# Are dog and cat farts invariably silent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795 "2007-12-31T14:07:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/1 "2007-12-31T14:07:36Z")
I’ve never actually heard my dog or cat fart. Whenever they do it’s the silent but deadly variety. Do these animals ever sound off when they fart? (And if not, why not?) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/2 "2007-12-31T14:10:03Z")
Yes, though perhaps usually when they’re ill or in gastric distress. My cat is my cite. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/3 "2007-12-31T14:13:14Z")
My dog occasionally lets go with an audible fart. The funniest part is it scares him. He will be sitting around minding his own business when it happens he will look startled turn around and look behind him then come over to me acting all nervous. He does not do this with the silent variety just the ones that make noise. Funniest damn thing I ever saw. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/4 "2007-12-31T14:17:40Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] My dog occasionally lets go with an audible fart. The funniest part is it scares him. He will be sitting around minding his own business when it happens he will look startled turn around and look behind him then come over to me acting all nervous. He does not do this with the silent variety just the ones that make noise. Funniest damn thing I ever saw. [/QUOTE] Yep, occasionally Bessie the Labrador will produce something audible and turn around to see what that end of her is up to. And in other news, guinea pigs will sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/5 "2007-12-31T14:23:18Z")
My dog (RIP) used to do the same as **askeptic’s** , or worse, would hear it, turn around in shock, and then run out of the room in fear. My cats occasionally do this also and they are also scared enough to run away from their own butts. I wish I could catch it on video sometimes but the winds are not blowing in my favor. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/6 "2007-12-31T14:56:03Z")
Well, I was going to cite our own cat, but he came over to me while I was reading this thread and made a few choice comments. Hmmm. Oh. Van says “Hi”. P.S. I notice this thread has spawned a GoogleAd for “Fart Videos”. Our society is sick! Sick, I tell you! ---
**Author:** ![JustThinkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@JustThinkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustThinkin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/7 "2007-12-31T16:47:14Z")
Yup – our dog let’s out audible farts on occasion, but the SBD type are more common. I’ve never heard one of my cats fart. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/8 "2007-12-31T16:50:33Z")
Our cats audibly fart all the time. At least, that’s what my wife says is happening over on her side of the bed. ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/9 "2007-12-31T17:12:53Z")
[QUOTE=BJMoose] Well, I was going to cite our own cat, but he came over to me while I was reading this thread and made a few choice comments. Hmmm. Oh. Van says “Hi”. P.S. I notice this thread has spawned a GoogleAd for “Fart Videos”. Our society is sick! Sick, I tell you! [/QUOTE] Look at the ad I got! Cluster Bomb Petition Israel cluster bombs in Lebanon. Children are victims! [action.atfl.org](http://action.atfl.org) ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/10 "2007-12-31T17:18:02Z")
You ain’t lived until you’ve experienced a horse fart. Especially if riding in a carriage or sled behind. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/11 "2007-12-31T17:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=KlondikeGeoff] You ain’t lived until you’ve experienced a horse fart. Especially if riding in a carriage or sled behind. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > At Heathrow Airport in England, a 300-foot red carpet was stretched out to Air Force One and President Bush strode to a warm but dignified handshake from Queen Elizabeth II. They rode in a silver 1934 Bentley to the edge of central London where they boarded an open 17th century coach hitched to six magnificent white horses. As they rode toward Buckingham Palace, each looking to their side and waving to the thousands of cheering Britons lining the streets, all was going well. This was indeed a glorious display of pageantry and dignity. Suddenly the scene was shattered when the right rear horse let rip the most horrendous, earth-shattering, eye-smarting blast of flatulence, and the coach immediately filled with noxious fumes. > > Uncomfortable, but maintaining control, the two dignitaries did their best to ignore the whole incident, but then the Queen decided that was a ridiculous manner with which to handle a most embarrassing situation. She turned to Mr. Bush and explained, “Mr. President, please accept my regrets. I’m sure you understand that there are some things even a Queen cannot control.” > > George W., ever he Texas gentleman, replied, “Your Majesty, please don’t give the matter another thought. You know, if you hadn’t said something I would have assumed it was one of the horses.” [http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl\_gw\_queen.htm](http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_gw_queen.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/12 "2007-12-31T17:55:19Z")
My current kitty, Quinne, had loud, frequent, and noxious bouts of flatulence for a couple of months after I took her in from the streets. It was rather disconcerting because my previous kitty, Molly, in 24 years had neither audible nor smellable gas. I had no idea that cats could have gas. Quinne’s nether regions have become silent, but alas, are still noxious on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/13 "2007-12-31T18:52:03Z")
What a wonderful tale, **Contrapuntal**! _Si non e vero, e ben trovato_, if it ain’t true (which of course it isn’t) it durn well should be! (And if the Italian phrase doesn’t quite mean that, then it should). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PuddingCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@PuddingCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuddingCat)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/14 "2007-12-31T19:11:34Z")
I was taught at school that an audible flatus was caused by moisture around the anal sphincter causing a ripple, like when you make a buzzing noise with your lips. Given that a cat anus is generally exposed to the air, I’d assume it didn’t get much moisture build-up and therefore would normally be silent. tim ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dog-and-cat-farts-invariably-silent/431795/15 "2007-12-31T19:14:21Z")
[QUOTE=trmatthe] I was taught at school that an audible flatus was caused by moisture around the anal sphincter causing a ripple, like when you make a buzzing noise with your lips. Given that a cat anus is generally exposed to the air, I’d assume it didn’t get much moisture build-up and therefore would normally be silent. tim [/QUOTE] What school did you go to??? 🙂