What is it about cats and smelly socks? Havoc and Pixel both can’t wait until I remove my socks in the evening so they can roll around in them. Are they trying to get my scent on them? Are they trying to mark their scent over mine? Are they just strange little creatures that defy explanation? Anybody else’s cats to this, or are ours just weird? (I know I know…the two aren’t mutually exclusive.)
One of our two cats loooooves human feet, socks and shoes. The other one couldn’t care less. Go figure. Cats is weird, love 'em.
Only one of our current cats likes stinky socks, and then only occasionally. When I was a teen though, our neighbour had a cat (who often came over to visit) that absolutely loved armpits. She’d nuzzle and rub and nip at the scent of my smelly pits. It was like catnip to her.
Another of my current cats just likes laying on anything that’s been on your person. Clothes on the floor, a bag (plastic or otherwise), coat, whatever you’d been handling, he’ll lay on it if you put it on the floor. Every time.
Out smallest cat loves socks too. He got into the habit of sitting atop the clothes hamper and fishing them out with his paws. We finally gave him one that was about to be thrown away. He was in heaven and finally started leaving the good ones alone.
My dad wears topsiders as his preferred after work footwear. Our cat growing up loved them. My dad would sit down in his chair and slip his feet out of the shoes. The cat would immediately go over to them, lie down, and stick his head in one of them. He apparently was very happy that way.
When that cat felt insecure, he would lie down next to a wall and stick all four paws on it. And stay that way for quite awhile.
This thread made me think of Mooch and his little pink sock…
https://store.muttscomics.com/pc-22-10-little-pink-sock-little-pink-sock-print.aspx
Oh yes. 2 of my 3 cats love footwear, either socks or shoes. I heard that it’s their way of reconnecting with us. Who knows.
I gues my 3rd kitty feels connected enough?
Hmmm. I had a pair of socks just like those. Haven’t seen them in a while, though. Tell me, silenus: Just where exactly did you say you got those socks?
:dubious:
Looking at that cat’s expression I’d almost swear that while next to your used socks he thinks he’s invisible.
My cat will frequently take naps on top of my stinky, smelly shoes; just like Carl Corey’s cat, with her face in the shoe. The warmer the better. She will actually leave a sunny spot on the floor to lay on top of some shoes. She also likes to rub her face on my feet if I’m still wearing socks.
My monsters don’t care about my socks, butI find fuzzy toys in my shoes all the time.
My cat is a freak. She’ll bypass my smelly shoes and go straight to the source to lick my feet. I discourage this, as it is uncomfortable and, well, icky, but she perseveres.
Molly likes stinky things. Not socks or shoes so much (though she does like them) as the actual feet. She’ll tickle you half to death sniffing and rubbing on your feet. She also adores the smell of bleach.
My cat enjoys my shoes. He tends to approach from the toe, curl his head into one, then try to cram himself inside the shoe. My feet are big, but not THAT big, so kitty-flips often ensue. With head still in the shoe. Crazy cute–I need to get a picture sometime.
Eddles steals Aaron’s dirty socks… and my dirty underwear. “Saaaaaarrraaaaaa, the cat’s got your paaaaaaaanties again!”
Must…resist…cheap…joke. 
Synth, Havoc does the same thing. Head first into the sneaker, then try to burrow even deeper. Flip. Startled look, then “I meant to do that.”