Although cats have lived with humans for millennia, they still do many things that leave us bewildered or confused. One behavior that may shock or surprise new cat owners is a cat’s tendency to show their bottom when they start to feel comfortable in their surroundings.
While this behavior may seem strange to us, it is quite normal in cats. We can only guess why they do this based on what we already know about cat behavior. Here are six possible reasons why your cat might be showing you his butt.
The 6 Reasons Why Cats Show You Their Butts
1. Greeting
Just like dogs, cats can show each other their bottoms when they greet each other. They have glands near their buttocks that contain scent information. Cats also tend to have their tails pointed straight up to show that they are friendly. A relaxed relaxed body with attentive ears is the body language of a cat that conveys greetings.
2. Affection
Although it may not be the most desirable action, cats can show their bottoms as a sign of affection. Cats often show affection to each other by rubbing their bodies against each other. They start with their head and end with their tail. Your cat will also rub against you if they like you. Since they start from head to tail, you’ll usually end up with their bottom facing you.
3. Non-Threatening Behavior
Another reason cats show their butts is to communicate that they are not a threat. They let you know that they mean no harm and have no intention of attacking you.
Conversely, agitated or aggressive cats will not turn away from you. Their posture will be stiff, and their hair will be raised to make them look bigger. Some cats may curl up and flatten their ears. Cats can also express their anxiety by purring or growling.
4. Trust
Cats are observant and watchful. They won’t abandon people they care about or don’t trust. Therefore, if your cat’s bottom is facing you while lying down or sleeping, this is a sign that they really trust you.
Cats often show other signs that they trust you, but you won’t really catch them unless you understand cat behavior. Some other weird but normal ways cats show trust is if they start following you around, expose their bellies, or headbutt you.
5. Wants Attention
Cats are experts at knowing how to get our attention. Most cats like a good scratch on the top of the tail so this may be what your cat is after when they show their butt. Also, if you give a particularly strong response every time your cat shows you his butt, they will learn that this is an effective way to get your attention. Laughing, showing surprise, or even showing disgust are all ways you can reinforce this behavior. Therefore, if you want to see a decrease in this behavior, it’s best not to make a big deal out of it or reward it with a scratch.
6. Women in Heat
Female cats in heat may raise their buttocks to attract a mate. They may also flick their tails to indicate to male cats that they are ready to mate. Other signs that a female cat is in heat include increased loud vocalizations, rolling around on the floor, and showing increased affection.
Cats that are ready to mate are more prone to roaming. Therefore, it is important to keep a close eye on them and make sure all doors and windows are closed securely to prevent them from leaving their home.
Is It Okay If My Cat Shows Her Butt?
For the most part, your cat is engaging in normal behavior if they show you their butt. Exposing their behind is not really a sign or symptom of a medical issue. However, if you are concerned the best course of action is to discuss the behavior with a veterinarian.
Since showing their butt is often a sign of love and trust, you really don’t need to worry. However, if this is becoming too much, you can do a few things to train your cat to do this behavior less often. For example, it is important to minimize your reaction so that your cat learns that this behavior does not get your attention. You can also redirect them to do something else whenever they start to expose their rear or sit on you. Some ways you can redirect them is to walk away or distract them with a toy.
Conclusion
When a cat shows you its bottom, it’s usually letting you know that it likes and trusts you. They can also do this when they want to receive attention. In most cases, cats don’t show their bottoms so often that it becomes bothersome, and it’s something that cat owners eventually get used to. However, if it becomes too disruptive, you can retrain and redirect your cat to do something else to reduce the frequency of this behavior.
Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock
