Cats are full of eccentric behaviors . Theyhate getting wet . Their glossa sometimesget stuckmidway out of their mouth , known as a “ blep . ” And they ’re really happyhanging out in bodegas .

Some of these traits can be explicate while others are more cryptical . vitrine in item : when they gravel their rear end in your face for no ostensible reasonableness .

Are cats doing this just to humiliate their piteous primary care provider ? What would possess a cat to greet a mortal with its buttocks ? Why subject the person who gives you food and shelter to such degradation ?

Cats are such charming creatures.

To find out , Inversespoke with Mikel Delgado , an animal behaviourist and certified cat behavior consultant . allot to Delgado , cats do n’t of necessity comprehend their rectal flaunting as anything aggressive or domineering . In fact , it might be a cat ’s way of saying hello .

“ For African tea , it ’s normal for them to sniff each other ’s butts as a way to say hello or confirm another Caterpillar ’s identity , ” Delgado said . “ It ’s hard for us to concern to , but for them , look is much more important to cat and how they recognize each other than visual modality is . So qat may be ‘ inviting ’ us to check them out , or just giving us a friendly hello . ”

For a cat , presenting or visit a butt is a kind of fingermark scan . It ’s a biological measure of security .

Other experts fit with this assessment , explainingthat cats use their rearward end to express friendliness or tenderness . Raising their tail so you may take a puff of air isa foretoken of trust . If they keep their bum down , it ’s potential they might be feeling a little shy .

If you believe this state of affairs is eased by the fact you rarely hearcats fart , we have sorry news . They do . Because they do n’t often gulp melody while eating , they just do n’t have enough air in their digestive tract to make an audible noise . Rest tell that , statistically speaking , there will be times a cat give way you a well-disposed greeting is also stealthily fart in your human face .

[ h / tInverse ]

A version of this story originally melt down in 2020 ; it has been update for 2023 .