No. Most mammals and many reptiles fart, but birds almost certainly don't, and several other animals — like some fish, sloths and clams — either don't or are debated. Whether an animal farts depends on whether gas-producing bacteria live in its gut and whether it has a way to release the gas.

It depends on the species. Some fish release gas from swallowed air, and herring famously communicate using bursts of gas from the rear. But much of what looks like a fish 'fart' is actually expelled swallowed air or gut waste rather than digestive gas.

Almost certainly not. Birds have very fast digestion and don't host the same gas-producing gut bacteria as mammals, so there's no real build-up of gas to pass. There are no confirmed reports of birds farting.

Which animal farts the most?

Cattle are among the biggest gas producers, though most of their methane is actually belched rather than farted. By sheer scale, large herbivores with fermentation-heavy digestion — cows, elephants and the like — produce the most gas.

Do Animals Fart? The Complete Guide to Animal Flatulence

Published: June 8, 2026 | Reading time: 9 minutes

Humans are far from the only animals that pass gas — but we're also not as universal as you might think. Some creatures are world-class farters, a few almost certainly never fart at all, and a surprising number sit in a "it's complicated" middle ground. Here's a species-by-species tour of who toots, who doesn't, and the digestive science that decides it.

What Decides Whether an Animal Farts?

Farting comes down to two questions. First, does the animal's gut produce gas? Gas is mostly a by-product of bacteria fermenting food, so animals with lots of gut microbes breaking down fibrous or hard-to-digest food make plenty. Second, does the animal have a way — and a need — to release that gas from the rear? An animal can only fart if gas builds up and there's an exit for it. Where either piece is missing, you get a fart-free creature.

Mammals: The Champion Farters

Nearly all mammals fart, because we share the same basic gut design and rely on bacterial fermentation to finish digestion.

Dogs

Dogs are enthusiastic farters — they gulp air, eat rich food and have sensitive guts. Some breeds (looking at you, Bulldogs) are practically four-legged whoopee cushions. We go deep on the causes and fixes in do dogs fart?

Cats

Cats fart too, just more quietly and less often than dogs. Feline toots are usually silent but can be surprisingly potent. The full story is in do cats fart?

Cows and Other Livestock

Cattle are famous for gas, but here's the twist: most of the methane they release is belched, not farted. As ruminants, they ferment grass in a specialised stomach and burp out the result. Either way, livestock gas is significant enough to feature in climate research.

Horses, Elephants and Big Herbivores

Large plant-eaters ferment huge volumes of fibrous food, so they produce huge volumes of gas. Horses are notably and audibly gassy, especially while running.

Reptiles: Yes, They Fart

Snakes, lizards and other reptiles do fart. Snakes in particular can produce a surprisingly loud "cloacal pop" as a defensive warning, using expelled air to startle predators. It's less about digestion and more about saying "back off" — but it counts.

Birds: Almost Certainly No

Birds are the headline exception. They digest food very quickly and don't host the same gas-producing bacteria that mammals do, so there's little gas to build up in the first place. There are no confirmed observations of a bird farting. They can expel air from their digestive tract, but a true, gas-from-fermentation fart appears to be off the menu.

Fish: It's Complicated

"Do fish fart?" is a genuinely debated question. Much of what looks like a fish fart is actually swallowed air being released, or gas from the swim bladder, rather than digestive gas. The famous exception is the herring, which releases bursts of gas from its rear to communicate with the rest of the shoal — scientists nicknamed these "Fast Repetitive Ticks". So: some gas release, yes; classic digestive farts, mostly no.

Insects and Invertebrates

Plenty of insects produce gas as they digest. Termites are a standout — collectively they generate a notable amount of the world's methane thanks to the microbes in their guts. Whether a tiny insect "farts" in the way we'd recognise is partly a matter of definition, but the gas is real. Spiders are a frequent search question; there's no good evidence they fart in any meaningful sense, though their digestive process can release small amounts of gas.

The Surprising Ones

Whales: yes — and on a scale to match their size. Whale farts are real and have been filmed.
Sloths: often cited as non-farters; their unusually slow digestion means gas is reabsorbed into the bloodstream and breathed out instead.
Clams and other shellfish: generally don't fart in any recognisable way.
Octopuses: don't fart from digestion, though they can jet water, which is a different trick entirely.

Quick Reference: Who Farts?

Definitely Fart

Dogs and cats
Cows and horses
Elephants
Snakes and lizards
Whales

Sort Of / Debated

Fish (some, e.g. herring)
Insects (termites, etc.)
Spiders

Probably Don't

Birds
Sloths
Clams and shellfish

The Bottom Line

Most mammals and reptiles fart, the science around fish and insects is genuinely murky, and birds are the great fart-free exception. It all comes down to gut bacteria and plumbing. For more on the human side of all this, see our fart facts page and our guide to foods that make you fart — and if you want to add a soundtrack, the fart soundboard is right here.

This article is general-interest information, not veterinary advice. If a pet's gas changes suddenly or comes with other symptoms, talk to a vet.