If you have owned a cat for even a short amount of time, you have probably witnessed the flop.
Whether it’s flopping down suddenly and abruptly as you walk near them, or in the middle of a play session, you have probably found yourself asking, “Why does my cat suddenly flop on his side in front of me?
Rest assured, flopping is a super common behavior in cats and there are many reasons why cats do this.
Finding the answer to this question can help you understand your feline buddy better, and strengthen your bond. As well, you will be better able to take care of your cat with this new knowledge. So let’s dive in.
Cats can flop down on their sides very suddenly and without warning for many reasons. By far the most common reason is that your cat loves and trusts you and is showing you affection! Other reasons often include: wanting your attention, marking their turf and spreading scent, reacting to catnip, wanting to play, stretching it out, enjoying cool tiles or scratchy carpets, or trying to get a deep clean. Versing yourself in the reasons why cats flop can help you bond with and get to know your cat and be an even better caretaker.
The winner for the list of reasons why cats do this is definitely love and trust.
Exposing your tummy is a sign of vulnerability for a cat because in the wild, exposing your tummy to an enemy could mean disaster.
Not only is the most vulnerable place of the cat’s body exposed, where vital organs are housed, but also it is hard for your cat to attack in defense when rolling on their back!
Therefore, if your cat is willing to roll on their back and expose their tummy to you, they trust you and are affectionate towards you for sure!
What better way is there to grab your attention, than suddenly throwing yourself on the floor? And trust me, your cat knows it.
If you look back on your relationship, it is highly likely that at some point, your cat flopped in front of you, and you reinforced this behavior with positive reinforcement- maybe it was pets, treats, or simply your attention.
Then, your cat picked up on this and did it again and met with positive reinforcement from you again. The behavior then becomes ingrained in your cat as being a good thing for them to try when they want your attention.
You may already know this, but sometimes giving your cat a belly rub is taking your life into your own hands.
Now I know that no two cats are the same, so if your cat lets you rub their belly and there are no problems, that is great.
However, most cats will sometimes scratch you or bite you if you go for their stomach.
My cat does this about 50% of the time. I have learned to be really careful and to watch his body language. If he starts to look like he is filled with tons of energy, about to explode, and in hunt mode (pupils big, stiff movements, etc.) I back off right away or I will most likely get a significant scratch.
Part of the problem is that we associate belly rubs with dogs. Dogs love belly rubs, so if a cat shows you their tummy, they must want one too, right?
Cats are different. They know they are vulnerable when they expose their belly and sometimes that is all they want to do to show you that they trust you.
Moreover, some cats just get way too overly stimulated by tummy rubs.
To be safe, pet the spots you know are safe when your pet flops over, wear gloves and protective clothing and get to know your cat a bit before you dive into the tummy rub.
https://www.meowguide.com/why-do-cats-flop/- what they do in the wild and a sign of trust.
I can’t speak 100% from experience with this, as my cat doesn’t do this. My cat will rub his scent on other things in the house, usually through the sides of his face (his cheeks). That being said, a lot of cats will flop and roll to mark their turf and spread their scent.
It’s a great compliment to you that they love your house enough to mark it as their own.
There are scent glands all over your cat, and these release pheromones. The purpose of this is to mark the territory as theirs. If another cat comes along and smells this, they can leave the scene before there is an aggressive confrontation.
This marks the turf as belonging to that specific cat and ensures that both cats live longer in the wild.
For more on how cats communicate through scent, read Pam Johnson-Bennett, cat behaviorist and author’s, article here.
As you probably are aware, catnip makes cats go crazy! Catnip releases nepetalactone, which makes your cat feel really happy.
As a result, your cat may roll on the ground in happiness, or ask for more catnip!
I have witnessed this in my cat before. Cats definitely go crazy for catnip.
Cats want to play more than most people realize. Sometimes your cat’s way of telling you this is by flopping on their side in front of you. This grabs your attention, and your cat may hope that it also entices you to play.
You can test this out simply by passing a ball or another toy their way. Cats are pretty clear when they don’t want to play, so if that’s the reason, they will simply ignore the toy.
I do this a lot with my cat. Often, he does need to get some energy out by swatting at a few toys. I quickly find this out by passing a ball his way or dangling his stuffed bird by his nose.
For more ideas on how to play with your cat, check out our article on cat toys here.
Not much to say here except that a good stretch sometimes feels just right and your cat knows this, too. Cat’s like a good stretch and a great way to do this is to flop over and roll!
My cat has been known to do this out of happiness. If he has had a good morning breakfast he will sometimes flop over and roll around with joy, stretching out his limbs in the process.
If your cat returns to the same spot on the floor, they may actually like the feeling of the floor on their back. Maybe it’s a carpet that gives them a good scratch on their back, or maybe it’s hotter than usual and the floor is made of cool tiles that bring their body temperature down.
I have noted this behavior on hotter days with my cat. Although my place is cool, sometimes it is still a little hot for him, and he will flop down and roll around in the cooler rooms on the hardwood floors.
This is a new one for me and I haven’t witnessed this yet in my cat.
If your cat is rolling in the dirt, they may be doing this to give themselves an intense clean. Rolling in a dusty patch can loosen dirt and other materials deep in their fur that your cat is having a hard time getting at. After this, the dust they have rolled in comes off really easily in comparison to those deeper, harder-to-clean chunks.
If your cat is rolling a lot in the dirt, they may have parasites. Cats roll in the dirt because they can crush the fleas, ticks, and parasites this way.
If you suspect that your cat might have parasites or other critters living in their fur, this can easily be fixed by a trip to the vet. It is important to get this looked after for your cat. These things are very uncomfortable for your cat.
So why all the fuss about the question, “Why does my cat suddenly flop on his side in front of me?”
It is definitely surprising to see your cat, without warning, hit the ground and flop on their side. And, this is a super common behavior yet not much talked about in our culture. So naturally, many cat owners search for the answer to this.
As usual, no two cats are the same, and there are many reasons for the flop. The reason that wins first place and outshines the others is definitely that your cat is expressing trust, affection, and love towards you!
Getting to know the other reasons outlined in this article will help you to spot other cool reasons your cat does this when they do, and strengthen your relationship with your furry friend as a result.
Why does your cat throw themselves down and flop? Let us know below!
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