Why does my cat flop in front of me? Expert explains what the adorable moment means

The cat lovers among us know that our feline friends are simply adorable, but they can also be very unpredictable at times.

When they do that adorable ‘flop’ in front of you, lying on their backs and revealing their tummies to you, it can be tempting to give them a belly rub – but its a 50/50 chance whether they’ll welcome the pats or ended up clawing your arm.

It turns out the move isn’t always an invite for a belly rub, but one cat expert reveals there’s normally an adorable reason for it.

Watch the video above.

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UK-based clinical cat behaviourist Amanda Campion explained the reason for the behaviour in a recent clip of her @kittysittycatbehaviour TikTok account.

”A cat flopping on its side is an invitation to interact, and offer trust but it doesn’t always mean touch the belly,” she explained.

Rather the move is a way for the cat to show they trust you and feel comfortable around you.

It also shows that the cat is “willing to show vulnerability,” Campion says. 

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Sometimes it can mean that they’re in a playful mood, which could result in a playful swipe.

As for whether your cat actually wants a pet, you can get a bit more of an understanding my reading their body language. 

“If they seem relaxed then their body will be very soft but if they feel tense, then their body will be much tighter,” she says.

If your cat flops in front of you but appears tense, they likely don’t want attention and a belly rub could result in some unwelcome claws.

”If their tail flicks or their ears flatten, they definitely don’t want any attention and they don’t want that belly rubbed,” Campion stresses.

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Campion adds that it is important to “always respects their body cues” which will “help build your relationship with your cat”.

When it comes to cats, who can be very independent, Campion stresses that “less is very often more”.

“Let cats come to you.” 

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Campion added that she knows its common for cats to “bait you” with a belly flop before the claws come out.

But she also acknowledges that sometimes cats lap up the belly rubs – its all about reading their natural cues.

Many cat owners in Campion’s comment section could relate to the experience she was explaining.

“My cat does this but when I walk over to her to give her pets, she jumps up and runs away and finds another spot to skip over and purr, it’s so confusing,” one wrote.

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“Mine loves to do this,” another commented. “But will go on to [his] back and stretch out while wiggling around and love to have his tummy rubbed when he does this. Not sure what it means but its adorable.”

Campion replied in the comments sharing that it means the cat is “just relaxing on his back and enjoying the rubs”.

So, if you’re cat is notorious for baiting you with that adorable flop before jumping in to that playful (but sometimes painful) attack try to tune into their body language once more.

And just remember that whether they welcome the belly rubs or not, that adorable belly-baring ‘flop’ is a sign that your cat trusts you and feels safe in your presence.

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