2023-04-03
Our feline friends are famous for their quirky personalities but one of the common behaviors they share is raising their butts when you scratch them. Why is that? If you want to have a better understanding of why your cat raises its butt when you scratch it please keep reading below.
According to scientists, the most likely reason your cat raises its butt when you scratch the base of its tail is that it enjoys it. Some cats are very people-oriented and they often lean into physical contact with their owners and other pets in the household if they are feeling particularly social. Raising the butt can help bring the nerves closer to the surface, making them easier to trigger. Cats also tend to stand still when they are receiving scratches to their behind, so you don’t need to chase after them.
However, it is worth noting that some cats prefer to keep their private space free and may only occasionally approve butt scratches. Please, respect the personal space of your cat, and don’t be pushy. A stressed cat is not good for your furniture and flora at home not to mention some cats may even use their claws and fangs to defend themselves if they perceive your affectionate petting and hugs as hostile attacks.
Cats may feel pleasure when being butt-scratched due to the presence of nerve endings at the base of their tails. A cat’s behind is one of the primary erogenous zones for felines. Therefore, you can conclude that their hind end is very sensitive. If your cat is female and not spayed, raising her butt up (when scratched or not) may be an indicator that she’s going into heat.
According to veterinarians, female domestic cats will start to go into their estrus cycle or heat cycle when they reach six months of age. Certain environmental factors like temperature and access to male partners can cause their heat cycle to speed up or slow down. Geographic location also plays a role in a feline’s heat cycle. For instance, in the Northern Hemisphere, the mating season for cats starts in March and ends in September. In the Southern Hemisphere, the mating season for cats starts in September and ends in March.
Kittens help their mothers groom them by raising their butts into the air. It is presumed that this type of behavior is used by adult cats too. If you have a cat you might have seen it approach you when you come home from work, touch you with its body, and raise its butt. This is a common greeting among cats and it is a behavior that cats often use to ask for attention and playtime.
The act of scratching is also said to help cats relieve stress, soothe them and lead to an increased release of endorphins. These chemicals are produced by the pituitary gland, they block the perception of pain and reduce depression and anxiety. The endorphins promote increased feelings of happiness and they are usually released through exercise, sex, and eating. Endorphins are released in the brain when the cat is receiving affection as well.
Cats, just like dogs rely on their sense of smell to communicate with each other and other species. A cat greeting usually starts with a sniff at the mouth and neck. Greeting cats will then move through the length of their bodies and end up at the hind side for one last sniff. The “sniff at the back” is usually allowed when a cat passes the first greeting – the sniff at the head. Cats use their body smell similarly to humans showing their ID cards. You may have seen friendly cats on the street, or when you are visiting a friend’s house raise their butts as a greeting. It is worth noting that cats have special scent glands on their butt and when they use their rear to touch you they are putting their smell on you. This is thought to be a way of marking you as family. This might be a cat’s way of making sure other animals know who you belong to.
If your cat is requesting butt scratches frequently and seems to drag its body over other surfaces often that may give away a skin problem. If your cat lacks appetite, its coat seems different and it requests frequent scratches please do a full physical checkup with a veterinarian. Bacteria, fleas, and some materials may cause skin irritation and allergies.
Cats who experience a lot of stress and anxiety may shed more of their coat than normal, require frequent scratching, and hide from you. If you have recently experienced major life changes your cat might feel insecure and be under a lot of stress. Try to show your love to your cat more often by playing, hugging, and petting. Perhaps a few new toys will improve the mood of your feline companion.
