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An elderly man in a cardigan scrubs a silver car with a sponge as a Siamese cat rears up to bat at a spray of hose water. 37 / 38

Everyone Says Siamese Cats Hate Water. Clarence's Car Wash Proved Otherwise.

AI imagesiamese catcar washdriveway

Soapy water streams down the side of the old silver sedan as Clarence scrubs the fender with a bright yellow sponge, his olive cardigan sleeves pushed up and a mischievous grin on his face. A blue bucket full of suds sits on the driveway, and a green garden hose snakes across the concrete, spraying a fan of glittering water. That spray is exactly what has Sapphire's attention. She has reared up on her hind legs, front paws raised high, batting at the droplets with complete determination, her blue eyes wide and ears pricked. It is a surprising sight, and Clarence is clearly enjoying every second.

Not every cat avoids water. Some, including certain individual Siamese, are fascinated by moving water like dripping faucets, fountains, and sprays, and will happily paw at it. That curiosity can be fun to watch, but car washing brings a few extra concerns. Car shampoos, waxes, and cleaning products can be harmful if a cat licks them off her fur or paws, and soapy puddles are tempting to taste. Antifreeze, which may be found around cars and driveways, is extremely dangerous to pets, so clean up any drips promptly. Keep the cat supervised and on a harness or in a secure area away from the street.

Clarence's car will shine soon enough, and Sapphire will probably come away with damp paws and a very satisfied look. A quick towel-off and a sunny window spot will finish off her afternoon perfectly.

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