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Why does my cat take my socks?

If your cat has been taking your socks a lot, this post will show you why and what you can do about it.

So, why does my cat take my socks? Likely reasons why your cat takes your socks are that your cat is practicing hunting, your cat is playing with its prey and that your cat is showing you how to hunt.

There are a number of possible reasons why your cat does it and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.

Why does my cat take my socks?

Below are likely causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.

Your cat is practicing hunting

A likely reason why your cat takes your socks is that your cat is practicing hunting. This is because the socks are somewhat shaped like a cat’s prey and because cats will often carry their prey to different locations in order to hide it from poachers.

Your cat is showing you how to hunt

Another possible reason why your cat does it is that it is showing you how to hunt. This would be more likely if your cat does it when it is around you and if it also brings the socks to you.

Your cat is playing with its prey

Cats will touch their prey to see if it moves and then will catch it again, when they are well fed. If your cat taps the socks around and then carries them around in its mouth, it could also be the case that your cat is playing with its prey. However, when cats are hungry, they will not usually play with their prey because they can’t afford to take any chances.

Your cat likes the way they feel in its mouth

A part of the cause could also be that your cat simply likes the way your socks feel in its mouth. This would be more likely if your cat does it during the daytime when it is not a natural time for cats to hunt. Usually, cats will hunt in the early morning and late evening.

Your cat is just playing

It could also be the case that your cat is playing which would be more likely if your cat tends to do it when it is full of energy and running around the house. In this case, it would also be likely that it is practicing hunting.

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 taken your socks

If your cat did not always take your socks, it would help to consider if anything else changed when your cat first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as losing access to its other toys.

What else is different when it takes its socks

It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat takes your socks. If your cat tends to take your socks more at a certain time, it is likely that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if it tends to do it in the early morning or late evening, it would be a lot more likely that your cat is practicing hunting since that is the prime time for cats to be on the prowl.

What to do about my cat taking my socks?

Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.

Keep your socks out of reach

The first option would be to keep your socks in a location that your cat cannot get to such as in a drawer or in a laundry basket with a lid on.

Give it other toys to carry around

It would also help to give your cat other things that it can play with such as a toy mouse.

Why does my cat bring me socks?

If your cat brings you socks, it is likely that your cat is bringing them to you as a gift and because it thinks that you are not good at hunting.

Why does my cat steal my socks?

Your cat likely steals your socks because it is practicing hunting and because it is trying to show you how to hunt.

Why does my cat carry my clothes around?

Your cat likely carries your clothes around because it is practicing hunting and hiding its prey.