Stealing Underwear??

Hello there!

So I have 3 kitties, Stanley and Suzie, who are both 4years, and littermates. Then Rollie who is just under a year.

Recently (within the last two weeks or so) I have noticed that a specific pair of my underwear kept showing up in my hallway, or living room. Each time I would pick it up, and toss it back into the corner of my room (this isn't even a dirty pair, I have a clothes basket on the floor, that it was in)

Well I ended up actually catching it happening in the act. I was laying in my bed and I hear Suzy start meowing loudly, almost like the calls when she is looking for Stanley. I sit up to see her with my underwear in her mouth, walking out of my bedroom.

Since then I have come home to the underwear being in odd places again, and have caught her in the act a few more times. Each time she meowls while carrying it. Then she sits and slightly chews on it some and walks around with it more. (I was curious to see exactly what she did with it)

Now I would think that there was just something special about that pair of underwear but yesterday she did it again, but with a completely different pair!

She has never done this before, why would she start now? It's awkward to bring someone over to your house, to have them walk in and see your underwear on the living room floor.

Any idea why a cat might do this sort of thing? (I know I can just make sure my underwear is out of her reach, but this is such abnormal behavior)

sounds absolutely hilarious

it's a toy. Not underwear. It's also fair game if it's within reach, and it's prey if it's being dragged around. Nothing abnormal at all (I, for example, had my best shoes dragged out of the cabinet they were in and chewed on by the Rogue. He'll drag and chew anything that interests him.)

So anyone lucky enough to be invited over to your house is in for some joyful kitties (anyone thinking it's awkward I wouldn't invite over).

If you don't like it, you'll have to keep it in drawers (but I would at least substitute with some other cat toys)  

Yep, my cat stole my mom's underwear when she visited. Awkward.

Cats like to play with all sorts of weird objects, no matter how many toys they've got and even if you play with them regularly. Yours just happened to discover the joys of underwear. Mine goes for napkins, coasters, contact lens cases, toilet paper, tax paperwork, whatever she can move. I draw the line at shards of glass.

I've heard of cats that get out and steal laundry from the neighbours clothes line, you're lucky that she only takes your clothes.

I think there is something about worn clothes, even when they are clean, that cats really like. One of my cats, Albert, has got a thing about socks. Another of my cats steals my hair scrunchies and buries them in the plant pots.

I don't think it's that unusual. You'll just have to get a lid for your clothes basket.

Lilith has a thing for bath poufs. she will go in my DD's bathroom ,take it out of the shower and then hide it under my bed. I go get it, put it back and she goes and takes it again. I thought I'd give her a different one so she'd stop. I got her a new one from the closet. She happily took it, pranced through the house with it and hid it under my bed. Then she went and took DD's out of the bathroom and put that one under the bed with the one I just gave her. 

It's just another reason why they are so cute and we love them so much. 

Lol I have a cat who likes to steal underwear too. He was a stray I took in. 

       Now he will not use the litter box but will go outside. Just like a dog. So when he needs to go he cries at the door and we let him out. He's never gone more than 1 hour.

 Unfortunately people around here like to leave their Windows and door open in the spring and fall. So when when he does go out he always has underwear and something else from time to time.

 I have a box of other people' underwear by my washer and wash it when the box gets full. Let me tell you it is not fun walking down the street ask people if any of it is theirs. Thank god most of it is from my aunt. Most of the people around here are family. But my aunt is the only one who thinks it's funny. She not get one word out most time as she looks in the box.

  I know most of you are thinking just don't bring it back but I don't want Cajun getting hurt . if if he keeps taking people's stuff someone will see him one day. So if they do at least this way maybe they'll just tell me when I bring it back and not shot him on the spot. 

Your cat is dragging 'prey' to her 'kittens' and is calling them to eat. My female  (who never had kittens and was spayed) used to do that a lot, it was a weird loud cry and I always rushed in to see what was wrong. I finally figured it out when I saw (and heard) a feral mama doing the same thing with a mouse. That's instinct for you!

Thanks for the replies everyone! I really appreciate it. 

Di and Bob said:

 
Your cat is dragging 'prey' to her 'kittens' and is calling them to eat. My female  (who never had kittens and was spayed) used to do that a lot, it was a weird loud cry and I always rushed in to see what was wrong. I finally figured it out when I saw (and heard) a feral mama doing the same thing with a mouse. That's instinct for you!

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I didn't even consider something like this, but it makes perfect sense. 

My cats steal my socks all the time. They will also drag my shoes by the laces for short distances. I am always coming home to find a sock by the food dish, or behind the fridge. I see them playing with them the way they do with their other toys, so it doesn't appear to be anything creepy. I think they just like the residual smell of worn clothes, and smaller articles are easy to carry around. 

Socks, underwear, shoes (with velcro closures), various things like nail clippers, fever thermometers and pens. Basically, anything that can be picked up in the mouth. I find socks scattered from the back porch to behind the wood stove at the other end of the house.