Alex and the Somersault of Happiness

Hi, I'm Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.

It’s not always easy to tell when your cat is happy, and other times, it’s so obvious that they may as well be holding a neon sign that says “This is what joy looks like!”

Purring, cuddling, headbutting, and ‘making biscuits’ are all signs that your cat trusts you and is happy. My little ginger ninja, Alex, has one additional way of signalling his pleasure: the somersault of happiness.

I’m not talking about just a roll. No, this is a somersault. The head down, body rolling forwards over the top manoeuvre one might expect from the likes of Simone Biles. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but it’s still quite an unusual move, and he always sticks the dismount.

Alex Is A Bit Of A Weirdo

Like all cats, Alex is flexible, coordinated, and elegant. He also has some strange little quirks that set him apart from the other cats in our house, and most other cats I have known. For starters, he enjoys extending his front legs in front of him when perched on high surfaces. Not simply dangling his paws over the edge, but with the whole limb sticking out in front.

His second positional quirk is his preference for sitting cross-legged. The first couple of times I noticed it, I assumed it was just a fluke. Perhaps he’d been in the middle of a turn, or got distracted as he was sitting down. However, you are far more likely to see Alex with his dainty little front feet crossed than to be so boring as to have them sit side by side like some sort of commoner.

The Mystery of Movement

Why does he do this? Well, I suspect that if I could answer that question, I would be in possession of some pretty major feline secrets. What I do know is that he is a very sweet little cat with some unusual ways of expressing himself. Which brings me back to his happy little somersault.

You’ve no doubt seen a happy cat. Hopefully, you’ve experienced the joy of watching a blissful cat as they rub themselves on walls, furniture, even you. When Alex gets into one of these displays of happiness, his rubbing takes a turn. A turn over the top of his head. He seems so wrapped up in showing us how happy he is, as well as enjoying the sensation of the walls and floor as he rubs up against them. Somewhere in the midst of all this bliss, he tucks his head between his front legs, and over he goes. It is completely adorable.

Initially, my husband and I were the only ones to ever witness this strange little ritual, but over the years, a few close friends and relatives have been granted access to this elite group. Alex is quite wary of new people, so when he decides to demonstrate his joyful tumble for someone new, you can imagine how thrilled we, and the privileged recipient, are.

Happiness Is Just a Somersault Away

Happiness isn’t always easy to come by in this world, and I can’t remember the last time I wanted to jump for joy, let alone somersault. But I have to admit, watching Alex expressing himself through gymnastics, is one way to put a smile on anyone’s face.

Stay weird, Alex.