They're always under your feet (5)
I believe the answer is:
soles
'feet' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for soles that I've seen before include "Undersides of feet" , "Shoe bottoms" , "They're always under one's feet!" , "Undersurfaces of feet" , "Parts of shoes" .)