Kitty exposing tummy

[tuxluvr]

Are there any cat experts who can tell me if it means anything when a cat lies on its back? I've heard it is indicative of their trust, as they don't often expose their "soft underbelly" - my kitty loves to have her tummy rubbed and also lies on her back regularly to play with her milk rings. At any rate, it is endearing, and amusing....just curious if it bespeaks anything else?

[margaret]

I was wondering what that behavior really means, too, tuxluvr. What's funny in my case is that my first kitty, Saima, will roll over to have her tummy rubbed--but only for a few rubs! It seems like she gets too nervous after a couple of seconds and then she flips back over. I pat her tummy as gently as possible, but she still gets a bit freaked out. I know some cats will let you rub their tummies for as long as you're willin' (like dogs do!).

[catwoman]

Oh yes, this is a huge sign of trust from your kitty. And Margaret, don't be insulted that your kitty flips over after just a few rubs. My cats have learned that I can't resist an exposed belly, so they do it to "lure" me over ... then flip over for some neck rubs and butt "scritchens," (their favorites.)

Catwoman

[ July 27, 2001: Message edited by: catwoman ]

[cr7clark]

My Bo loves to have her tummy rubbed she rolls over on her back every chance she gets and especially likes to be massaged. She is the first cat we've had that ever liked to have it's belly rubbed. I think it's a sign of supreme trust, because it took her a while to do this.

[thelmalu99]

My Charlie (now @ Rainbow Bridge) used to come to the door when I came home from work and immediately plop himself down and roll over for some belly rubs.

[wolflady]

My Marius is a belly rub fanatic, but Scooter on the other hand is more reserved. It definitely is a sign of complete trust from a cat, so I always feel honoured when Marius rolls over on his back for some belly rubbins....plus it's so darn cute!!!

[Logan]

No tummy rubs in this house! Do you think they don't trust me? Or that maybe their tummies didn't get rubbed enough early in life? Mimi and Butter love to be petted, brushed, etc. But you had better stay away from the belly, or you get attacked!!

[Karen]

I think that it varies from cat to cat - and indeed from animal to animal! I know one rabbit, for instance, who loves to have his tummy rubbed, but ours - well, she has no tummy - if you tried to tip her over to find a tummy, all you'd get were feet!

[catwoman]

Logan, I think you're right ... starting young probably helps. Thelma starting exposing her belly early on (I think to air out her spaying incision as it healed.) Once Weezie noticed all the attention Thelma got, she joined in.

Do Butter and Mimi ever lie on their backs at all? This does seem to be an invitation-only thing. If T&W are lying on their sides (not backs) and I try to sneak a belly rub ... I get smacked! The best time to try is when you come across a cat lying on their back in a sunbeam, all sleepy. Go down VERY slowly so as not to alarm them ... then try more of a tickle or rub than a pat. Be brief the first few times you attempt ... don't press your luck. Good luck!

[4 feline house]

Thelma, two of mine do the same thing, but especially Big. We call it "going belly up" and everyday when I come in from work, there's Big in front of the door, already "belly up". Cookie does it to, but she doesn't greet me with her belly as often as Big. Pepper will only go belly up once I have already started lovin on her. Peaches tolerates it but doesn't ask for it. I think the kids love it so much becuase from the day they were born we began picking them up and rubbing their fat little kitten bellies, so they now see it as the ultimate form of lovins. Peaches, being a former stray, probably never experienced the pleasure until she moved in with us, and even then what with her pregnancy, nursing, and spaying it was several months before we could even rub her belly!

I've heard the squinting of the eyes (lovey eyes as we call it) is also a sign of complete trust, because a cat who does not feel completely free of danger will always have its eyes wide open unless sleeping.

[catwoman]

Thelma,

Just saw your post. I had a cat, Sidney, who would greet me at the door "belly up" too. Sometimes he would block the door and I would have to scoot him along the carpet to get inside. LOL!

[tuxluvr]

Hey, thanks for the comments! Now that I think about it, she didn't like the tummy rub until after the spay surgery. She was so ouchy that lying on her side and back seemed to be the only comfortable position...that is when I started the comfort tummy rubs---ever since she's been hooked! And so have I

[Rottieluver45]

our Cat Pumpkin,Always does that!! and She looks so cute!!!

[AvaJoy]

My senior cat Lily will roll over on her side and coyly tilt her head back and forth. This is her signal for me to give her a brushing. She will play-bite or snip at me if I try to rub her tummy, but I tell her I'm going to count all her "belly buttons" (meaning her belly spots ~ she is a gray tabby) and then I kiss each one. She doesn't mind that at all!

My young boy Meeshe loves to be massaged; the firmer your touch the better. I put my knees together and lay him on his back like a baby; he goes limp and will stretch his head back so it is hanging over my knees just so I can scratch his neck better ~ very trusting. He enjoys playing on his back, too; lazily swatting at dangling toys. I should put him in a crib with a mobile overhead!

[shais_mom]

Kylie does this too, when I come home from work, she runs ahead of me and throw herself down and flips over on her back. When I try to have her sit on my lap to rub her belly which her 1st mommy did and she loved, she only lets me do it for like 5 sec!! But when she sits on my stomach, I rub her behind her ears she like goes into a hypnosis trance.
I do love her soft little paws,(declawed) when she puts them on my face or arm. She sometimes lets me rub them, but not very often!!!