Teaching a Scottish Fold to Tolerate Water

I'll be honest: I never planned to teach a cat to swim. Kiwi is a four-year-old Scottish Fold with round ears and a very round opinion about water. When we moved into our Silom condo, the building pool was the only green space nearby, and I thought he might enjoy a paddle on warm evenings. He did not.

The first attempt lasted about four seconds. He climbed my shoulder like a ladder and dug in his claws until I yelped. So I changed the plan. Instead of the big pool, I started with a shallow basin in the bathroom, warm water only up to his ankles, and a towel waiting nearby. Treats helped, and so did keeping sessions to two minutes.

After about three weeks he would stand in the water and paddle a few strokes before stepping out, looking offended. Not every cat takes to it, and that is the most important tip I have. Never leave a cat alone near water, keep sessions short, and stop if he seems stressed. Dry him well afterward, because a wet cat in an air-conditioned room gets chilly fast.

We still haven't been back to the condo pool. Kiwi has made it clear he prefers the sofa and his tuna. I respect that.