Tom Alexander
Any cat parent will recognize this –
It’s impossible to ignore your furry friend when she walks up to you and suddenly lies down in front of you.
You just have to cuddle them, right? So, why exactly do cats do this?
So to understand this mysterious behavior, one thing to keep in mind is that cats communicate in different and diverse ways…
Cats flop in front of you because, most often, this is their way of showing trust and appreciation towards you and show that they are craving your attention at the same time. However, not all cats are the same, and many nuances are often only understood between the cat and its owner.
Let’s explore the reasons for this endearing behavior…
Your cat is showing how much it trusts you
As stated, the most common reason for cats to flop on their sides close to you is to show trust. They will only do this if they’re completely comfortable with your presence.
You see, cats are small and quite delicate. Although they are renowned hunters, they are also prey for larger animals. By laying down with their bellies exposed, they are consciously making themselves vulnerable.
Showing belly is a sign of submission for cats. A cat’s belly contains its most vital organs, and it’s essential to protect these at all costs. A cat showing its belly says, “I trust you”, like nothing else.
You might also mistake this behavior as a request for belly rubs. Yes, sometimes they do, but sometimes they don’t. Their bellies are very sensitive, and your kitty might prefer you pet them somewhere else, like on their head, their neck, or cheeks.
This unwanted belly rub could be the reason why your cat sometimes grabs your hand and scratch or bite it when you’re trying to pet them on the belly after seemingly “inviting” you to do so at first.
The point is, Some cats enjoy belly rubs; others hate them.
So please, remember that cats aren’t like dogs, and just because they expose their belly doesn’t mean they want you to touch them there. When a cat flops down in front of you, it might be just greeting you and telling you how much they trust you.
Your cat feels neglected (by you)
Another reason why your cat lies down in front of you is that they’re after your attention! This is especially true if you’ve been busy or out of the house for a while.
Although cats seem like very independent creatures, cats are actually very affectionate, and they love getting your attention now and then.
So, if they feel they’re being neglected, they’ll come up with ways to get some of your attention for themselves.
One of their sure-fire way to get noticed is lying down in front of your feet or on your desk while you’re trying to get some work done.
Often they’ll –again– expose their bellies to show you how cute they are and invite you to notice and spend time with them.
She may be in heat
If you have a female cat that is unspayed, falling down in front of you could be a sign that she’s in heat. It is part of common feline mating behavior.
Cats in heat will often flop over and expose themselves. However, most of the time, it’s evident that this is why it comes paired with oud vocalizations.
That’s right, cats in heat will roll on their side and meow and cry very loud in a low voice.
They will also be more affectionate than usual, rubbing their face all over the place to spread their scent and lifting their butt to announce that they’re in heat.
If this is your female cat, it’s probably best to get your cat spayed. Due to cat overpopulation in many areas, responsible cat owners would get their pets neutered or spayed.
Your cat feels threatened
Although a cat roll is mostly a sign of affection, sometimes, it can also be a sign of defense.
If you see your feline buddy exhibit this behavior in the presence of other animals, especially in their own home or territory, they feel threatened by something and have the urge to defend themselves.
In those cases, cats lie down in front of you or another animal, with their paws up as if ready to fight. It will be accompanied by other tell-tale signs of defense like flat ears, an aggressive look in their eyes, and a whipping tail.
Your cat could be marking its territory
Cats have different ways of communicating that we might not understand. And one of their preferred methods is using scent for communication with other cats.
A cat’s sense of smell is much stronger than that of a human, sometimes even rival dogs. One of the reasons that nature blessed them with this gift is to recognize other cats’ territory.
Related: Wondering why cats need to have a great sense of smell? We explain this here.
Cats naturally produce pheromones from scent glands on their face and paws. These pheromones are unique to every cat and carry their individual scent signature. When you see your cat rolling and lying in front of you, it might be spreading its scent to mark territory.
Cats are very territorial animals, so if something is theirs (including you), they’ll want other cats to know and stay away from it.
This is also why cats rub themselves against your legs; they’re spreading their scent all over you as a way to tell other animals, “this is mine.”
Your cat just wants to play
Cats and (especially) kittens often just want to play! Your cat might flop over in front of you because it wants to let you know it’s time to play.
If you’ve ever seen kittens play around, you’ll notice how they sometimes lie down in front of each other in a playful manner to express that they’re in the mood to play and joke around.
Your cat could also learn to recognize its toys and lie down in front of you when you grab one of their toys. It’s their way of saying “yes! let’s play and have some fun together!”
So, next time that your cat lies down on the floor unexpectedly, you can try to wiggle a toy at it and see how it responds. If you get a positive response, then get up and play!
Your cat is high on catnip
We all know that catnip has a profound effect on cats, essentially getting them “high” and act all weird.
It’s very common for cats under the influence of catnip to become more friendly, loving, and playful than usual. This happens because catnip releases a natural chemical called nepetalactone, which stimulates their brain’s ‘happy areas’.
Many cat toys contain catnip, so if your cat comes into contact with those, it might start rolling around.
Even a whiff of catnip could induce this behavior. Many cat toys contain catnip so, if your cat has been playing with some of these toys, it’s a very happy kitty, and that could explain their feline flops.
She just enjoys the feeling
Another reason why cats lie down in front of you is that cats can love the feeling of dropping their back on the floor.
Cats often roll on the floor to stretch their legs or make themselves comfortable. Another reason could be to scratch their itchy back. It depends on where they decide to flop down. If it’s near the couch or their bed, they’re getting ready for a nap. If it’s’ on your doormat, they need a back scratch.
Sometimes, on hot days, cats roll on the floor because they need to cool down. This will especially be enjoyable for them if your home happens to have tiles or other floorings that are cool to the touch.
When they do this outside, they give themselves a ‘dirt bath’, which also helps to cool them down in summer due to the layer of dirt in their fur.
So maybe your kitty just wants to roll on the cold floor and enjoy the feeling.
In case you see your cat enjoying the floor without really noticing you, they may just be doing that to feel good.
Your cat might be sick
Another reason why cats lay on their sides is that they’re feeling sick. You should pay attention if your cat lies down looking a little dizzy or confused when it falls to the ground, especially if it’s an old cat.
Some medical reasons that affect their motor skills are:
- Ataxia: This is a dysfunction of the sensory system. It can affect her perception of balance. When this is disturbed, cats can fall over without their control or exhibit poor and drunk-like movement. This can happen as a result of cancer, an ear infection, or a serious neurological issue.
- Cerebellar hypoplasia affects a cat’s cerebellum, which is the part of their brain that allows them to control body movement and sense of balance.
If you feel that your cat might be having problems with balance, it’s best to consult a veterinarian to get your friend checked out.
