I was watching my cat Griffin thoroughly enjoy himself yesterday rolling around in the warm dirt. I know that Sparrows love to play in the dirt, and my Mom's Horses also take the occasional "Dirt-Bath". I think Elephants do too...
Besides being enjoyable to the animal, what scientific purpose does rolling around in the dirt have (if any)? Can some please explain this to me?!
Thanks!
2007-04-10 05:20:39 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
The dirt bath by birds rids them of mites and dander. A dirt bath my mammals will relieve the itch caused by fleas and louse. All land animals will find a way to rid them self of itching parasites and dander. Its their way of scratching their own back. Even aquatic animals rub against rocks to rid them self of parasites.
2007-04-10 08:38:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the dirt helps in stopping them itching either from fleas, mites, eczma, rashes or plain dandruff. the dirt is abrassive and so helps scratch the irritation on a micro level.- this is a guess so not a founded scientific explanation. so maybe check your cat hasnt picked up fleas from some bird it has caught.
2007-04-10 05:30:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The REAL question is, why do cats run outside and roll in the dirt *immediately* after you have spent 15-20 minutes brushing and grooming them?
Arrrgh!
.
2007-04-10 05:25:50 · answer #3 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They may be cleaning their feathers/fur by rolling in the dirt. I think the tiny pieces of sand, and rock in the dirt cleans their fur. Your cat may also like the scent of the dirt and he's covering himself with it.
2007-04-10 05:24:45 · answer #4 · answered by true blue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it is considered a dirt bath.
Sometimes it is to cool down.
2007-04-10 05:25:38 · answer #5 · answered by chmar11 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a way of cleaning themselves by removing oils and parasites. Dirt particles are abrasive and absorb oils.
2007-04-10 05:24:29 · answer #6 · answered by yet_another_realist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It keeps them cooler because the dirt has a lower temp. than the air.
2007-04-10 05:23:06 · answer #7 · answered by Shifter 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the dust kills of and gets rid of parasites and fleas
all animals do this ,horses ,dogs ,cats ,elephants deer,chickens , pigs etc.
2007-04-10 12:46:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe cause it itches on the back, when my cat is itchy she rolls on the floor
2007-04-10 10:24:07 · answer #9 · answered by westafrocherokee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably because they're hot and the dirt is cool or because they have an itch their paw can't reach.
2007-04-10 07:06:07 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋