Cats are not always afraid of water. If they're just going to drink, they won't be afraid of water. They are afraid of this precisely because they can get wet. There are several reasons for fear of water:
Discomfort and hypothermia. Cats have a thick undercoat. It absorbs moisture and makes the pets uncomfortable. Such an undercoat dries out for a long time, which causes hypothermia in cats. And from this, the immunity of cats decreases, which contributes to the appearance of infections and serious diseases. In cats, the ratio of the ears to their head is large. And the larger the auricles, the higher the risk of water getting inside the ear. Deep ear canals are very slowly getting rid of moisture, which can cause inflammation - otitis media.
These are just a few facts known to me. Perhaps there are other reasons for this. Maybe you know why this is happening? I'd love to hear from you.
Take care of your pets!