Does your cat seem to be obsessed with your shoes? Sleeping with them, playing with them and maybe even stealing them? You're not alone! Let's look more into why cats like shoes!
Why does my cat love my shoes?
Did you notice the word my was used in the sentence above twice? That's actually our first clue of why cats cats can be obsessed with shoes! Your cat may love your shoes because they smell like you! As TheSprucePets points out, a cat's sense of smell is fourteen times as strong as a persons! They will seek out smells that are familiar to give them a sense of comfort and make them feel safe. So, a cat that is bonded to you may seek out your stinky shoe just because of that stink!
Rover.com offers another reason cats might love your shoe, and that is because of shoelaces. After all, shoelaces are basically string, and I'm sure you have all seen cats play with string! Playing with your shoelaces could be just plain fun for your cat!
If your cat seems to be gravitating toward your shoes while they are still on your feet, it might also be a way to ask for some attention. After all, cats are pretty small, so shoe height might be as far as they can reach to try to get you to play with them or ask for some treats!
Another reason that your cat might play with your shoes is just out of boredom. Rover.com suggests making sure they have plenty of other stimulation, like toys, scratchers and cat trees to try to cut that boredom. And when your cat chooses to play with a stuffed mouse or birdie instead of your shoe, giving a few treats might help reinforce that those toys a a better choice for playtime than your shoes!
Why does my cat lay on my shoes?
As we mentioned above, your shoe smells like you, so a cat that feels safe around you might lay on your shoes because of that smell. Your cat knows they are safe with you around, so laying on your shoe with your scent on it can make them feel safe too! TheSprucePets says this is a form of self soothing while you are away. If your cat moves your shoes from where you left them to a different location, it may be that they are treating your shoes as a type of security blanket and bringing them with them to their favorite nap spot as a way of keeping you close.
There may be another reason why your cat would lay on or rub against your shoes, and that is to mark their territory. A cat rubbing face on shoes leaves their scent behind and marks it as something that is familiar and belongs to them. Catster.com says your cat will then find your shoe doubly tempting because it has not only your scent on it, but theirs as well!
What if your cat has hogged your shoes to the point where you have to go in searh of it before you leave for work, and then it's covered with fur? Catster.com says the simplest solution is to keep your shoes out of reach. This could be in a closet with the door closed, or in a closed bin to keep your cats out of your shoes. Just putting them on a high shelf might not be enough - cats are known for their climbing and jumping abilities! You could also give your cat a decoy - maybe giving them some shoes you don't wear anymore or an old t-shirt of yours will satisfy their craving to snuggle with something that smells like you, and give your work shoes a break from your cat's attention!
While it might seem weird for cats to be obsessed with your shoes, if you think of it as their way to keep your scent around, you can see how it is a way that they say they love you! If you would prefer they didn't love that particular pair of shoes quite so much, keeping them out of reach and providing an alternative item with your scent for them to snuggle with can be a good way to keep both you and your cat happy!
Cover photo by Elibet Valencia Muñoz on Unsplash
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