Tag Archives: tripping

Q&A: Why Does My Cat Insist on Tripping Me?

Q: My cat is always tripping me up, especially if I’m carrying something big. Why does he do this?

A: Ah, yes. Tripping over cats. It’s quite a conundrum if you aren’t thinking like a cat. So why do they do this?

The answers are fairly simple. If you watch cats interact, then you will notice that when they pass close to each other, they stop and sniff each other a bit. It’s a kind of “Hi! Whatcha been doing? You okay?” check. Sometimes it’s brief, sometimes they take a moment to rub up against each other, do a little bonding grooming, etc. But they almost always stop to greet each other. They don’t just walk past each other like humans. That would be rude in cat etiquette.

So your kitty is just stopping to rub up against you, sniff you a bit, and saying hi.

Now, when you’re carrying something large, you will walk differently, and the thing you’re carrying doesn’t smell like you. So even a cat that is not just happening to greet you may come inspect you to see if you’re okay. They want to know why you’re walking funny, and why you don’t smell like they expect. Just like they might inspect another cat who is suddenly wobbly on its feet.

So, before you curse your cat out for being in the way, remember that kitty is just being politely inquisitive. If you can set what you’re carrying down for a brief inspection, and give kitty some pets, he should be reassured and let you pass by.