I just rediscovered this post, originally published back in 2014 when Karma had just come to live with us. But it’s such a fun topic, why not revisit the topic? And besides, ain’t Karma a cutie back in the day?
Karma discovered a new toy. I’ve already told you about shoe fetish. But then he discovered my bras and became a bra thief. Is there such a thing as an underwear fetish in cats?
He waited until I got in the shower, having set out clean clothes, and then performed a grab-and-dash, carrying the prize away with high held head. I should be glad, I suppose, that he’s not stashed it under the bed out of reach. Yet. And also that he only targets brassieres that aren’t being worn. Ahem. Tiny tooth punctures in the delicate fabric, and tug-games with elastic bits, seem to be the allure.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Magic used to targets my husband’s socks and carried them around like a child with a blanket. Lots of dogs target undies, including our current dog, Shadow-Pup. And our old lady kitty Seren loved to lounge in fresh-from-the-dryer laundry and would un-fold clothes given half the chance to sneak into the wardrobe.
Why do pets love underwear? Well–it smells good! For the items already worn, they wear your signature scent. To a dog or cat who loves you, they get to bask in the beloved’s aroma. Oh, and if you make a big deal out of the thievery, yelling and chasing after to retrieve your underwear, they also learn it’s a great game. They can entice you into a game of chase or tag simply by playing keep-away with important garments.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
Thanks for letting me know about the article you wrote on Flehman’s Response. That definitely explained it. I must admit it is cute when they do it!
LOL! It does look sort of silly.
Termite loves to get in the dryer full of clean clothes. He also has a fetish for bags or purses. I had guests on 2 different days last week and they left their bags open and he pulled sunglasses out of one and cell phone out of the other with his teeth. He wants to take his treasures off. Now Macy sometimes will smell of the dirty clothes in the floor before I put them in the washer and she will start turning all sorts of ways and cheek rubbing them. It’s like it’s got catnip on it or something. Why do cats sometimes smell something and they leave their mouth open?
Ha! Seems there are lots of “klepto cats” out there! The first time Karma showed interested in the dryer, I banged on the top so he’d leave. Too many cats get injured or killed when accidentally shut inside.
The open mouth thing is called Flehmen Response, and it’s the way cats process pheromones. Here’s an article I wrote about the “kitty sneer.”
http://cats.about.com/od/amyshojai/a/Flehmen-Aka-Flehmen-Response.htm
The closest thing we ever had to deal with to bra-thieving involved dirty laundry. Simba used to roll in my undies every chance she got.
aaaand again I forget to check the little box. sheeeesh. I need to be able to tell wordpress just to leave it checked somehow.
Ha! rolling in the laundry–Seren does that but it’s the clean laundry that’s still warm from the dryer. The dirties stay behind a closed door. 🙂
Amy, could you have asked for a cat with more personality to fall into your life as Karma did?
*s* Patricia, he constantly surprises me and keeps me laughing!
Our half Siamese Shadow would get into our daughter Sandy’s room and pluck her undies up from the floor and strew them all down the hall and living room. I warned her that she might want to put said unmentionables in the dirty laundry hamper but I guess she didn’t believe me. But we had guests over one Saturday and Shadow comes trotting proudly out with a pair of panties and when Sandy tried to take them from him he played keep away. We and our guests thought it was hilarious, Sandy’s has yet to see the humor in it.
Ha! Magic loves to play keep away with socks. Never new a cat to do that. But Karma does like to carry things–he has the girth to do it. 🙂
My little Persian, Brulee, likes to grab my panties out of the dirty clothes pile and carry them around the house.
Not sure which I’d prefer–the panties or the bra. Really…neither!