No. That’s just an unexpected side effect.
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This is an example of cats applying “cause and effect.” The cat is pretending we are following them, because they want us to follow them.
If we teach our cats to “show me” we will be able to let them guide us to whatever is on their mind, from the perilously low food bowl to the raucous squirrel on the other side of the window.
Sometimes, it’s because the cat knows where we are going, and they want to get there first, so we have no excuse not to see them and make a fuss over them.
Even if all we are doing is trying to keep our foot out of the cat’s behind, we are noticing them.
The reward is worth the risk.
Cats have a special relationship to our feet because that’s what they so often interact with. It’s at their level.
These are obviously the levers that get us where we want to go; these are the levers the cat must operate to get us where they want us to go.
It’s no coincidence that when we are at our most busy that we will find a cat positioned where they will do the least good.
But from the cat’s point of view, we are stressed and in need of some company. And they haven’t been noticed lately, either… because we are rushing around with our minds on other things.
Why are cats always underfoot when we are carrying a laundry basket or bags of groceries? Because cats have a keen interest in these matters, and want to be a part of it.
This is Cat Logic, and we aren’t going to revamp it anytime soon. So be cautious, especially in dark hallways. (My cats range from black to light gray, and don’t know they are invisible in hallways that seem very bright to them.)
If we are going to be rushing to and fro, think about putting the cats in another room, out of harm’s way. Don’t hurry on stairs if we don’t know where the cat is.
They can’t help being “Mr. Underfoot.” This is the part of us that is closest to them; in a literal sense. They are going to engage with that part without being able to consider what a stumbling block their behavior can be.
If we do smack them, despite our best efforts, be sure to let them know we didn’t mean it.
Apologies; that, they understand.
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There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.
This is painfully true. I have a siamese that continually walks directly into my path – especially at night, or when I’m carrying something large and can’t see it.
I always feel bad when I whack the poor thing with my leg, or worse, step on a paw, but you’d think that the cat would catch on that, even if it is “driving me”, I don’t have very good brakes!
It also likes to jump on my desk and sit precisely between myself and my computer screen. I suppose it’s simply correctly my failed attempt to look directly at it.
Sure am glad to hear this happens to other people. All of mine get in front of me and will not move over to let me by.
I do have sort of a funny story. I was walking to the dish of one of my very young cats, and I looked down, and one of the kittens had his head all cocked to the side looking really weird. Well I had my foot on his foot. Poor thing. He wasn’t crying, he just couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t move his foot.
I just got a cat from an adoption center this weekend. I got a puppy that morning and I knew I wanted to get them at the same time. I’ve never had a cat be so needy before nor try to trip me up so much. This article is making sense. This morning I was trying to get ready for work, trying to keep the puppy from peeing everywhere and trying to get the cat fed and she wouldn’t get out of my way. I was at my wits end. I’m truly about ready to take her back to the adoption center!
But… this article has given me food for thought. I think for a few days I’m going to try something – when I first get up I will sit down with the cat and love on her for awhile and see if that lessens the severity of the underfoot-itis.
Hmm… I just took the “Cat Personality” quiz and it said that my best bet was a Beta cat – and after looking at the description I’m 75% sure that Jessi is a Beta….. no wonder she actually got out of my way when I started yelling at her
Poor thing. I hate the thought of yelling at an animal.
I think this site is going to help me in dealing with the cat.
I think I would have preferred a Gamma cat though… LOL
Cats do this because as kittens, this was the best way to get mom to lay down so they could nurse. If the kittens impede mom’s progress enough, she will give up and lay down, which is what the kitten wants. Since we are the source of the cats food they will try the same thing on us. When they do try this interference technique on us their reward is attention thus training them by positive reinforcement to continue this action.