Why do cats love bathrooms?

There are several theories for this, some of which may be true for your own cat.

Bathroom doors are usually kept shut.

Cats are curious beings and cannot stand closed doors that keep them from knowing what is on the other side. Once a door has been shut your cat’s curiosity will be peaked and they will try to gain entry by force or whining at the door until they are let in. As they pick-up on your habit to close the door behind you, they might pre-empt this and try to dart in before you have chance to close the door. Of course, if you shut them in, they will probably be just as eager to escape; cats are as fickle as they are curious!

Cats are naturally drawn to the sound of running water because this is how they would find drinking water in the wild.

Cats are fascinated by the sight and sound of water, and most prefer to drink running water, for example from a dripping tap in your bathroom, which is also why providing a water fountain for your cat, rather than a bowl of water, is preferable. They will be very cautious around bodies of water (e.g. A filled bathtub) and there is nothing they would hate more to be fully submerged, but they may be curious enough to bat the water with their paw.

In warmer months cats are drawn to the bathroom because there are lots of cool surfaces and tiles to lie on. When it’s cooler they might go into the bathroom to warm up after someone has had a hot shower.

Cats love to be the centre of your attention (when it suits them!)

They quickly learn that ambushing you in the bathroom is the best place to get your undivided attention. They soon understand your habits and will notice that you give more attention to the TV than to them, when you are sat on the sofa in the evenings, and they get shooed away when you are at the dinner table. They find it much easier to distract you when you’re in the bathroom.

Some cats are attracted to the smell of bathroom cleaning products especially those containing chlorine compounds.

This is because they experience a hormone-based reaction to the smell of chlorine because it is very similar to the smell of mating pheromones to cats. This can have a catnip type effect on your cat. Keep these chemicals away from your cat, although your cat may seem interested, they are harmful to their health.

The bathroom sink offers a perfect napping spot for a cat.

Whilst this might look like an uncomfortable choice to us humans, cats love to be up high, and the curved shape of a sink compliments the shape of a cat’s body perfectly. They also will appreciate the peace and quiet by napping in a room that is not in constant use, knowing they are unlikely to be frequently disturbed.

Toilet rolls lend themselves particularly well to being played with.

When attached to the wall they are ideal scratching posts. If loose, your cat may love to pounce and destroy them. As natural predators, cats find it hard to resist the fluttering end of a toilet roll. Additionally, they might find it fun to play with hanging towels and shower curtains.

As long as there is nothing in your bathroom that may harm your cat, there is no reason why you should not let them come and go as they please, to allow them time to play, sleep, seek attention or satisfy their predatory instincts and curiosity!