How do I get my cat to stop biting my dress shoes?

How to Stop Your Cat from Biting Your Dress Shoes

Cats have a natural instinct to play with and bite objects that move, including your prized dress shoes. It can be frustrating when your furry feline gets too enthusiastic and wants to play bite your expensive shoes. It’s not very much fun having to buy a new pair every few weeks because your cat chewed the heel right off. Luckily, there are several strategies you can use to help keep your cat away from your shoes.

Give Them Something Else to Play With

Everyone knows that cats love toys, so give them something else to gnaw on other than your dress shoes. Try to get toys that your cat can move around and play with on their own. Different types of toys will give them stimulation, promote healthy playtime, and help exhaust their energy. Here are some great toy staples:

• Catnip toys: Cats usually go nuts for these toys and will spend hours trying to catch them.
• Scratching posts: Scratching posts help cats to use their claws to keep them healthy and divert some attention away from your shoes.
• Tunnels and balls: Tunnels and balls encourage your cat to chase, jump, and bellow around them.
• Interactive toys: Interactive toys such as “feather” teaser toys allow you to play with your cat and challenge their skills with each new toy.

Set Up a Negative Experience with Your Shoes

Cats are smart, so it’s important to set up a consistent, negative experience each time they go near your shoes. Try to scare them off with an air horn, spraying them with a water bottle, or clapping your hands together if you catch them going near your shoes. Make sure to do this every time they approach your shoes, so your cat will learn that being near them is a negative experience.

Keep Your Shoes Out of Reach

Your cat won’t be able to chew on your shoes if they’re not in reach. Keep them tucked away in a closed closet or in a room your cat isn’t allowed to go in. You can also use cat repellent to spray on the closet or room to further discourage them from going near your shoes.

Get Professional Help

If you’ve tried all the things above but your cat still can’t help themselves, you can always reach out to a professional animal behaviorist. These trainers can help you to understand your cat’s behavior and tailor an individual plan to help your cat break their habit of biting your dress shoes.

Conclusion

Biting your dress shoes can be an annoying and expensive habit, but luckily, there are several ways to keep your cat away from them. Providing positive reinforcement in the form of toys, setting up negative experiences when they go near your shoes, and keeping them off-limits will all help break them of their undesirable habit. If these tips don’t help, you can always consult with a professional animal behaviorist for more help.