Experimental investigations were conducted to uncover the impact of cavitation control—through the use of biomimetic riblets on cavitating flows around a circular cylinder. First, the dynamics of cavitation in the flow behind a finite cylinder (without riblets) was unveiled by visualizing the cavitation clouds and measuring the lift force fluctuations acting on the cylinder. Second, in a significant step forward, a comprehensive explanation was provided for the cavitation control methods using two bio-inspired riblet morphologies positioned in different orientations and locations on the cylinder. For the first time, the impacts of these tiny formations on the flow dynamics and the associated cavitation process were scrutinized. This showed that scalloped riblets, with their curved design, induced secondary vortices near their tips and distorted primary streamwise vortices, and that high velocity gradients near the jagged pattern peaks of sawtooth riblets delayed flow separation, which affected cavitation.