According to a 2019-2020 survey by Humanepro, cats live as pets in 34% of the households in the United States. What’s even more interesting and funny is that most cat owners think about the butthole of their pet feline. They wonder if it comes in contact with the surface on the ground. Interestingly, the majority of cat owners look for information about it on the Internet.
So, does a cat’s butthole touch the ground when it sits? A few years ago, Kaeden Griffin tried to answer this question. He conducted a study for this purpose in which he applied non-toxic lipstick to the butt of two cats. Both cats were well-trained so that they could understand and respond to the commands. Griffin, the 6th grader in Tennessee, gave commands, recorded the observations based on the responses of both cats to his commands and the results were interesting.
This study gave an insight into how the buttholes of cats come in contact with hard and soft surfaces. It proved that the butthole of cats with medium or large-size hairs neither touches hard nor soft surfaces. However, felines with short hair behave differently in this regard. While their buttholes may not come in contact with hard surfaces, they do come in contact with soft surfaces.
If you own a cat, you might also want to know about the other aspects linked with its behavior. For instance, you might want to know the things that your pet cat is likely to touch with their butthole. In this guide, we will tell you about the surfaces that come in contact with your cat’s anus.
Things that your pet feline is most likely to touch with its butthole
A cat is a fascinating animal. Only an individual who is passionate about their pet feline can understand and acknowledge it. A cat is known for its general cleanliness and personal hygiene. But unlike humans, it doesn’t wash its butt after pooping. You can consider buying pet wipes to keep them clean and smelling fresh.
However, in order to maintain the hygiene of your cat and home, you need to know which surfaces your cat’s anus is likely to come in contact with if you are a cat owner.
Given below are the names of some such common surfaces.
Couch
You might be spending a major part of a day sitting on your couch. But do you know your pet cat is also fond of it? Cats love to spend time while sitting on a couch. Hence, the chances are high that your cat’s butthole will come in contact with the couch.
Pillow
The fact that a pet cat sleeps on a pillow is a no-brainer. Your cat may not display this behavior pattern in front of you. With that said, there is no guarantee that it would do the same when you are away.
Paper
Are you a student or a job holder? In both these cases, you are likely to use a pile of papers. A pet cat doesn’t mind signing off on them, especially when they’re kept on a desk. Be careful, though, as your kitty’s butt may have different kinds of bacteria. Microbes are likely to get deposited on the surface of papers when it sits on them. As such, you should wash your hands after working with papers on your desk if you have a pet cat at home.
Kitchen table
Kitty has a love affair with the kitchen table. Cats are curious animals by nature. When they see any object with a higher position, they love to explore it. Sometimes your kitty may do it as a part of its counter-surfing behavior. But the good thing is that you can train your pet feline to prevent this tendency.
Keys
Have you ever set down your keys and other small items such as necklaces or watches? If yes, it is more likely to come directly in contact with your kitty’s butt.
Baby
Cats, by nature, are intrigued by surfaces that make them feel comfortable. They don’t mind sitting on any surface as long as it doesn’t make them feel uncomfortable. It is no wonder that the soft and tender skin of a baby draws the attention of a pet feline. Make certain that it does not sit on a baby at your home. This way, your kitty is likely to spread germs that can be detrimental to the health and well-being of your little one.
Your body
Do you love snuggling with your cat? If you do, you are not alone. Most cat owners love doing it. But when you snuggle with your kitty, it is likely to sit on your body on its butt. Unless you take a shower, the germs deposited on your body are likely to stay. So, every time your cat sits in your lap, it is recommended to take a shower.
The table below indicates the probability of your kitty touching different surfaces at home.
Surface Type |
Probability of a cat touching it |
| The body of the owner | High |
| Pillow | High |
| Keys | Low |
| Paper | Low |
| Kitchen table | Low |
| Pillow | High |
| Couch | High |
Why a cat raises its butt in the air?
In addition to the surfaces at the bottom, cats also touch some surfaces with their butts that remain at a higher position. They do so when they raise their butt in the air.
There can be many reasons for this peculiar behavior. The popular ones among them include the following:
- When you hit the right spot: Cats tend to raise their butt when someone touches the right spot at the base of their tail. All cats may not show this behavior, but some of them do. In line with this attribute, your feline friend may raise its butt when you hit the right spot while scratching at the base of its tail.
- A sign of mating: Some female cats tend to raise their butt in the air to signify their readiness for mating with their male counterparts. Upon seeing it, a male cat perceives it as an opportunity for mating. And when your kitty intimates with a stray cat, chances of having an incurable disease are high. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the female pet cat indoors whenever you see this typical behavior pattern.
Final thoughts
If you own a cat with medium-sized or long hair, it is less likely to make contact with hard or soft surfaces with its butthole. Soft surfaces are likely to come in contact with the butt hole of your feline pet if it has short-sized hair. This observation is based on Kaeden Griffin. However, as a cat owner, you should keep your body and the aforementioned surfaces of your home clean and germ-free.
