50 Times Cats Went Belly Up And Showed Off Their Adorable Tummies

We're certified cat lovers here on Bored Panda, so we couldn't pass on the opportunity to put these adorable kitty tummies on your timeline. In the past, we've covered many things from close-ups of cat noses and their interesting fur markings to cats with jobs and cats with some serious malfunctioning issues.

So, a post dedicated solely to cats' bellies shouldn't come as a surprise. More so, when there's an entire subreddit where people share those kinds of pics. The Cat Bellies community has 250k members and their rules are pretty simple: post a picture of a cat that's showing off its belly. Other felines, like leopards, are acceptable too.

To find out more about the community, we reached out to one of the mods of r/CatBellies. We asked u/Startinezzz about what it's like moderating such a wholesome corner of the internet. "The vibes in this sub are almost always excellent," they told us in a message. 

"My job as a mod is mainly removing spam and karma farming bots but I've only been needed to step in once for an inappropriate comment in all my time as a mod. My approach is always to ensure nobody feels threatened, abused, or vulnerable in what should be a safe and happy place!"

As a moderator, u/Startinezzz is probably becoming an expert on the different ways cats expose their bellies. We asked the Redditor if they had any favorites they'd seen during their time as a mod. "The full stretch belly or the sitting like a human belly are definitely my favourite poses!" the netizen says.

Usually, when a cat exposes their belly, it's a sign of trust. Sure, they might just be having a nice stretch after a long nap, but it's more likely that they're also showing you they're comfortable and relaxed around you.

u/Startinezzz thinks trust is a big factor in why we like cat belly pictures. "The exposure and vulnerability they show when exposing their belly is a sign of how comfortable and safe they feel – what more could you want to give a pet in a home?"

But showing trust isn't the only reason why cats roll onto their backs and expose their tummies occasionally. That's also how they regulate their temperature. Because they have less fur on their stomachs, by exposing it they cool down, similarly to how we stick out a leg from underneath a blanket.

Interestingly, having all four paws up is a defensive stance for cats. "On their back, a cat has quick and easy access to four sets of claws and all their teeth. For a cat, exposing their belly can mean that they are prepared for battle," cat behavior specialist Dr. Rachel Geller told Rover.

It's hard to resist rubbing an inviting fluffy belly, but cat people probably know that you risk getting your hand scratched when you touch a cat's tummy. This "Cat Tummy Trap" that might catch some people by surprise is a very natural reflex. Because cats are predators, they go into defensive mode when someone is just a few millimeters away from their vital organs.

As all cats have different personalities, some might like belly rubs better than others. According to animal behaviorist Lena Provoost, the hair follicles on the belly and the tail area are hypersensitive. So, getting rubs on the tummy might be overstimulating for some cats. "Cats prefer to be pet and scratched on the head, specifically under their chin and cheeks where they have scent glands," Provoost told National Geographic.

There's a tweet somewhere in the depths of the internet about how cats are an exercise in control. The same goes with belly rubs; you have to read your cat's body language: if they scratch, nip, or glare at you, they probably don't like having their tummy rubbed. That doesn't mean they don't trust you or don't feel comfortable around you – just be aware that a show of their tummy isn't an automatic invite to go to town with your hand on their fluffy tums.

Some signs that your cat might be asking for belly rubs can be pawing for attention, purring, closing their eyes, pushing their face or head into your hand, and slow and steady breathing. Some cats also show affection by allogrooming – licking – their owner's hand or arm. If they're also moving their tail slowly, your cat might be telling you they're ready for a belly rub.