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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

In being annoyed at being asked to take my shoes off, when there are dogs and cats in the house.

46 replies

lesley33 · 19/04/2011 17:31

Okay I know lots of people have strong views on whether it is rude to ask people to take their shoes off when they enter your house or rude not to automatically take off your shoes when going into someone else's house.

But I was annoyed to be asked to take off my shoes in a friends house when there were 3 dogs and 3 cats downstairs. Surely the dogs and cats will have far more germs and dirt on their paws than I have on my shoes? And of course I ended up with animal hairs all over my socks.

So AIBU to be annoyed at this?

OP posts:

emsyj · 19/04/2011 17:42

Yes YABU. The grit and crap that comes off your shoes is just an extra that the house owner doesn't need on top of the animal hair.

Also some people ask you to remove your shoes in case your heels damage it.

If you don't want to take your shoes off then just don't go there again. Or go out in your slippers like me my friend.

MoonGirl1981 · 19/04/2011 17:42

I personally think asking someone to take off their shoes is odd. However, it's their home. Don't like it? Don't go round again.

Vallhala · 19/04/2011 17:44

I'm unsure if you are unreasonable - I don't require anyone to take their shoes off in my house, which has largely hard flooring, but neither do I have a problem with those who do.

But, if you are the type of person who objects to getting a few dog/cat hairs on your socks you'd be unlikely to welcomed with open arms in my house.

I have three dogs and three cats too.

expatinscotland · 19/04/2011 17:46

Yak. I don't get people who are precious about their floors, especially when they have animals that eat poop.

VivaLeBeaver · 19/04/2011 17:46

Guess you can wash your socks easier than they can wash their carpets. People are heavier and their feet aree bigger so dirt, etc on shoes will be more squished into carpets.

Original poster

lesley33 · 19/04/2011 17:47

I don't wear heels and I love animals. I am quite happy to accept that I will get animla hairs on my clothing. But I think it is rude to ask me to take my shoes off so I don't get any dirt on their floor, when I am getting animal hairs over me.

OP posts:

emsyj · 19/04/2011 17:48

I have two cats and don't care about dirt but have to ask people in heels to take their shoes off as the heels dent the parquet.

emsyj · 19/04/2011 17:50

Slippers! Take slippers with you. DH is mortified by my slipper-wearing in other people's houses, but I don't care. I love my slippers.

Vallhala · 19/04/2011 17:51

"I am quite happy to accept that I will get animla hairs on my clothing"

millie30 · 19/04/2011 17:53

I always ask people to take their shoes off because I have a light coloured carpet that I want to keep nice. However when my cat was alive I never used to expect people to take their shoes off, mainly because my cat would attack their feet!

spanky2 · 19/04/2011 18:03

I wouldn't call it a phobia but it's close, but I have a thing about dog poo. I have two cats but I ask people to take their shoes off incase they have unwittingly trodden in it or on a contaminated bit of ground (where a dog poo has been!)I know the cats won't tread in it. I'll quite happily dig manure in the ground or clean out the litter tray but dog poo shoes stay outside and are never clean - even after cleaning with bleach. I know it's not normal and I have had CBT, but it makes me feel better if I know the shoes are in the hall.

Rowan49 · 19/04/2011 18:03

I wouldn't ask someone to take off their shoes but I'd prefer it if they did as although I have wooden floors downstairs I have cream carpets on the stairs and upstairs.

I have a dog and two cats - I don't get the connection? My dog gets her paws rubbed non too gently with a towel if her paws are muddy. Unless you want me to do that to your feet ... ? :D

ihatecbeebies · 19/04/2011 18:04

I have a light coloured carpet too and ask people to take shoes off at the door, but the carpet is only a month old. I have two cats as well but are indoor cats (not sure if this actually makes any difference?).

GabbyLoggon · 19/04/2011 18:08

Is this taking your shoes off aposh/rich game?

I would never expect to be asked to take my shoes off. (Trousers in the right circumstance.

Is it mainly house-prouders with WHITE carpets

KnickersOnOnesHead · 19/04/2011 18:14

I'm not fussed whether people take their shoes off or not, nut I always take mine off in every house. Must be something I was brought up to do.

FlamingJamie · 19/04/2011 18:14

I would not expect adults to take off their shoes. I would offer in someone else's house (and actually I prefer not wearing shoes), but I think it's a bit rude to expect it. Children are different because they tend to not watch where they are going and run about on muddy fields

FlamingJamie · 19/04/2011 18:15

Cat's often have shitty paws - they tread in their own poo when attempting to bury it

GabbyLoggon · 19/04/2011 18:19

Harry Secome had total white carpetting and every size of slipper in the hallway.

A bit unfunny for a comedian

FlamingJamie · 19/04/2011 18:19

Gabby - you know all the best facts

Original poster

lesley33 · 19/04/2011 18:20

I would expect that both dogs and cats would have unseen poo and germs on their paws. So I don't see the point of having cats and dogs that go outside every day and then being funny about adults wearing their non muddy shoes inside.

OP posts:

Rowan49 · 19/04/2011 18:26

Yeah but you wouldn't know they were non muddy unless you asked them to lift their feet up first would you? And that would look REALLY weird!

FlamingJamie · 19/04/2011 18:29

lesley - I'm agreeing with you - it doesn't seem to make sense. Having said I wouldn't ask adults to remove shoes, I'd expect them to wipe their feet, or take off muddy boots. Reasonable people would do that anyway.

CheshireDing · 19/04/2011 18:29

Sorry we have a dog and a cat and we ask people to take their shoes off.

The dogs paws get wiped with his towel when he comes back from a walk and we have guest slippers people can wear.

We take our shoes off as soon as we are home and I just don't want dirty carpets when we paid good money for them, or to get dog poo that someone has stood in on the carpet.

It's especially needed in the winter time when it has been raining, if we let the dog and people wonder around with shoes on the carpets would be rank. Oh and we are def not posh/loaded :)

emsyj · 19/04/2011 18:29

A friend of mine has baskets of slippers in her hallway so that you can take your shoes off and wear random sweaty slippers instead.

No, I am being unfair. She is a very clean, scrubbed, immaculate sort of person and her slipper selection is similarly pristine. Still felt odd wearing someone else's slippers tho. That's why I take my own these days!

FlamingJamie · 19/04/2011 18:31

Cheshire - do you wipe your cat's paws? (I have a cat)

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