Perhaps it was America who had a lot to learn, then. But Nepeta would paw and hiss at him later when she wasn't struggling to stay afloat.

She had never been taught by her lusus how to swim because there was never any need to. Even if the pond wasn't all that deep, it was still kind of scary and her cat instincts were kicking in. "America! Gah--!" Nepeta flailed in the water, trying to grab onto where she though America might be.