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An elderly Hispanic woman in a floral apron sponges a silver car while a fluffy orange cat rises up to swat at hose water. 30 / 33

Everyone Says Cats Hate Water. Nobody Told Mango.

AI imageorange catcar washgrandparents

Car wash day in the driveway has turned into water play day. Abuela Carmen leans over the hood of her old silver sedan in a gray tee and floral apron, glasses on, scrubbing with a sudsy blue sponge and smiling down at the commotion at her feet. Mango has risen up on his hind legs, front paws reaching out to swat at the arc of water spraying from the garden hose, his long orange fur damp at the edges and his eyes wide with delight. A blue bucket of soapy water, scattered gloves, a coiled hose, and a cluttered garage fill the busy scene.

While most cats avoid getting wet, some genuinely love playing with running water, swatting at faucets, dipping paws in bowls, or chasing hose spray. It's usually harmless fun, but car-washing time needs a little caution. Car soaps, waxes, degreasers, and especially antifreeze or other fluids that may drip from a car can be harmful if a cat licks them off their fur or paws. Keep buckets and cleaning products out of reach, rinse any splashed fur with plain water, and dry your cat afterward. Water-loving cats can also enjoy a shallow dish of fresh water to paw at indoors.

Mango clearly thinks the hose is the best toy ever invented, and Carmen's smile suggests she agrees. The car might not get perfectly clean today, but the laughter is guaranteed, and that's worth more than a shiny hood.

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