Cats' love for shoes may be due to several reasons: 1. Familiar smells: Cats have a very sensitive sense of smell, and they can identify and remember things through smell. The shoes contain the owner's scent, including sweat and other personal odors, which are familiar and comfortable to cats. 2. Sense of security and comfort: Cats may view shoes with their owner’s scent as a symbol of security and comfort. When the owner is not at home, some cats will even sleep on shoes because they can feel the presence of the owner and gain a sense of security.

3. Marking territory: Cats will leave their own scent in their territory to mark their territory. Scrubbing in shoes helps cats leave their scent in their environment, which is a territorial behavior.

4. Play: Shoes may be the perfect shape and size for kittens to use as toys. Shoelaces or certain parts of the upper may attract cats' attention and become the object of their play.