Início » “Why Does My Cat Sit On My Foot” Mine Do, Here’s What I Think

“Why Does My Cat Sit On My Foot” Mine Do, Here’s What I Think

September 4, 2023 by Elise Xavier | Updated: September 4, 2023 – 1 Comment

I’ve written a couple articles already somewhat around this topic, but not quite exactly on it.

There’s a number of articles I wrote in a similar vein, like why cats sleep at the foot of the bed, or on human legs and this sometimes overlaps, in my opinion, with cats sleeping on or around feet.

Sometimes cats also bite your feet, but I think that’s for another reason entirely. For the most part, I think that’s a cat’s way of showing they’re hyper.

But there’s this other thing cats have going on, which is a bit of an obsession with feet and shoes, methinks. I’ll get into why I think that’s relevant in a second because I’d rather just jump into things.

Based on my experience with cat’s here are my theories on why cats probably sit and even snooze on feet sometimes.

Let me know in the comments section which you think are most likely to be true and if you have any more!

Theories That Could Explain Why Cats Sit on Feet

1. Cats are attracted to feet because they smell unique.

While they’re not as obvious about it as dogs are, cats are also very attracted to unique scents and smells, as it gives them a lot of information about the world, the same way the other senses (touch, taste, sight, and sound) would.

I think even before a cat bothers to sit on a foot, what might attract him or her to feet is their unique smell.

2. Cats are pretty lazy and normally just plop down when they’re done investigating.

Let’s not for a second pretend to be in any denial about just how lazy cats are – I mean they sleep most of the day and that’s pretty healthy behaviour (usually) for them.

So once they’re done investigating something interesting, like the smell of your feet to see what you’ve been up to throughout the day, I feel like 9 times out of 10 they just plop right on over and have a sit or snooze.

3. They’re using your feet as a pillow.

Okay so one other theory I have that isn’t the deepest at all is that feet are the pretty much perfect height for being used as cat pillows.

They’re just the right size for that kind of thing, and if a cat’s gonna have a sit on something a bit warm and soft, why not feet?

4. They’re claiming your feet as their territory.

A lot of cat behviour feels very territorial, in a sort of, “My human, mine!” way.

I think a cat sitting on their human’s feet might fit the bill quite well for this.

5. They like sitting on you, yet out of reach enough to not be pet if they don’t want to be.

This is another theory I have for cats who are not as happy to be pet as others, or cats who sometimes don’t want to be pet.

Most of my cats are the type to plop straight on the floor and meep until they get my attention or hop right next to me and whine until they get a cuddle.

So when my cats are at my feet having a sit or snooze, I assume they don’t want cuddles, they just want to passively hang out with or on me, but with no petting.

Your Thoughts on Cats Sitting on Feet?

Now it’s your turn! Why do you think cats sit on human feet?

Do some of your cats do this while others not? Do your cats also snooze on your feet or just sit for the most part?

Do you think there’s any overlap between sleeping at the foot of the bed and sitting on human feet? Do you think there’s any overlap in liking feet in general and sitting on them?

Love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below!

Filed Under: Behaviour, Cat Facts, Cat Love

Elise Xavier

Have three pet cats, Avery, Bjorn, & Athos whom I love to bits. Obsessed with cats. Figured I might as well blog about ’em.

Fond of my fluffies? See more of them on my personal blog, E&T. Dig KittyClysm? Check out all the other blogs I pen & photograph.

Elise’s Favourite Tip

One of the most frustrating problems I’ve had to deal with as a pet parent is staying on top of my cats’ desire to play. While this is typically hard to do, toys like these that allow cats to play by themselves make the job one heck of a lot easier.

The hits in my household are ridiculously affordable: cat springs, ball track toys, & kick sticks. I have a slew scattered around the house, so when my cats get bored, even if I’m busy or not even home, my furries are able to actively play.

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Comments

Christina says

September 4, 2023 at 10:23 am

Hello. Like you, I think that my cat likes to hang around my shoes and feet because they smell interesting. He is especially drawn to my athletic shoes when I come in from a walk or hike. As he is sniffing, it’s like he’s wondering “Hmmm. Where has she been today?”

I also think he uses them sometimes as a pillow.

My cat does not like to be petted so he sleeps near my feet at night because he knows that is far enough away that I can’t reach him. But he still gets to be near me.

I know Casper loves me and we have an excellent relationship. But it’s sort of a “You can look, but don’t touch” relationship. It’s hard to resist petting him, and sometimes he tolerates it when I sneak one in now and then. I wonder if there are any other cat owners out there with non-petable cats.

“Why Does My Cat Sit On My Foot” Mine Do, Here’s What I Think

“Why Does My Cat Sit On My Foot” Mine Do, Here’s What I Think

Theories That Could Explain Why Cats Sit on Feet

1. Cats are attracted to feet because they smell unique.