Depending on how and when a cat is first "introduced" to water will affect their attitude toward the wet stuff for the rest of their lives. A bath during kittenhood may give him the right idea, or the wrong one. The sound of running water can bring a cat running. Watching the toilet flush can be great fun to your little one. A slow drip from the bathroom sink might keep them transfixed for a long time, not to mention entertaining to a casual observer (or someone trying to brush their teeth....).
But too much of a good thing is not always good. Its a very rare cat that will take a bathtub (or a pool for that matter) full of water happily. Not that a respectable cat needs a bath. There is one breed whose main claim to fame is that they have a particular affinity for water, even for taking a dip occasionally. My own cat Van seems to have a rather unrelenting drive to get fairly wet, but he hasn't gotten to the point that he'll get all the way into a tub of water. It is for those reasons, in addition to his markings, that we believe that he is part Turkish Van.
Water can be used to deter cats, as many cat owners know. Using a squirt gun or squirt bottle can be an effective method of discipline. The highly concentrated stream is an unpleasant sensation of liquid. On the other hand, cool, gentle streams are attractive. Van has gotten to the point where soaking him with the squirt gun isn't a harsh punishment at all. Sometimes he'll just swagger away, not even shaking it off. Belle, on the other hand, will run for her life if she even hears the water in the squirt bottle.
There are devices on the market which run on a little pump, sending water gently splashing into a bowl. The sound is enticing, especially for cats who do not like to drink from their own food dishes. Whatever your cat's attitude is towards water, don't fall for the fictional "fear of water" idea. You may be missing out on some amusing antics at the sink.
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