Even though cats have been living with humans for thousands of years, there are still many things they do that puzzle or confuse us. One such behavior that can surprise or shock new cat owners is when a cat shows its butt when it starts to feel comfortable around them.
While this behavior might seem strange to us, it's quite normal for cats. We can only speculate about why they do this based on what we already know about feline behavior. Here are six possible reasons your cat may show you its butt.
The 6 Reasons Why Cats Show You Their Butt
1. Greeting
Similar to dogs, cats can show each other their butts when greeting. They have glands near their butt that carry scent information. Cats also tend to have their tails pointing straight up to indicate they're friendly. A relaxed and loose body with attentive ears is the body language of a cat giving a greeting.
2. Affection
Although it may not be the most appealing action, cats can show their butt as a sign of affection. Cats often show affection to each other by rubbing their bodies together. They start from the head and end with the tail. Your cat will also rub against you if it likes you. Since they move from head to tail, you'll usually end up with their butt facing you.
3. Nonthreatening Behavior
Another reason cats show their butts is to communicate that they're not a threat. They're letting you know they mean no harm and have no intention of attacking you.
In contrast, agitated or aggressive cats won't turn their backs towards you. They'll have a stiff posture, and their hair will be raised to make themselves look bigger. Some cats may crouch and flatten their ears. Cats can also vocalize their agitation by growling or yowling.
4. Trust
Cats are observant and watchful. They won't turn their backs on people they're wary of or don't trust. So, if your cat has its butt facing you while lounging or sleeping, it's a sign that it really trusts you.
Cats often show other signs of trust, but you won't notice them unless you understand cat behavior. Some other strange but normal ways cats show trust are if they start following you around everywhere, expose their bellies, or headbutt you.
5. Wanting Attention
Cats are good at knowing how to get our attention. Most cats like a good scratch above the tail, so this could be what your cat is after when it shows its butt. Also, if you give a particularly strong response whenever your cat shows you its butt, it'll learn that it's an effective way to get your attention. Laughing, showing surprise, or even showing disgust are all ways you might be reinforcing 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 with a scratch.
6. Females in Heat
Female cats in heat may raise their butts to attract a mate. They can also flick their tails to signal to male cats that they're ready to mate. Other signs that a female cat is in heat are increased loud vocalizations, rolling around on the floor, and showing increased affection.
Cats ready to mate are more likely to roam. So, it's important to keep a close eye on them and make sure all doors and windows are securely shut to prevent them from leaving their home.
Is It Okay if My Cat Shows Her Butt?
In most cases, if your cat shows you its butt, it's engaging in normal behavior. Exposing their rear end isn't really a sign or symptom of a medical problem. However, if you're worried, the best thing to do is discuss the behavior with a vet.
Since showing their butt is often a sign of affection and trust, you don't really need to be concerned. However, if it becomes excessive, you can do some things to train your cat to do this behavior less often. For example, it's important to minimize your reaction so that your cat starts to learn that this behavior doesn't get your attention. You can also redirect them to do something else whenever they start to expose their rear end or sit on you. Some ways to redirect them are to walk away or distract them with a toy.
Conclusion
When a cat shows you its butt, it's usually letting you know that it likes and trusts you. They may also do this when they want attention. In most cases, cats won't show their butt so often that it becomes bothersome, and it's something cat owners get used to eventually. However, if it does become too disruptive, you can work on retraining and redirecting your cat to do something else to reduce the frequency of this behavior.
Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock
