A cat’s behavior has always been a puzzle to cat owners for many years. Why do they do this? Why do they do that? And everything in between. But nothing, probably, is more baffling than when they start to drop to the ground and roll on dirt in front of you. You know, just stop, drop, and roll? And especially after a serious grooming session! But why do cats roll in the dirt? What is it about rolling on dirt or sand that makes these felines tick? Is it because they’re marking their scent by rolling around? Could there be a hard-to-reach itch? Is it something serious that we need a vet to take a look at it? Well, it might just be all of it or just some of it, and we’re here to give you the lowdown about it.
Why do cats roll on their back?
When a cat feels secure about his environment, a cat will most likely expose his belly – the most vulnerable spot of the feline. It can also be because he’s asking for attention and wants to be played with and this can be directed towards you, the owner, or to other animals nearby. This shows that she’s currently calm and is ready for some playtime. Another instance they might happen is when the feline pet wants to greet you after coming home.
This act can also mean they have an itch to scratch or they might be in need of a good stretch, outside the usual stretch that they do. This means that they might just want to be left alone and touching them would be a big ‘No’ for them so you might want to check your cat’s temperament, though somehow unpredictable, before picking them up or touching them.
Cat Dust Bath
Essentially, a cat dust bath, or a dust bath in general, is what avians and mammals use for a wide array of reasons. You may witness bison and elephants doing this in the wild, like the way they cover themselves in dry sand or dirt. You also see birds submerged themselves in the dust under the shade of a tree.
What’s happening is that these animals are using the sand and dirt to create a layer that keeps away parasites and keeps themselves cool on a hot summer’s day.
Reasons Why Cats Roll in Dirt or Sands
Similar to avians and other mammals, dust bathing comes naturally to them. Here’ the 3 reasons why:
1. To Cool Down
When it gets hot, and we mean hot, you may ask, “Why do cats roll in sand?” Because of the thick fur coating some cats have, like a Persian, the heat does not dissipate as quickly as thin furred ones, making it hard to cool down. One way to solve this is rolling around dirt or sand. The inner layer of the dirt provides a moist, cool, and soft way for them to receive a cooling time. For owners who somehow do not want dirt around the house, the best way to combat this is to provide plenty of access to cool water as well as keep the internal temperature of the house to a good cool one. This way, it’s a win-win for both the owner and the cat.
2. Territorial Feline
Cats can become territorial, as much as other animals can be. So when you see them rolling on the floor or the ground or anywhere for that matter for no reason at all, they might be spreading their scents and marking their territory. Marking their territory deters or sends a warning message to other cats or potential enemies to not enter it or face their feline wrath. This also applies to human beings who are not part of the household. So if you’re a newcomer or just visiting, and there happens to be a cat around, be cautious about stepping into their territory.
3. Cats are in heat when they roll in dirt
If the above 2 have been rolled out and you’re still asking, why do cats roll in dirt, this might be the case for you. After mating, or even when they’re still in the heat of the moment, cats tend to roll on the ground until the feelings subside. This is happening because, instinctively, they’re trying to spread their pheromones and have other cats catch a whiff of it. These pheromones are signals that transmit a specific type of odor, signaling that they are ready to mate. They might also roll around after mating as a response to ovulation as well as their hormones going berserk on them. And since they’re not known as monogamous animals, they can also do this to remove the scent of one male feline before moving on to another mating partner.
Conclusion
A dust bath is such a creative and cool way, well, to cool down. It’s also a good way for your cat to naturally remove some pesky bugs without using chemicals. It’s nature’s way of providing much-needed help to these animals way back before they even got domesticated and you shouldn’t find it confusing or disturbing at all. But if you somehow don’t like having first spread all around the house, then you should be ready to provide some other alternatives for them to cool off like good access to water or keep your household on a good cool temperature. You might also want to watch out for your cat’s mating seasons as they can be already in heat when they start spreading their pheromones around the area.
As much of a mystery as a cat’s behavior is, there’s always some sort of science behind it, even if it’s why do cats roll in dirt. All you need to do is to keep calm and do little research and read here and there and you should be good to go.
