Jaguar’s ‘Cat-Like Reflexes’ Are Tested by a Cute Pool Floatie

The summertime is hot. Everyone is officially starting to flock to whatever bodies of water they possibly can, and that includes tons of animals. Everyone is looking for a way to beat the heat!

On Sunday, June 30th, one sweet jaguar was enjoying her swim when she decided to try and spice things up. She wanted to get on her favorite pool floatie, but unfortunately for this cat... the floatie had other plans:

I've only been to the Akron Zoo once, but when I went, I distinctly remember there being a tiger in a pool, too. Akron Zoo's big cats love water!

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Milan is one of Akron Zoo's jaguars, and she's somewhat of a star. Every time they've posted her before, everyone is in love: she's always jumping around or doing something crazy. Jaguars are generally like that; they enjoy having fun! If there's one big cat that I think would let me pet it, Milan is pretty high up there.

Even though not all of them love it, big cats usually always have a pool of water in their habitats. It's how they would be in the wild, and it gives everyone the opportunity to drink and bathe as they see fit. Even if they're not going to, it's always nice to have the option!

Jaguars Love Playing in Water

Along with their general love for being silly, jaguars love the water. They're native to Central and South America, where water is often abundant, so they've learned to love it. Jaguars can often be found bathing on hot days, splashing around, and even fishing!

Water provides a sensory experience that jaguars don't get all the time, which makes it refreshing and enriching all at once. Pools can also be used to help them keep their instincts sharp; toys like the pool floatie in this video can be tossed in for playtime. As a special treat, fish or meat could even be tossed into the pool for a hunting exercise! While captive jaguars couldn't survive in the wild because of their inability to hunt, it doesn't mean they don't want to try. It's fun!

In the wild, jaguars may climb on things in the water like rocks or fallen trees, and they can usually do it with more grace than Milan. However, she's at a disadvantage - when are you going to find a completely smooth, unsecured floatie in the wild? This was not the kind of thing she was built for!