How to avoid stepping on your cat

Some people have trouble with this. True story: my brother once asked me how he could avoid stepping on his cat, Katrina. He was baffled and finally asked his little brother, me, for help. Sadly, I never liked my big brother much and resisted any inclination to do him favors, but with an abundance of sympathy for his cat who didn’t like him much either 😎, I provided some advice.

For a cat it is a ‘looking-up world’ 👀.

For a cat it is a looking up world. Image: MikeB

I always start with a supposed cat problem by seeing things from the cat’s point of view, and usually end up finding that it’s a human problem. I told my brother that at their level their view of us is our feet. While they are good at watching our feet, we still need to telegraph where we’re going with them so they can avoid them. They can’t read our minds, although they are better at reading us than the other way around. I’ll continue…

My advice to my brother was keep his eyes on where Katrina was, first of all, to avoid stepping on her; simple enough advice but I knew he wasn’t doing it! As you walk through your house remember it’s her house too, and again they see it at floor or foot level.

Aim your feet. When you step toward your cat, providing you look to see her there in the first place, give her an idea where you’re going, either to one side or the other. Pick a lane, in driving parlance.

Humans give each other signals at eye level, but this is different for cats. They can’t look way up at your eyes to see where you’re looking as well as keep an eye on your feet. When you pick a direction, stay with it.

That’s where my brother kept going off the rails; he kept trying to change direction, usually after he already stepped on the poor thing to step on her again or accidentally boot her across the room. Cats learn by watching, and if they watch you do something predictably, they’ll respond accordingly.

If you’re not predictable what else could you expect from them other than an unpredictable response? So, both Katrina and my brother kept doing this side-step dance. My brother’s cat never knew where he would step and hence if she came out at all from living life under the bed, she’d just run back under there until dinner time, whereupon she’d get stepped on.

So, to review.

Observe. Look to see if and where your cat is before you take a step. Watch where you’re going.
Choose a direction and let them see it before you proceed and stay the course.
Take your time. Walk slower. What’s your hurry? You’re at home, relax.

Hope this helps someone.

P.S. from Michael. On rare occasions (about twice in almost 7 years) I have stepped on my cat’s paw. He has screamed and scrammed. The reason? I failed to look where he was. I was too preoccupied. Too rushed. I guess if you live with a cat or cats you have to watch out for them under your feet especially in the kitchen when they might think you are getting food for them. They are up close then and in the danger zone. You turn around and bang….scream…scram.

    Did you find this article useful and interesting? Can it be improved? Please tell me in a comment. I am always keen to improve the site for animal welfare and reader enjoyment.

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Comments

How to avoid stepping on your cat — 7 Comments

tamara beinlich on December 8, 2021 at 8:02 pm said:
Albert Schepis I play PCH games pch.com They can access your computer through a back door I want to know is there a way to close that back door. I’m tired of thinking they have remotely entered my computer and are watching what I’m doing. Is their a program I can buy? I have the box checked that says no remote entry but I’m told they can over ride that.
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- Albert Schepis on December 10, 2021 at 12:17 am said:
  I don’t know too much about computer security vulnerability due to gaming, but that’s because I don’t do it and I think I’ve never been hacked or spied on. No evidence of it, anyway. I’m sure gaming is fun and addictive (probably hard to quit) but that’s what I’d consider doing, if you haven’t already secured your ports and set up a tight virtual network and/or firewall. Good luck with that.
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tamara beinlich on December 8, 2021 at 7:58 pm said:
I don’t like my brother either he’s a total jacka$$. lol. It sounds like your brother doesn’t like his cat. Maybe he was hoping you’d ask him if you can have his cat. If he’s stepping on his cat then he’s a moron and shouldn’t have a cat, LMAO!
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- Michael Broad on December 9, 2021 at 7:23 am said:
  I think you might have made a good point Tamara.
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- Albert Schepis on December 10, 2021 at 12:23 am said:
  Well, my brother never liked me because I could do almost everything better than him… and I was 5 years his junior. To get on his good side I’d have to act stupid and tolerate being berated by him, usually in front of his friends, so yeah he was kind of a jerk that way but I did love my brother anyway. Like I said, he’s passed away and I miss not being able to talk to him once in awhile. I don’t think he wanted to give me his cat. He genuinely wanted some magic method to avoid stepping on her that didn’t involve common sense, as he was in short supply of that. I shouldn’t go on about him like that anymore regardless if it was true. There’s usually something good about everyone and he had his good side.
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  - tamara beinlich on December 10, 2021 at 2:28 pm said:
    I get it. Mine didn’t like me because I was a girl and did everything better than him. We were only 2 years apart and when picking teams I always got picked before him. 🙂 Sorry your brothers gone now. Mine is in hospital with covid and with only one lung……….He tried to say he was sorry but I told him no worries cuz he was mean to me. Of us 4 kids I’m going to end up alone. But your story did make me laugh and got me to think about the growing up.
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    - Albert Schepis on December 10, 2021 at 3:42 pm said:
      I’m alone now too except for sister in law and niece, who’ve never been friendly to me either… probably because of my brother. I don’t blame them I suppose but they haven’t even said a word to me since he passed. He actually didn’t even tell me he went into the hospital. I don’t blame myself either as I was always decent and nice to all of them, so I don’t get that. It’s not even politics either as so many have trouble there, though my brother was opposite. Blood is not thicker. I just don’t get it…
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