Cats may appear to be adorable and cute on the outside, but behind their sweet demeanor, they sometimes exhibit behaviors that are… well, quite unusual! For example, some cats seem to have a long-standing obsession with licking their owner’s feet. Yes, you read that right—licking feet! What’s going on here? Is it a moral decline, or just a quirky cat habit? Today, we’re here to shed some light on this mysterious behavior in our segment “Why Do Cats Love Licking Feet?”
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Why Do Cats Like Licking Human Feet?
In fact, all of a cat’s puzzling behaviors have a reason behind them, and licking feet is no exception. After searching through a wealth of online resources, I found that cats may lick their owner’s feet for the following reasons:① The Smell of Feet + Gathering Information – Each of our feet contains about 125,000 sweat glands. The soles of your feet have more sweat glands per square centimeter than any other part of your body, though most of them are small. The sweat secreted contains small amounts of salt, proteins, urea, and ammonia… While this sweat might just smell a little “sweaty” to us, cats can detect a wealth of information through pheromones and other odors. This makes them highly intrigued, leading them to lick. This could also explain why some cats like to sniff socks and shoes.② Hunting Behavior – As one of the few living creatures in the house, you walk around and even shake your feet when you’re lying down. To a cat, your feet probably look like a moving “live cat toy,” and they may instinctively see your feet as prey, pouncing and licking or even biting.③ Marking Behavior – Cats may lick your toes to cover them with their scent, marking them as their own. In multi-cat households, you might notice multiple cats doing this, as they may be trying to cover each other’s marks.④ Showing Affection – In the feline world, licking is a sign of affection. Studies have shown that the closer the relationship between cats, the more likely they are to lick each other. Sometimes, if your face is too far from theirs, the cat might settle for licking your feet, but the intent to show friendliness and trust remains the same.⑤ Teaching You How to Groom – When cats are young, they learn how to groom themselves by observing their mother. In a cat’s world, humans are often seen as large and clumsy “cats,” and some people speculate that cats may try to teach us how to groom ourselves through foot-licking.
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Should You Let Your Cat Lick Your Feet?
It’s best not to let your cat develop the habit of licking your feet… because it could lead to some unexpected issues:① Risk of Athlete’s Foot – A young lady’s Persian cat loved licking her feet, and she would often snuggle with her cat. Later, she developed red pimples on her face, which turned out to be caused by a fungal infection. Doctors speculated that the cat licked her feet, then transferred the fungal infection to its face, and when the owner snuggled with the cat, the infection spread to her face.② Other Possible Risks – Beyond fungal infections, cats licking human feet can also transmit zoonotic diseases, such as:Ringworm – If the cat has ringworm and the owner has a weakened immune system, it could lead to the owner getting infected as well.Parasite Infections – If a cat is not properly dewormed, it could transfer fleas, mites, ticks, etc., to humans.Bacterial Infections – If a cat is infected with Bartonella (though rare) and scratches or bites the owner during the foot-licking process, it could lead to cat scratch fever.Aside from the risk to humans, cats who frequently lick human feet also face a higher chance of fungal infections themselves. The danger goes both ways, so how can we help a foot-licking cat?
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How to Stop Your Cat from Licking Your Feet?
For humans, when you come home, it’s a good idea to take off your shoes and socks and wash your feet as soon as possible. It’s even better to disinfect them. Also, make sure to wash your socks and shoes regularly. When it’s cold, wear clean, thick socks or cotton slippers at home. If you’re lying in bed, try to keep your feet under the covers so your cat can’t see them. When sitting or lying down, try to resist the urge to move your feet, reducing their appeal to your cat.If your cat can’t seem to stop licking your feet, try rubbing citrus or other scents that cats dislike on your feet. For cats that show signs of foot-licking behavior from a young age, owners should intervene early by pulling their feet away and not responding to the behavior. Don’t scold the cat—just ignore it to weaken the behavior.If your cat tries to attack or lick your feet when you’re walking, it’s likely that your cat views your feet as a hunting toy. You can try staying still to reduce the cat’s interest, as cats prefer moving prey. Alternatively, you can redirect their attention by giving them a toy to play with instead.
Although cats licking human feet isn’t generally a huge issue, for the safety of both you and your cat, it’s still a good idea to prevent this behavior.
