Cory Williams, age 10 of Santa Rosa) Calif., for his question:

CAN CATS SWIM?

Cats have definite likes and dislikes. They insist on enjoying all the pleasant comforts of life and tend to protest when things do not suit them. Most members of the cat family prefer to keep their furry coats dry and they detest the rain. They make a big fuss when even a paddy paw happens to get wet.

Most members of the cat family do not choose to swim, mainly because they hate to get wet. However, if they happen to fall in, they can swim quite well  making sure to take the very shortest route to dry land. This goes for most cats  but not for the handsome spotted ocelot of South America. This bold little hunter likes to fish for food in his favorite stream.    He seems to enjoy the water and goes swimming almost every day.