Why Does My Cat Like My Feet

Why does my cat like to lick and groom my feet? There are several reasons cats may do this, but the most common is that they love your scent. One factor in the smell of our feet is sweat, which has a high concentration of sodium chloride.

Cats have an extra sensitive sense for salt as it’s what they use to identify other felines. Your cat might also want to clean your feet because it thinks you’re dirty or there’s something wrong with them! Let’s find out why my cat likes my feet.

1. They Love Your Scent

Why is my cat obsessed with my feet? Your body gives off pheromone chemicals which other animals can detect. We’ve already mentioned how your cat can sense the salt in your sweat, but this is only part of it. There are many other chemical components to our scent, and your cat might love them!

If a human likes another human a lot, they may put their nose right against that person’s skin and take a big whiff. This is exactly what your pet is doing when he cleans or licks you!

2. They Think You’re Dirty

why do cats like feet? Our feet have a lot of sweat glands that give off a certain smell even when we don’t know it. In addition, the skin on our feet is very thick and contains lots of keratin – this turns into coarse callouses in some parts like your heel and soles. Many cats view these as dirt and will lick them clean to remove the odor.

If your cat keeps licking your feet, then there’s probably something that smells pretty foul about them! You can compare it to us humans cleaning our teeth with toothpaste: we’d do it more often if they were dirty or smelly.

3. They Want Their Scent on You

If your cat doesn’t like any other animals in your house, it could be because they don’t want them to share ‘his’ smell. Cats are very territorial animals and have a habit of marking out their home by covering it with their odors – from fur to urine! You might think of yourself as being clean, but your pet probably disagrees. In short, if he’s obsessed with licking at your feet, there’s probably something about them that smells pretty interesting!

4. They Miss You

why does my cat lay on my feet? When you’re at work or out for the day, your cat might want to keep a part of you around with him. This could be as simple as keeping your smell on your own body or by licking something that smells like you. In times past, it was believed that cats would sometimes lick their owners’ clothing to refresh their scent after a long time away from home.

5. Your Kitty Wants to Groom You

Many cats will lick their owners from time to time if they want to get close or make them feel better. Headbutts and neck scratches show affection, while paws reaching up towards the face mean that your cat wants a good tummy rub. As for licking feet, I’m not entirely sure why this happens – it could be because your cat thinks that your feet need cleaning or just a way to get a good lick at something tasty.

6. It’s Just a Cat Thing

Why does my cat sit on my feet? Sometimes, especially if your kitty is very self-assured or secure, he might like to groom you because it’s fun. Why not give him the chance to tickle and play with your feet by putting them up on his lap? That way, you can have a lovely bonding moment together without any cleaning going on.

7. He’s Just Being a Little Jerk

Sometimes your cat might enjoy licking you, but rarely for a good reason. Some naughty kitties do it to get attention or because they’re bored – which can be pretty annoying if you have no other way of getting them to stop!

8. They’re Giving You a Message

Like humans, cats can get pretty upset with someone who doesn’t do exactly what they want. If your cat does something that gives you the creeps or acts aggressively towards you, then there may be a reason for it. Maybe he’s in pain and wants to be pet more than normal, or maybe he’s feeling jealous and needs some extra attention and love.

As well as this, if your kitty starts licking at your face when you’ve been out partying all night, it might just mean that he thinks you need cleaning up before bed.

9 . Your Kitty Is Dehydrated

Sometimes our pets feel ill without us even noticing – such as when they start to suffer from dehydration. If your cat starts licking or scratching himself more than usual, then this could be a sign that he’s unwell. Also, if you see any redness around his eyes or nose, it can indicate illness too. It might not seem like the most obvious symptom, but dehydration is something that needs to be taken care of quickly, so take your pet to the vet if you notice signs!

10 . Your Cat Is Stressed

Why does my cat sleep at my feet? If your kitty starts to lick you excessively, it could be a sign that he’s under pressure, whether from too many family members or not enough attention. Cats are known for their quirky personalities and express their stress in ways other than just affection or loneliness – such as licking at their owner’s ankles!

11. Your Kitty Is Bored

Just like us, your cat might get fed up with doing the same thing every day and want some excitement – after all, why else would he dig up your entire garden? If you find that your kitty is licking at something for a while, then it could either mean that they’re making themselves useful (for once!) or that they’re trying to tell you something. To figure out which one it is, take some time to observe him so you can understand his body language and become familiar with his habits.

12. They Want More Food

When cats are hungry, they’ll do whatever they can get away with to get another helping, such as acting cute or aggressive! Like humans who beg for food, cats might try to get their paws on more grubby licking you – but make sure your cat isn’t overweight before you give in and feed them! If your kitty needs a few extra calories, play with her or use food puzzles to keep her distracted.

13. They’re Trying to Tell You Something

why does my cat like my feet? If you’ve recently given birth or brought a new baby into the family, then your older kitties might want to take care of them and reassure themselves that everything is okay. Just like us, they’ll do this by understanding how babies behave and what they need when they’re upset – so by keeping an eye on them, cats can support us in bringing up our children.

How Do I Know What My Pet Wants?

As we’ve already seen, cats will groom and clean their owners for several different reasons. The best thing to do is learn your cat by observation: see when he licks himself or others and how (or why) he does it.

If your pet seems particularly attached to your feet, then you might notice that the licking becomes more pronounced. Licking also tends to happen more at night or when you’re resting, suggesting a soothing quality rather than a sexual one!

What Should I Do If My Cat Licks Me?

If your pet likes licking your feet, it’s going to be tricky to stop him – indeed, many cat owners will encourage it as a sign of affection. The main thing is not to fuss about it and act like everything is normal because it could cause problems later.

You can try putting towels or sheets between you and your cat, so he doesn’t have easy access to your feet, but if he wants them, he’ll probably find somewhere else! As already said, it’s also important not to react badly if your cat licks you – he’s just being affectionate, after all! If you are bothered by it, then there are lots of things that you can try.

What Do I Need to Help Stop My Cat Licking Me?

There are several different types of repellent available for cats who like chewing on leather or furniture. These products contain bitter-tasting chemicals that cats don’t like, but they’ll still want to lick themselves afterward.

Alternatively, most pet stores sell sprays and gels that make the fur taste bad (or even stink!), so they won’t come near it again. You may also want to talk with your vet about tablets or sprays which can be used specifically on your cat’s fur to make it taste nasty.

Conclusion

So, there you have it – the different reasons why your cat might be trying to lick your feet. Whatever the reason, though, remember that cats are very independent animals who will do whatever they like – so don’t be surprised if that includes licking you silly sometimes! In case your cat is obsessed with your feet, consider these tips:
• Talk to family members or friends about why your kitty might be licking you.
• Try to determine how much the licking bothers you
• If it drives you nuts, look into products that will keep your feline from licking you.
If you have any queries regarding your pets, feel free to contact us.

Sources
1. https://www.seniorcatwellness.com/cat-obsessed-with-feet/#:~:text=Cats%20attach%20themselves%20to%20feet,pheromones%20produced%20by%20the%20feet.
2. https://purrfectnpawesome.com/why-is-my-cat-obsessed-with-my-feet/https://twocrazycatladies.com/cat-behavior/why-do-cats-love-feet/
3. https://askmycats.com/why-is-my-cat-obsessed-with-my-feet/
4. https://www.marthastewart.com/8063014/why-cats-sleep-at-your-feet