What's going on when a cat raises its butt?

A cat raising its butt is a normal conditioned reflex. If the cat has not been spayed or neutered, it may also be in heat, which is a way for a female cat to signal a male cat for mating. Secondly, if the cat is being petted, raising its butt may mean it feels comfortable. Additionally, cats will also raise their butts when they are marking their territory or greeting each other. As long as the cat has no other abnormal behaviors, owners don't need to worry too much.

Conditioned Reflex

When a kitten is young, it cannot control its bowel movements and needs its mother to lick it to stimulate elimination. So when the owner touches the cat's back near the tail base, the cat will reflexively raise its butt.

Heat

If a cat has not been spayed or neutered and suddenly starts raising its butt frequently, it might be in heat. If a cat is in heat, it will usually show other signs such as frequent rubbing against people, decreased appetite, and frequent meowing. Owners can help the cat pass through the heat period by arranging a mate. If there is no need for breeding, the cat can be neutered during the non-estrus period at a pet hospital.

Feeling Comfortable

Cats have two Baihui points, one on their head and one on their waist near the tail. If the cat is massaged at this position, it will raise its butt when it feels comfortable. This also indicates that the cat trusts its owner enough to expose its butt without any precautions.

Marking Territory

Cats have a strong sense of territory and will leave their scent in their territory. Since the scent of the butt is relatively strong, when another animal approaches, the cat will raise its butt to declare ownership, letting other animals know this is its territory.

Greeting

According to cat behavior researcher Mikel Delgado, the main way cats communicate with each other is through smell. Mutual butt-licking is a way for cats to greet and confirm each other's identities. So when two familiar cats meet, they will raise their butts to let the other cat smell it, which can promote friendship among cats.