Why does my cat like to roll in the dust?

Question

My black and white female cat likes to roll in the dust. She will coat herself with it.
I have wondered if she was trying to camoflage herself, cover up the white. My neighbor says that cat's do it to get rid of fleas, but the cat does it during cold weather, when there are no fleas. She coated herself last saturday and I gave her a bath in the sink. She was covered in dust again by sunday afternoon. I can't give a cat a bath everyday. What can I do to stop this? She can't be an indoor only cat.

Answer 1

Cats roll in the dirt or in the grass to cover themselves with the scents of the outdoors. They want to rid themselves of the carpet smell, your perfume or the air freshener you have in the house. THey want to smell more animal or earth like. This is also why they lick themselves, to remove errant scents and to replace it with a more neutral scent. Cat spit is a neutral scent? Yes, to a cat, it's the most neutral scent they have handy. When they get outdoors, they roll around to make themselves smell like the world around them.

If she is covered in dirt, don't bathe her, this only exacerbates the problem. Simply get a good tight bright and use it to get most of the dirt out of her fur. This will get the dirt out which YOU hate but leave the scent in place which SHE wants.

Answer 2

Cat Rolling In Dirt

Answer 3

I think they do it when they come across a smell that they find interesting, as you'll notice that they usually sniff the area first. By rolling around perhaps they are hoping to either pick up some of the scent or cover it with their own. I've noticed when my cats behave this way that they also rub their cheeks on the floor, so perhaps it is more about marking with their own scent. Whatever the reason, they seem very relaxed and happy when they do it.

Brushing her should be enough to remove the dust from her fur.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why does my cat like to roll in the dust?
My black and white female cat likes to roll in the dust. She will coat herself with it.
I have wondered if she was trying to camoflage herself, cover up the white. My neighbor says that cat's do it to get rid of fleas, but the cat does it during cold weather, when there are no fleas. She...

Answer 5

I don't know why they do it, but they seem to enjoy it. I have a couple of cats that do the same thing.

One is mostly white and stays inside 99% of the time, but the moment she goes outside, she finds dirt to roll in.

I guarantee she has no fleas. I have some that even like to roll around in the gravel. I personally think they are just trying to enjoy the outdoors. When they are rolling around, they act like they are very happy.

However, my white cat Punkin, I really think does it just to annoy me. She knows I hate it when she comes in brown. She then rolls it back off on the carpet and I vacuum up after her. I've never given her a bath.

Don't think that you can stop it. If she is going outdoors, she's probably going to do it.

Answer 6

You get an itch once in awhile Don't you? Then you go and put on some lotion.
Well cat get itches too, theirs are caused from parsites (don't get grossed out you have them on your skin too) when cat lick they are trying to get rid of the itch.
when you let your cat out they use dirt as "lotion"
it stop the parasite from biting so much and to cool they skin ( from all the itching)
This is very normal don't worry, I know you hate the dirt, but don't wash them just brush them off with your hand. leave the dirt on their skin it stops the itch.



As for the cat wanting the smell of the outdoor i have never heard that before but that could be part of it,
When i asked my vet why my two cats rolled in the dirt this is the answer she gave me.

Answer 7

Two things I can think of either she is rolling in the dirt to get the smell of the outdoors on her or she is covering herself in dirt to help her stop scratching at flees.

Answer 8

cats roll in sawdust because they like the smell and the texture on their skin. They prefer not to be clean all of the time. They also do it because it is warm when it is in the sun and they like the heat.

Answer 9

cats like fascinating objects like dust for the simple fact they just get bored sometimes. but if your cat is rolling in it she may be trying to find different ways to sooth herself from something...see if she has ticks or fleas or something to that effect. or maybe she's just in estrus(heat) and they will roll constantly no matter if there is something they are rolling in or not.

Answer 10

Why can't she be an inddor only cat? Mine are-- and they are very happy and not bored at all.

She rolls in the dust because cats are descended from lions and tigers (oh my!<;-), who roll in the dust -- they do this because it masks their scent when they are stalking their prey. So... cats have inherited this behavior.