Siamese Kitten - Stealing Food From Table - Help!

lilibeth

Ok I have a new kitten (4 month old Siamese). She has free access to proper kitten food and fresh running water at all times. She came from a reputable breeder and had free access to food there as well. She eats a correct amount for her age and size and appears to love the kitten food she is fed.

Now we aren't talking the odd thieving session and we are not talking about unattended food (I know what the answer to that is, cover it) - before I get a lecture.

No we are talking about a persistent kitten thief who is so bad that you can put her from table to floor fifty times and she will still jump straight back up and thieve off of the side of the plate or plunge head first into a cup of tea. She'll even snatch it from your hand as it is about to go in your mouth. She is 100% healthy, fully vaccinated, dewormed, deflead vet checked three times (twice with breeder and once with me). No other behavioural problems or quirks. And she is so laid back and chilled out that it is almost comical. Nothing phases her and she is really affectionate and playful.


Now I immediately thought water spray. Guess what, she bloody likes it!:rotfl:

The only thing that worked and it was an accidental discovery was when she knocked the pepper pot over. A tiny puff of black ground pepper went in her direction and she screwed up her face backed off and actually got down.

But my concern would be that to repeat it on purpose would be cruel or perhaps even harmful. I want her to find stealing food unpleasant but I don't want to cause her harm or distress. I felt bad enough squirting her with water.

Eating every single meal, snack and drink in my room for the rest of my life is just not realistic.

Please help (before I starve and dehydrate to death)
Yours desperately
Lilibeth
P.S Breeder had no new ideas on what to do either.
Lilibeth

Mankysteve

our old cat would sit on the back of your chair the as you lifted you arm. They would try and nick some food. Right pair of scroungers. Just got to keep discouraging the behaviours but some wont grow out of it. Wellcome to the wonders of cat ownership.

lilibeth

I am well used to cat ownership but I have never seen this level of persistence or interest in human food and drink in any cat I have owned.

GemJar_2

Do you eat at a table? My cats did this all the time it was really really annoying! Anyway, it turns out cats hate the smell of orange and lemon. If you eat at the table, run an orange smelling antiseptic wipe over the tabletop, chair legs, table legs and she should stop doing it.

Also stops them from knocking over the bin. We dont rub the table or the bin with orange smell anymore, they just stopped doing it after a bit. Hope this helps!

wannabepennypincher

I had this issue with my cat, what we did was lift him down and say no quite firmly. When this didn't work we would pick him up and put him a room and shut the door. It took a good couple of months before we saw any kind of difference.

He still can't resist chicken or fish but after a while he understands (I think) when we put him down and say no, at least he doesn't jump back up he just sits there with sad eyes.

Probaly goes without saying but make sure no-one else in the house is sneaking him little bits. You could spend months "training" him but one little bit from your plate will undo all your hard work.

ShillyShally

You have my sympathies. I have a 15 year old oriental and the best I have managed is that he now mostly resists the urge to whip your food off the fork en route to your mouth but if you're eating something he likes, forget it!

He is shut out of the dining room at meal times but will happily barge the door open for fish! When we have guests I shut him in the bedroom to keep him out of the way; non-cat people tend to look a little askance at cats on the dining table! Siamese and orientals tend to do as they please and our job is just to cater to their every whim

lilibeth

Thanks for the responses so far. I was expecting a lecture!
It feels good to know I'm not alone with this. I'd still appreciate some strategies if anyone has some. None of my other cats have been so fixated. If she was a half starved rescue cat I could understand it. But she is a pedigree who's only trauma has been moving away from her mum and sister and brothers.

@shillyshally
Totally get you. Siamese/Orientals are like Über cats when it comes to taking a cat personality to the extremes. I absolutely love their personalities and all their 'talking'.

sarabe

Why don't you just give your cat mealtimes instead of free feeding him. Give him his meal in another room and then go and eat yours.. When you have finished pick up his dishes too whether he has finished or not. He will soon learn that the only opportunity to eat is when you give it to him.

You could also clicker train him to go to his bed. Bet you'll find the 'how to' on you tube somewhere.

lostinrates

GemJar wrote: »

! Anyway, it turns out cats hate the smell of orange and lemon. If you eat at the table, run an orange smelling antiseptic wipe over the tabletop, chair legs, table legs and she should stop doing it.

But its a Siamese...so normal rules may not apply! when we first moved with our two siamese I went a head, with a lemon and lemon soap, putting it anywhere I didn't want them to investigate too closely, it didn't work. A few months later I found them having stolen an orange and a lemon which had been grated.....licking like mad, citrus is a nightmare here: mine love it!

I was really strict about benches and table tops when they were little. Water did work for us, but so did unrolled and noisey tin foil. Tables, I'm afraid I was a real meany and blew in their faces. They are 7 now and pretty good, but I have noted we could do with some revision:o

wannabepennypincher

lostinrates wrote: »

But its a Siamese...so normal rules may not apply! when we first moved with our two siamese I went a head, with a lemon and lemon soap, putting it anywhere I didn't want them to investigate too closely, it didn't work. A few months later I found them having stolen an orange and a lemon which had been grated.....licking like mad, citrus is a nightmare here: mine love it!

You know my little one loves satsumas, he will bat it around for ages then have a little munch then start batting it towards the other cats as it amuses him greatly to watch them all bolt from the smell. He likes all the things cats are not supposed to like and will even hop in the bath while we shower so he can splash in the water. He's a plain black moggy but I can't help but wonder if he has a little siamese somewhere from a grandparent.

sarabe

Here you go. Clicker training a kitten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shtZNXOAOR4