Research overview: water pools and swimming opportunities as enrichment for tigers

Unlike most cats, tigers readily enter water and swim, and providing pools is considered an important welfare and enrichment feature for the species. This overview surveys evidence and practice around aquatic enrichment for tigers and other water-tolerant cats: how access to bathing and swimming influences activity, thermoregulation in hot climates, play and stereotypy, and the design of pools with appropriate depth, access and water quality. It examines studies suggesting water features increase naturalistic behaviour and may reduce pacing, the role of water in heat management, and considerations for fishing cats and jaguars that also use water. It discusses maintenance and safety. The synthesis frames water provision as a species-appropriate enrichment that supports both behavioural expression and thermal comfort in captive tigers.