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Cats are known for being neat little creatures. They painstakingly groom their fur and give themselves tongue baths every day. Indoor and outdoor cats take delight in utilising their litter boxes. Given their commendable commitment to excellent cleanliness, you might expect your feline buddy to avoid dirt at all costs. However, you may look out the window one day and be astonished to discover your cat roll in the dirt, appearing as happy as a pig.
Cats enjoy teasing us almost as much as they do grooming themselves, don’t they? The question was rhetorical. This one is not: “Why do cats roll in dirt?” Your cat may be taking a dust bath for a variety of reasons, from “just for fun” to an attempt to improve digestive health (really). Here is the nasty truth about why your cat rolled in dirt.
Why do cats roll in the dirt?
This question does not have a single, universally applicable answer. Cats may roll in dirt for a variety of reasons. When determining why your cat took a dust bath, consider his or her health, hygiene habits, general behaviour, and any recent environmental circumstances that may have come into play.
Your cat is territorial.
Cats are recognised for their territorial behaviour, in addition to their attention to sanitation. Cats have smell glands on their paws, faces, and tails. They emit pheromones into a region, such as the dirt. This hormone release informs other animals that the space belongs to the cat. In other words, predators and other felines should back off.
This feature is not a cat’s method of being cruel or selfish. Instead, a feline’s territorial disposition serves a defensive purpose, especially if they live outside full-time or part-time.
Itchy
If your cat gets an itch that it cannot scratch, it may roll about. If dirt is present, so be it. extreme times require extreme methods. Fleas and mites can cause irritation in cats, so examine their fur.
Cooling off.
Sunbathing can be a cat’s favourite pastime; but, all that “splashing” in sun puddles can make a cat feel quite overheated, especially if you live in a warmer location or are having a heat wave. Dust bathing can help a cat cool down by reducing its body temperature because the top layer of dirt is usually cooler than the rest of the ground.
Digestive health concerns
Dust bathing may help cats digest their food more efficiently. Stick with us. Cats employ microbes to digest food (similar to probiotics). When a cat rolls in the dirt, it picks up bacteria. Then they clean themselves, consuming the bacteria-laden soil in the process. The bacteria contributes to a feline’s digestive flora, keeping your cat regular and healthy.
Hormones
Females in heat may roll around in the soil to find a mate. While a dirty kitty may not appeal to you, dust baths appear to be part of the feline seduction ritual. Remember that cats will only go into heat if they are not spayed.
Playtime
Some cats like rolling in the dirt just as much as active kids do. Kitties are well-known for their cleanliness, but cats are not the same. Some cats enjoy digging and rolling in the mud, especially when they encounter interesting natural toys such as sticks and leaves.
They feel safe.
Many cats are afraid to roll in the ground because it exposes their bellies. If a cat is comfortable enough to take a dust bath and twist into belly-up positions, it may feel protected. Consider this a compliment.
They went catnip crazy!
Rolling about is a frequent reaction after taking a lot of catnip. Your cat may have gotten into your stockpile. Catnip can also be cultivated, so your cat may have chewed on the neighbor’s (or your own). After taking catnip, cats may roll in the ground for approximately 10 minutes before staring into space.
Attention-seeking behaviours
Your kitty may be rolling in the dirt to get your attention. While cats have an unjust reputation for being aloof, many of them welcome some human attention and interaction. A dust bath is a wonderful method to make you do a double take.
Covering their fragrance.
Your cat may be trying to hide. A cat may roll in the mud to get a different scent and defend itself from prospective attackers. Alternatively, they may be attempting to eliminate an unpleasant fragrance from their fur.
How to stop your cat from rolling in the dirt.
You understand why your cat is rolling in the dirt, but you may still want to stop it. How? Again, the remedy depends on the reason, but some typical strategies to get your cat to stop using dust baths are:
- Spaying female cats
- Bringing your cat to the veterinarian to check for underlying illnesses or fleas.
- Limiting bathing to once per month or every other month to allow germs to remain on the hairs
- Bringing your cat indoors full-time
- Laying off the catnip
- Give your cat toys and attention.
Final thoughts.
Cats are often quite clean, so you may be startled to find your pet rolling in the dirt. There are numerous reasons why a cat might exhibit this behaviour. Cats do this for various reasons, including feeling protected and playful. Other times, a dust bath may indicate that you should reduce the number of times you bathe your cat each month. Speaking with your pet’s veterinarian can help you rule out any underlying issues. The veterinarian can also provide you suggestions on how to keep your cat from rolling in the dirt.
