# why do cats do this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356 "2003-06-25T20:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![i\_love\_cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7ab992/32.png) [@i\_love\_cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_love_cats)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/1 "2003-06-25T20:25:07Z")
when i approch a cat it rolls on it’s back does this mean it’s friendly or does it’s back itch? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Trafalgar\_Laura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trafalgar_laura/32/2907_2.png) [@Trafalgar\_Laura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trafalgar_Laura)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/2 "2003-06-25T20:32:23Z")
It does that because you are BIG and it is LITTLE and it is showing submission. Also, it trusts you not to tear out its entrails and have them for lunch. BTW, rolling over on its back is not necessarily an invitation to scratch its tummy. Do so at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/3 "2003-06-25T20:32:39Z")
It probably means that it wants you to rub its belly. It’s a submission thing. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/4 "2003-06-25T21:10:00Z")
My cat says that action means “I trust you”. (okay then, I read it in a book) ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/5 "2003-06-25T21:25:40Z")
Some cats lure you in with their tummy exposed then they bite you because they want to play. ---
**Author:** ![mrsface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mrsface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsface)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/6 "2003-06-25T22:43:57Z")
I don’t want to worry you, but if the cat is female, she is flirting with you ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/7 "2003-06-25T23:26:58Z")
I don’t think it’s a submission thing. That’s a canine trait. My cats have never shown signs of submission. I agree with **sturmhauke** in that it’s a playful pose as in welcome to my parlor…you put your hand in and it gets engulfed buy 20 claws and a mouthful of teeth. But the “attack” is never serious. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/8 "2003-06-25T23:43:16Z")
No, rolling on the back is **not** a submissive pose in feline body language. Cats roll on their back for two reasons: to play, or to disembowel something. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/9 "2003-06-26T00:06:47Z")
Cats? Submissive? I don’t think so. The closest they come is to stretch out on their belly and allow you to pet them. Rolling over on the back is, as **DoctorJ** say’s, for play or defense. And the line between the two can be pretty thin. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/10 "2003-06-26T00:32:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > **…you put your hand in and it gets engulfed buy 20 claws and a mouthful of teeth.** Usually only 18. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/11 "2003-06-26T01:44:50Z")
It may not be the rule for cats, but I definitely had a male who submitted to me in just this way, by rolling over on his back in front of me, frequently. He was not trying to play-he didn’t like to play at all. He was the most insecure animal I’ve ever know though, that may have had something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/12 "2003-06-27T00:54:40Z")
I have two cats and the male will usually lie in the middle of the hall on his back waiting for me to stop and rub his belly. His sister will usually stop a few feet off to the side and roll onto her back to remind me that there are two bellies that can be rubbed around here. It may be a variable personality trait, but with my cats they definately want rubs and are not doing it for submission or to get a playtime started. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/13 "2003-06-27T01:09:47Z")
Some cats will do it to indicate that they want their tummy rubbed. Some cats do it playfully, but will flay the skin off your arm if you actually touch their tummy. Either way, it’s usually a friendly gesture on their part, even when not an invitation to pet them. Cats acting submissive will usually crouch down low (or run away), not roll over. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/14 "2003-06-27T03:02:38Z")
Don’t the dew claws make it 20? I guess they don’t hold your hand in, but i’ve gotten a nasty cut with my cats dewclaws before… ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/15 "2003-06-27T03:28:16Z")
In a real cat fight, the winner is on the bottom where he can use his strong back legs to kick out the belly of his rival, so you will see them rolling over and over to get in the dominant position. Otherwise it’s just because that’s what they feel like doing. Or it’s hot. mrsface, AFAIK, a “flirting” cat shows her wish for companionship in quite another way that makes it very obvious exactly what she wants and where. Female cats only “flirt” during oestrus, and they are not ladies about it. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/16 "2003-06-27T03:28:58Z")
Cats usually have four toes on each paw plus a dewclaw on each of the front feet, but cats with more than the normal amount of toes (polydactyls) aren’t incredibly rare. Cats instinctively roll on their backs to fight/play, and some learn that they get belly rubs when they do this. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cats-do-this/184356/17 "2003-06-27T10:09:52Z")
The easiest way to answer “Why do cats do this?” is always “Because they’re mad”, regardless of what “this” is. I find it simplifies my interaction with them. 😉 [sub]Of course, the same answer applies to the question “Why do _people_ do this?”[/sub]