Why Cats Flop When They See You

cat rolling on ground
By /

From meowing to cat tail language, cats are curious creatures that we struggle to understand. One thing cats do that always puts a smile on my face is flopping over when you come home or when they see you after an extended period. But why do cats flop when they see you?

For background, cat flopping is when a cat, from a standing or sitting position, flops over onto its side, then begins to roll around and show its belly. Some cats, including mine, stretch as long as they can while flopping on the ground.

Well, it turns out that cat flopping isn’t as simple as a dog rolling over to show submission. We’ll go over some of the reasons your cat flops and what they might be saying.

What a Flopping Cat is Saying

If your cat flops for you when you see them, here are some potential reasons why.

Your cat is happy to see you

If you’ve been out of the house for a while and just got home, your cat is probably really excited to see you! This can elicit a huge flop and stretch, followed by some meows and leg rubs. Most cat flopping instances are probably the result of your cat being happy. 

Your cat wants attention

Have you ever been sitting on the couch when your cat walks up and flops on the ground? This is a pretty clear sign that they want attention from you. You’ve probably experienced this, and when you stand to see your cat, they run off toward whatever it is they want, whether that be a brush, going outside, or a toy. 

Your cat is having fun

Sometimes, cats flop over because they’re having fun! A flopping cat that is seemingly minding its own business could just be in a good mood and is goofing around.

Your cat is itchy

Depending on where your cat flops and rolls around, flopping could be a sign that your cat is itchy. Cats flopping on surfaces like a scratch pad or textured rug might be trying to scratch an itch in a place they can’t reach. It could be time to brush them!

If unspayed, your cat could be in heat

If your cat:

  • Is flopping over suddenly out of nowhere,
  • Is howling while they flop,
  • Is a female and unspayed cat,

There’s a pretty good chance that your cat is in heat. Your cat is flopping over because it’s looking for a partner — or several partners — and is showing that it’s fertile.

Thomas Short
Latest posts by Thomas Short (see all)
Scroll to Top