I currently have three cats, all old man cats that love to snuggle in my lap. While they share the trait of being snuggle bugs, not all of them have an obsession with shoes. Two out of three are quite into shoes. For example, Athos, a fluffy one, likes shoes a lot. He hangs out and sleeps by them and even sits and sleeps on my feet when I’m wearing shoes. Athos was into shoes even before I adopted him when he was an abandoned kitty hanging around our home. The neighbour feeds the stray and feral cats, so he’d wander over after visiting her open kibble kitchen.
My cat Avery has been with us since 2013. After we found him in need of food in our garden, he stole our hearts. His love affair with shoes has never died. For Avery, it seems like the smellier the shoe, the better. He also likes socks, but not as much as shoes.
2. Cats love new smells. If you’re wearing shoes that have been outside, your cat is likely to be attracted by the smells. Cats will smell anything brought into the home. Even if it’s stinky like coffee, they still gotta sniff. New smells from outside, like a combination of plants and random objects, are very interesting for them to analyze by sniffing.
3. Shoes are a decently shaped object for scenting. Many cats love scenting shoes. The shape of a shoe makes cats adore scenting it. There are holes in it for a cat to poke hands through, grab, or hug. Athos, a cat who doesn’t typically scent much, will play with and scent shoes when left on the floor. Avery, on the other hand, is constantly scenting. He loves it and can’t get enough. 4. Your cat probably likes your shoes because they smell like you and your cat wants them to smell like him too. Avery rubs his face on objects to scent them. He does this with laptop corners, phone corners, and things that smell of the owner. Cats love it when their scent mixes with the scent of people they love. Cats scent to relax and feel less anxious. It’s like nesting and making a house feel more like home. If cats are outdoors, they mark territory with scent. Areas they’ve scented create a home base. A house or object with the scents of loved ones and themselves is peak smell-based comfort.Cat owners often find their feline friends fascinated by shoes. This article explores the reasons behind this behavior and highlights some favorite cat toys that mimic the appeal of shoes.
Cat owners might be surprised to learn that their cats enjoy playing with shoes. Shoes provide an ideal shape and size for ‘bunny kicking,’ a favorite pastime for many cats. Personal experience shows that cats like Avery and Cleo enjoy kicking toys, and they particularly love the Kong Kickeroo and the Jeepers Creepers Toy Rat, which can be sprayed with catnip to keep them fresh. For those who prefer a more simplistic approach, catnip pillow pouches are also a hit, especially with cats like Avery who favor larger kicker toys. Cleo, on the other hand, enjoys the Kong Kat Wubba Mouse and the Kong Kitten Kickeroo, showing that age is no barrier to enjoying these toys. The texture of shoes can also be a significant draw for cats. Avery, for instance, is particularly fond of the texture of plastic Birkenstocks and fuzzy slippers with sheepskin interiors. These textures seem to provide both comfort and entertainment for him, more so than other shoe materials. The Kong Infused Bobble Mouse Cat Chew Toy is another example of a toy that caters to a cat’s love for unique textures. What are your thoughts on why cats are so attracted to shoes? Is it the scent, the texture, the shape, or simply the fun of playing with them? Share your opinions, stories, and any other explanations you might have in the comments below. We would love to hear from you!
