kitten stole my slippers and will not leave

My kitten has decided that my new slippers are her primary pillow. She curls up inside them every night and refuses to come out unless I make a loud noise.

I love her, but I really want to walk around the house in my slippers. How do I get a kitten to stop sleeping inside slippers without ruining her trust in me?

Haha, Olive is doing the same thing with my socks! It's such a cute phase but so annoying when you just want to wear your shoes.

I tried the "switcheroo" method where I put a toy inside the slipper so she plays instead of sleeps. It worked for a few days. Also, check out this thread about why cats prefer your stuff: Why my cat ignores the $50 bed. It explains why the fabric is so appealing to them.

Please avoid making loud noises to wake her up. Sudden startle responses can increase cortisol levels and may lead to defensive aggression over time. If you must move her, do so gently when she is already stirring. For safe handling techniques, refer to Safe handling when moving a sleeping cat.

It is also worth considering if the slippers are the only warm spot in the house. Cats seek out specific thermal environments.

I think the issue is less about the object and more about the scent. Your slippers carry your smell, which provides a sense of security. When I introduced Quiet to a new bed, she ignored it for weeks.

I eventually placed one of my worn t-shirts in the bed. It helped bridge the gap. You might try leaving a piece of your clothing in her designated sleeping area. See my post on Using your old shirt to comfort the cat for more on scent-based comfort.

Just stop letting her in the room where the slippers are at night. Simple as that.

If she's used to being handled, you can just scoop her up and put her in her bed. But if she's like my Rocky, who hisses if I even look at him wrong, you gotta be careful. Check out Rocky hates when I pick him up to see how I deal with a cat that hates being moved.

@RiverQuiet that makes sense. She does seem to bury her nose in the wool part. I'll try the t-shirt trick.

@mike_m67 I can't really lock her out of the bedroom, she's still very young. And I don't want to start a habit of scooping her up if she's not used to it. I'm worried she'll bite me if I try to take the slippers away.

The solution depends heavily on her age and current behavioral baseline. If she is under 12 weeks, this is likely normal exploratory behavior that can be redirected with play. If she is older or has a history of fear, the approach must be much slower.

For younger kittens, redirecting energy is key. See Kitten attacks my ankles every night for redirection techniques. For older or shy cats, building positive associations with the new bed is crucial. See Getting my shy cat to use the new cat bed.

Also, ensure she is not chewing the slippers due to teething discomfort. Check Kitten chewing on cords and slippers if you notice fraying.