Why do house cats hate contact with water?

It all depends on the cats forehand experience!There are a few more explanations to the the cats reaction with water. It has a great deal with the cat's environment. A cat who lives in a desert will probably jump into the local pool. A cat living near a Glacier will probably prefer not to. It also varies from species. Lets say a tiger , you can surly see him swim in the zoo and a snow leopard will probably not. It is explained that water damages the ability of the fur to insulate the animal against cold. In conclusion not all cats hate water-some of them are good swimmers like the

I presume that you mean house cats, and not big cats like lions, tigers etc.

Cats don't really have a problem with water, it depends on the circumstances. If they feel they have control of the situation they will not mind getting a bit wet. But if you splash water on them or try force them to have a bath they will resist because it is forced on them.

Cat's skin and fur is a good protection from cold, but not from water. When a cut get wet, if it's cold outside, he's very likely to catch a cold, and since cats have really sensetive lungs, it can lead to them being very sick very fast.

With that being said, if a cat's in a warm surrounding , they can actually enjoy water, I had a cut who would walk on the ledge of the bath tum every time I took a bath and play with the water with her paws, it was slippery and every now and then she would slide into the water, she didn't love it but it didn't keep her from playing in the water next chance she had.

If your cat like playing with water it's important to dry them well after they are done, especially in winter.  

house cats hate contact with water because cat can not swim. i think that because cats cant swim they avoid water as much as possible.

cats do know how to swim =/

well la de da