cat...driving me mad

paddypaws101

[QUOTE=ztan;38053310
Definitely try lemon- even cleaning spray- you could just use citrus cleaning products and it may assist matters?[/QUOTE]

Be careful with over liberal use of cleaning products....the cat will lick them off its paws and many are toxic. I think a very diluted spray of natural oils would be better although some essential oils are toxic too!

Edit to add.....Bleach is actually very attractive to many cats so using this on surfaces could be further encouraging them.

dizziblonde

Might make you laugh about the begging for food thing. I was having a chat with a tutoring mum about her cat being put on a diet by the V-E-T... meanwhile, in the background, the crafty little beggar was hooking his paw around the bottom of the correct kitchen cupboard and opening it to help himself to a mid-afternoon snack. Not come across one who can successfully open spring hinged kitchen cupboards before.

rita-rabbit

EmptyPockets wrote: »

Our cats are also never allowed in the kitchen. Can't you just keep them out?

Ours have a constant supply of dry food down, and then a regular breakfast and regular supper, which is wet food. They know their feeding routine as we stick to it, and in-between feeding times they either help themselves to dry food or sleep. They never come looking for more. Can yours have some dry available all day like this?

one of my two is very greedy & so I do not free-feed any cat food. I find higher quality food = more easily satisfied with what you give them - that and keeping food out of reach/locked away (maybe you will need to put childproof locks on fridge & cupboards also?)

threemuttleys

Okies...tin foil doesnt work...caught Louis this morning. Am going to spray fresh Lemon juice in a mo and see what effect that has

going to experiment tonight, we are going to put down the entire 2kg of dry cat food (along with loads of water) and see if they just demolish it, or if they come back to it later. Both are pushing their luck..Jasper tried to steal Poppy dogs breakfast (and she is the least cat friendly dog...doesnt see the point in them!) and Louis tried to steal my Frosties (thats grounds for shooting!)

KSB235

We rescued 2 kittens (at 12 weeks) that had not been fed any kind of cat food by their owners, but had been given all manner of 'human' food by their 2 children (crisps, ice cream etc) whenever they could get it. Because they had effectively been starved they were the worst cats ever for stealing human food as it was all they knew - they would literaly jump on your plate and you had to fight them off. It took us over a year to 'train' them out of this behaviour so don't expect any quick fixes to this behaviour.

The main thing we did was shut them out of rooms that food was either being prepared or eaten in. Awkward at times yes and a little annoying, but you effectively eliminate the problem.

We very gradually introduced them back into the living room when we were eating - starting off with a packet of crisps and moving up to us eating a whole meal. Eventually they were allowed in the kitchen (although if the ever tried to steal food at any time they would be shut back out in the hallway to enforce the point). 2 years later and the only food they so much as raise a whisker at is chicken, and tuna (but i only feed that to them anyway).

The other thing is to make sure they only get fed out of their bowls, and in the same place everytime, as part of a strict (ish - I know how hard this is in real life ) feeding routine. No tit bits off plates or on the floor etc.

I know this sounds a bit extreme but providing you have ruled out health issues with the vet and are feeding them a reasonable amount for their size and activity level, this is the kind of work required to actively treat behavioural problems such as this.

With regard to the worktops - I totally understand where you are coming from, I have OCD with cleaning (genuinely) and struggled for a long time to keep them off worktops, i'd bang something or use the water pistol to get them down when I'm there so they generally don't jump up now. But when I'm not there - who knows? I antibac every time i get home and before i prepare food, but sometimes i just think you have to chose your battles

Good luck!

rita-rabbit

The above is also excellent advice. I would also go as far as to say NEVER give them human food from off your plate either. That way it is an oddity to them.

Occasionally I give mine human grade fish from the tin but they know they can only eat what has been put in their bowls - nothing from my plate.

mandi

My cat would, if she could eat till she was sick then eat some more .:eek:

After months of seriously considering re homing her , I decided action needed to be taken .

She now has 3 pouches a day with a minimum of 5 hours between each one ( half more than the vet recommends) I used to feed her on demand , just to get some peace

She has stopped climbing on the worktops now because she knows that she will be zapped with a water pistol , and has stopped crying for food . Don't get me wrong its been hard work , but it's finally paying off .

cally6008

threemuttleys wrote: »

Okies...tin foil doesnt work...caught Louis this morning. Am going to spray fresh Lemon juice in a mo and see what effect that has

going to experiment tonight, we are going to put down the entire 2kg of dry cat food (along with loads of water) and see if they just demolish it, or if they come back to it later. Both are pushing their luck..Jasper tried to steal Poppy dogs breakfast (and she is the least cat friendly dog...doesnt see the point in them!) and Louis tried to steal my Frosties (thats grounds for shooting!)

I think you are asking for trouble doing this. You've already said this - quote we tried leaving dry food down all the time, but honestly, they just guzzled the lot in one go...sooooo maddening! and now you're putting down a whole 2kg bag of food for them overnight ...

Here's hoping you dont have a too large vet bill to deal with in the next couple of days!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

talking about putting things on the worktops like vic make me chukkle. i dont feed mine in the kitchen. and have stopped them going in the kitchen when the door is open by putting white vinigar on the metal carpet grip between hall and kitchen they hate the smell of it and mine dont pass the door you could try vic on the carpet grip and chuck them out the kitchen and feed else where, i have a downstairs toilet they get fed in.