Cat chews shoes

You’re not alone if your cat has taken to chewing on your shoes as a habit. This odd behavior is experienced by many cat owners, who are unsure of its cause and how to put an end to it.

Being inquisitive beings, cats occasionally discover novel ways to investigate their surroundings. They may be drawn to the intriguing textures or scents your shoes have to offer. However, your cat may be targeting your shoes for reasons other than simple curiosity.

This post will discuss the typical causes of cats chewing on shoes and provide easy fixes to stop them from doing so in the future.

Main reasons why cats chew shoes

Dog owners typically experience shoe damage. This is typically the case with bored puppies and young dogs. However, it turned out that cats’ powerful, sharp teeth could also cause damage to slippers and shoes. Years of observations allowed for the identification of the primary causes of the whiskered-striped species’ peculiar behavior.

Physiological factors

A pet may become anxious as their health deteriorates or as different diseases arise. He starts acting erratic and even starts to step on the owner’s shoes out of nervousness. Among the illnesses that cause this kind of behavior, the following are unique:

• dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
• heartburn;
• increased acidity in the mouth;
• development of diseases of the teeth and gums: gingivitis, caries, tartar, plaque.

Tooth replacement in the younger population.

Kittens can gnaw on a variety of items, including their owner’s shoes, when they get new teeth.

This process may not always cause any symptoms. However, the baby may occasionally lick its lips and lick itself more frequently than usual when its teeth change. When molars need to be replaced, kittens endure the most agony.

Instincts

One cannot discount the influence of innate tendencies and desires that are conditioned by nature. particularly because they are essentially uncontrollable. Let’s talk about the most prevalent one.

Smell that attracts an animal

Foot odor is released by shoes, and it’s frequently very strong and specialized. Sweat secretes a variety of secretions that aggravate the cat’s psychological state on an instinctual level. A pet may attempt to "transmit" information to its owner through shoe chewing, including friendship offers, flirtations, displays of dominance, and even threats.

Marking

Like other predators, cats naturally mark the limits of their territory with markings. They alert other animals that it is busy by spraying objects. It is not a sign of dominance when a cat ruins shoes for this purpose. The animal is merely "talking" about having a feeling of possession.

The cat warns rivals, "This is my person, and you better not approach him," by leaving its scent on shoes. I’m going to defend him.

It’s not surprising that these purrs are unpredictable. A sign of their love and care can even be hurt.

Showing emotions

This explanation is arguably the most well-liked one, particularly when it comes to animals as sensitive as cats. Any shift in their mood, especially when combined with past experiences, can be harmful.

1. Lack of attention – the behavior of even the kindest and most responsive pet can change significantly. An affectionate kitty becomes aggressive, including showing dissatisfaction with his beloved owner.
2. Lack of socialization – it is recommended to instill household habits in your pet as soon as he appears in the house. And although cats are not as docile as dogs, they still have high intelligence and immediately grasp what can be done and what is advisable to avoid.
3. Anxiety or fear – the behavior of a frightened, alarmed purr can be accompanied by a deterioration in behavior. He may start going to the toilet in the wrong place, sharpening his claws where he shouldn"t, or gnawing on various objects that are not toys. Also in this case, the pet"s sleep is disturbed, he may not sleep for a long time or twitch in his sleep.
4. Self-affirmation – most cats have a significantly inflated self-esteem. Representatives of many breeds have this quality. Among the Siamese, short-haired British, Abyssinians, Bengals, Siberian cats, there are often real dictators. Actually, many cats tend to consciously assert themselves in the family, occupying not the lowest step in the hierarchy. However, the owner should not ignore such attacks.

Mental disorders

It is not for nothing that the field of psychology is thought to be the least researched in medicine, since diagnosing different abnormalities is still very challenging.

Physicians typically reserve judgment on mental illnesses until all other possible explanations have been ruled out.

If the cat has been under a lot of stress and started acting strangely, there’s a good chance it has a mental illness. Different mental illnesses may be diagnosed in these animals:

1. OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) – a pathological condition accompanied by an obsessive feeling of anxiety, which can be relieved by performing actions in a certain order. The disorder does not occur suddenly. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to identify what provoked it. To diagnose the disease, it is recommended to monitor the behavior of the pet, identifying patterns of events and actions. The most striking sign of OCD in cats is constant chewing.
2. Depression – a mental disorder that is accompanied by a deterioration in mood, lack of positive emotions and negative thinking. For a long time, the animals were not diagnosed with depression, since there was no therapy for this condition. In the case of people, the doctor talks to the patient, identifies the cause of the disorder and prescribes complex treatment. With cats, everything is more complicated, because they cannot talk about their experiences. Therefore, they are treated by stopping the existing symptoms.
3. Picasm is a taste perversion in which the animal begins to eat inedible objects. The disorder is associated with a mental disorder that occurs after prolonged hunger, with severe vitamin deficiency. Therapy and prognosis are associated with how stable the pet"s psyche is.

The cat requires veterinary care and assistance if the habit of chewing shoes is linked to an illness. The owner can, however, exert influence over the pet’s behavior if necessary.

Also read:

• how to wean a cat from biting;
• the habits of cats and cats;
• what to do if a kitten has become aggressive.

Your cat may be showing signs of boredom, anxiety, or curiosity if it is chewing on your shoes. Cats frequently chew to investigate their surroundings, decompress, or just for fun. Recognizing the cause of your cat’s behavior can assist you in treating the underlying problem and averting additional harm. You can put an end to this behavior before it gets out of control by offering suitable alternatives and making sure your cat gets enough mental and physical stimulation.

Recognizing the cause of your cat’s shoe chewing is the first step in fixing the issue. It might be out of curiosity, teething, or boredom. You can deal with the behavior more skillfully if you can determine its underlying cause.

Giving your cat something else to chew on, like toys or treats, can divert their attention. It is imperative to ensure that children receive adequate playtime and mental stimulation in order to deter harmful behaviors.

You can lessen the temptation by keeping shoes out of your cat’s reach and making their environment more interesting. You can protect your shoes and promote healthier habits with persistence and patience.

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