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
Unlike many other cat species,\u00a0tigers\u00a0are drawn to water and have physical adaptations like muscular bodies and partially webbed paws that make them efficient swimmers. As they live in some of the world\u2019s hottest climates, they often head to water to regulate their body temperature and also swim for pleasure.<\/p>\n
Jaguar<\/h3>\n\n
Wild jaguar walking through the water in Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil (credit: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
Jaguars\u00a0are strongly associated with water and are particularly fond of swimming. They have been spotted diving into water to catch food, as they often live near water in swamps, wetlands and tropical rainforests. Their jaws are so strong they can even bite through a\u00a0crocodile\u00a0skull or\u00a0turtle\u00a0shell.<\/p>\n
Leopard<\/h3>\n\n
A leopard walking through the water of the Savuti marsh, Chobe National Park, Botswana (credit: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
Leopards\u00a0are very comfortable in the water, eating fish and\u00a0crabs\u00a0\u2013\u00a0but they\u2019re not found near bodies of water as often as jaguars, as they tend to live in savannas, deserts and mountains.<\/p>\n
![\"FISHING](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" "\\"\\"")