If your cat keeps smelling your shoes, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do to get the behavior to stop.
So, why does my cat smell my shoes? Possible reasons why your cat smells your shoes are that they have a strong smell on them, it smells the scent of other people or animals, or that it sniffs things naturally.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog has been doing it and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat smell my shoes?
Below are a number of possible reasons why your cat has been smelling your shoes and what would make each of them more likely.
It likes the scent
It is likely that your shoes have a strong scent on them. Since cats have a stronger sense of smell than we do, it is likely that your cat is picking up on the scent on your shoes. This would be more likely if your cat also smells things that have your scent on such as your blankets and clothes.
It smells the scent of other people and animals
Another possible cause is that your cat has been picking up on the scent of other people and animals. This would be more likely if your cat smells your shoes when you have recently been around other people and animals.
Separation anxiety
Another possible reason is that smelling your scent causes your cat to calm down. This would be more likely if your cat tends to smell your shoes more at times when it might be anxious such as when you are leaving home. It would also be more likely if it smells other things with your scent on such as your clothes or pillows.
It is marking its territory
Cats have sweat glands on the face. It might be the case that your cat has been sniffing your shoes because it is actually marking its scent on to them. This would be more likely if your cat also rubs itself against your shoes when it does it.
Nature
Cats will naturally sniff smelly things a lot because cats gather information about things through their sense of smell. The reason why your cat smells your shoes could also be that it naturally likes to sniff things that are smelly. This would be more likely if your cat also sniffs other smelly things a lot around the house such as dirty washing or the floor.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always smelled your shoes
If your cat has not always sniffed your shoes, it would help to consider if anything else changed when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as being around new people and animals and your cat picking up on their scents.
What is different when your cat does not smell your shoes
If your cat tends to smell your shoes more at a certain time, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your cat does it more shortly after you arrive home, it would be more likely that your cat is picking up on scents being left on your shoes from outside.
What to do about your cat smelling your shoes
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Keep them out of reach
One option would be to keep your shoes in a location that your cat cannot get to such as in a box.
Redirect its focus
Another option would be to redirect its focus towards something else when it seems likely to start sniffing your shoes. Things you could redirect its focus towards could include toys.
Let it do it
It is normal for cats to sniff things. If your cat has not been doing it excessively and it has been behaving normally otherwise, it would likely be normal behavior. In this case, it would be the easiest option to just let your cat sniff your shoes when it wants to and to keep the shoes, that you do not want it to sniff, out of its reach.