Cat-nology

Surface tension is the phenomenon due to which water and other fluids try to occupy the least possible surface area.

At liquid-air interfaces, surface tension results from the greater attraction of liquid molecules to each other (due to cohesion) than to the molecules in the air (due to adhesion). The net effect is an inward force at its surface that causes the liquid to behave as if its surface were covered with a stretched elastic membrane. Thus, the surface becomes under tension from the imbalanced forces. (Wikipedia) .

Thus, the Surface tension creates a layer of water to stay intact over the cat.

i clicked surface tension because it sounded the most sciency

Surface tension: the tension of the surface film of a liquid caused by the attraction of the particles in the surface layer by the bulk of the liquid, which tends to minimize surface area

Considering this property, the water particles will be attracted to each other, forming a film-like, unseparated surface that covers the cat.

This phenomenon is similar to how water appears to 'stick' when placed on objects such as a coin.