Does you cat lay on its back all the time?
By Breelyn
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
United States
August 11, 2011 5:26pm CST
My youngest cat Belle lays on her back all the time. Its not just when she is sleeping, she will just lay on her back fully awake and look around, and she does it several times every single day. I have 3 other cats besides her, and sometimes they sleep on their back, but never awake. Belle was a feral kitten when we brought her in, so that might account for why she is different.... but just wondering, do any other mylotters have cats that lay on their backs all the time?
5 people like this
9 responses
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
11 Aug 11
laying on her back is a sign of trust, so that she was feral shouldn't have anything to do with it, except to prove that she trusts you and isn't feral any more...
I have a few that lay on their backs, but generally only when they are sleeping...
2 people like this
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
11 Aug 11
Thank you for your response and I think you are right about the sign of trust. I just thought about the feral thing because we didn't let her around our other cats for a few weeks because she was sick and tiny, she was only like 6 weeks when we found her, so maybe she just didn't learn "normal" cat behavior :p She is definitely not feral anymore at all, she bats at hands and feet all the time but never puts out her claws
3 people like this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
12 Aug 11
Taj was found on my front yard at 4 weeks old, and he lays on his back a lot. Oliver was rescued at a week and we didn't keep him apart from the other cats, in fact, he's the kitten in my avatar and the cat with him started raising him at 4 weeks old. Oliver lays on his back a lot too. The Doctor, who was the biggest 8 week old kitten I had ever seen did a lot of back laying too...
My mother had a cat she got from my brother who brought her back from college, who did a WHOLE lotta back laying...
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
12 Aug 11
Hello spicy. I love cats. 
They are so interesting to watch. We have one that looks like she is coping a baby when she sleeps. She crosses one paw over the other when sleeping on her side. We also have a black Persian male. He well lay on his back in the hallway very often. It is a good time to give him a brushing because he seems to invite it then and doesn't fight it. He also likes to groom the dogs.
They are so interesting to watch. We have one that looks like she is coping a baby when she sleeps. She crosses one paw over the other when sleeping on her side. We also have a black Persian male. He well lay on his back in the hallway very often. It is a good time to give him a brushing because he seems to invite it then and doesn't fight it. He also likes to groom the dogs.2 people like this
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
12 Aug 11
Thats so sweet that he likes to groom the dogs, my cats will sometimes groom each other and I just always go "awww" whenever they do because I think its so affectionate and I am glad that they all love each other
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
12 Aug 11
Our cat does not lay on his back, unless we put him that way, in which case he wants a belly rub. LOL
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
11 Aug 11
My cats do this often too. What is really funny is that one of ours will lay on her back and then prop her feet up on a stump in the yard. It is really neat to see her do that! I think at times they really look at us and wonder why we do the things we do as well.
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
12 Aug 11
Aww that is really cute that your cat does that :) I agree with you too about the way they look at us, there have been so many times that my cats have stopped and just stared at me when I do things like dance around, or just make a funny noise, like they are thinking "what the heck are you doing?" 
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
17 Aug 11
Well cats could be just like humans too, isn't not? I know some folks who would lay on their back very often even if they are not sleeping. It could be either they wanna relax, or they feel bad, or maybe just because they are feeling lazy. I believe any one of those reasons could be applicable to your cat.
Well I don't have a cat but my neighbors cat is not lazy, it is always alert when my door is open it surely would sneak inside my home to steal some food around.
Well I don't have a cat but my neighbors cat is not lazy, it is always alert when my door is open it surely would sneak inside my home to steal some food around.
@insperwriter (41)
• United States
12 Aug 11
Well, of course I am a cat lover and I do have 3 fat cats! lol Yes, I do find them sleeping on their backs But, I have heard that they do not like it when you hold them-stomach up- They say it makes them angry and uncomfortable. I can see why that is considering they aren't sleeping at that moment, having to worry whether or not we are going to drop them! LOL! welll great post thanks a bunch!!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Aug 11
My cats don't do it all day long, but Tiger and Oreo do sometimes do it when they are not sleeping. I think it means that they are feeling secure and comfortable...
@kaylachan (71793)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Aug 11
My cats love to lie on their backs. Well my male cats do. My female cat I don't see do it that often. Out of the three, Precious, the oldest does it most of the time. Sometimes he'll let me pet his tummy and he'll generally get on his back when he's sound asleep. However, I can lie him on his back in my arms while he's wide awake. I can't do that with the other two.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
12 Aug 11
HI Spicy! Yes I have 2 cats one is completely different personality than the other.
One is very independent and while she knows this is her home she allows us to live with her. She lays on her back quite a bit. In fact you can go into the cat discussions and I have started and you will get to see her in her glory belly side up!
Tink on the other hand, would rather be suctioned to me. He has had my undivided attention since he was 5 weeks old. He was very sick and had to stay at the Vets for almost 3 months after being found with his mother and 4 other siblings.
Each cat I believe has their own personality, while my black and white one MawMaw is not mine, I have had her since birth and my son picked her out. I tell him if he ever moves out he has to take HIS cat with him LOL
Tink will always be with me. He will not allow new people that come over to visit to pet him. I am his momma he is a suck up kitty LOL
