November 11, 2022, 5:12 am | Read time: 3 minutes
On TikTok, Posey the cat delights her fans with her unique way of rolling down the stairs. One of her videos recently went viral, reaching nearly 4 million views. PETBOOK explains the story behind the cat’s amusing somersaults.
On the TikTok channel “rolyposey,” Posey the cat rolls down the stairs in over 100 videos. One of the videos of the Canadian gymnastics talent from Vancouver recently went viral. Since then, nearly 4 million viewers have been entertained by Posey’s seemingly “quirky” behavior. PETBOOK explains what’s behind the rolling cat on the stairs.
Posey the Cat Rubs Against the Stairs to Exchange Scents
Cats have various scent glands on their bodies that are activated when they rub against objects, releasing a scent typical to the cat. This scent is mostly made up of pheromones, which are not detectable by humans but are registered by the cat’s nose.
Cats use this scent to mark their territory, as well as fellow cats or their favorite humans. When a cat rubs against a sofa or a human’s leg, it not only leaves its scent but also picks up the surrounding smells, creating a group scent. This is crucial for the cat’s well-being. They do this especially in places where scents linger well, such as on the stairs in the video, which are covered with a fluffy carpet that retains scents excellently.
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Rolling Down the Stairs Is a Learned Behavior
When Posey rolls down the stairs, she almost always starts by rubbing her head against the first step. Then she tips sideways and rolls down the step with her entire body. Rolling is also a sign of well-being. Cats display this behavior when they are in a playful mood or want to stretch contentedly. Instead of rolling on the floor, Posey shows this behavior on the stairs, sliding down and seemingly enjoying it. The steps likely have a massage effect as well. The whole behavior appears as if the cat is doing somersaults in response to her owner’s call.
“I didn’t train her; Posey does it all on her own,” her owner insists in the video. But that’s not entirely true, as Posey’s behavior seems genuinely trained, even if it happened unconsciously. The interaction between the two is a classic example of conditioning, similar to how dogs are taught tricks. Posey exhibits a behavior and receives a reward—her owner’s attention. After each forward roll, she looks expectantly at the camera, waiting for her confirmation. As soon as her owner speaks to her, Posey performs another somersault—until she finally reaches the bottom of the stairs.
Such behaviors often start randomly and are reinforced by human attention. Rolling down the stairs is not only enjoyable for Posey but also rewarding, which is why she continues to do it. By exchanging scents, she repeatedly marks the stairs as a good spot for herself.