Help! Cat driving me mad!

Ishtar

Not literally, but I can't seem to get through to her so would appreciate any advice.

We got her about 4 months ago from Cats Protection and she is around 7/8 months old. However, we can't seem to get her to realise what is acceptable behaviour and what's not - I've had cats all my life and I don't understand what's going on with her.

The problem is that she is constantly stealing food - always up on the sides in the kitchen, jumping on the table at mealtimes and helping herself to food (she jumps up straight onto your lap and grabs food before you can stop her!). We've had her checked by the vet and there aren't any medical problems, it all seems to be behavioural.

She has plenty of food down all day, and is obviously eating it, so it can't be that she's hungry - we've tried many different cat foods and we change them every so often in case she's bored.

We've tried saying 'no' and moving her away, we've tried a water spray, and now we're having to shut her outside when we're eating (where she sits meowing throughout the whole meal time).

Apart from this problem she's a lovely little thing, but we're starting to think very seriously about having to let her go. We have a 2 year old daughter so life's hectic enough without having to deal with a cat who should really know better by now.

Any advice would be gratefully received! Thanks for listening...

Cheers
D.

Sharifa_2

When was she last wormed?

It does sound like insecurity/past trauma to me; I have a cat like that and her behaviour never has changed, but I have learned to live with it, and be firm and consistent. You've had her for 4 months but she's only 7/8 months old; she's still a very young cat. I'd say give it more time.

One more thing - is there any way she could be pregnant?

Gingernutmeg

I wonder if it's something to do with how she was treated before? Like Sharifa says, cats really don't get over things that have happened to them in the past. I have two 'rescued' cats - we're not entirely sure what happened to them before we got them but we know they didn't have an easy time. They are terrified of plastic bags, bin bags, and boxes, absolutely hate them and will run a mile if they see them. The younger one is also terrified of feet, especially mens/bigger feet ... we wondered whether he might have been kicked at some point, as when he had to have an xray once the vet noticed old rib damage. Their 'jitteryness' has got better over time, but if you catch the youngest one unawares he'll still leap through the roof. We hope they realise that we won't hurt them, but I honestly do think that cats have long memories.

Maybe you could try being really consistent with mealtimes? Just leave water out all day and then feed her at certain times of the day (maybe when you're having your meal so you get some peace lol). If she gets into a routine and can see that food will be there at certain times, she might get a bit less anxious and stop stealing.

Cat72

Hi
I have had cats all my life too but about three years ago I got another recue cat and she caused so many probllems I was at my wits end ! ( she is in the photo ) It sounds like your cat has been quite traumatised by its past and is insecure.Unfortunately time is the best healer but you can try a few things to help out in the meantime.Sorry if you have tried these suggestions but this it what I would advise-
1- feed her before you have or prepare her meals- maybe try some specail tasty food in the meantime.
2- simply constantily continue saying "no" everytime she jumps up or does anything you dont want.And lift her down.This might get very repetative but it will EVENTUALLY work ( some cats are more determined than others ).
3- clean your worktops with someting strong smelling like pine or orange smelling disinfectent.Some people say cats dislike orange smells .
4- we got Feliway for our cat for 2 months which helps calm them down & feel more settled.Reviews here .We have a plug in spray and it did cost about £20 but you might get it a bit cheaper on line.But it helped our cat get a bit more settled.
4 months is still quite early for a cat to settle in who is traumatised so you might want to decide what you feel is best for her & you. I would stick very much to a rountinue- same cat food ( i use james wellbeloved turkey flavour my cats go mad for it ) and dont give in to her.Keep saying no and if you feel its best to lock her out the room just keep doing it till she learns thats what is acceptable. As you know cats do like to please so hopefully if she feels secure ,knows her food is always there she will settle down. My latest cat was starved when we got him in december and was constantily scavaging & begging.He thought nothing of grapping food from our plate or ripping open the bins.However he has calmed down now as he is feed constantily and is now tubby.He still will jump up on the units now &again but he gets dumped back on the floor- I never thought he would learn the house rules but he is getting there, just at his own pace.

Ishtar

Thanks for all your replies - some really good advice.

SharifaShe was wormed recently - she's not long had her vaccinations so we thought it a good idea to tie worming in with that, so that we remembered when it was due. Might be an idea to think about giving her another treatment though.

She's been spayed, so no problem with pregnancy.

Gingernutmeg I hadn't thought about taking her food up during the day - you might be right, it might encourage her to leave us alone while we're eating!

Cat72Great advice about cleaning the sides with strong-smelling cleaners - again something I'd not thought about (even though I do clean the sides ) I'll give that a try.

I don't really know much about her history, just that she lived with a large number of other cats in the house of an elderly lady. I'm guessing she hasn't been socialised by humans, so doesn't really know how to behave - I suspect that the cats had the run of the house and were able to do what they wanted.

When she first came to us she used to bolt her food down which led to a severe tummy upset - we were advised by the vet to feed dried food to slow her down. One thing that has just struck me is that any food other than dried is much easier to eat, so again, that might be one reason why she's stealing from elsewhere. I may start mixing some tinned food into her dry - which would be a great help if I restrict feeding her to (our) mealtimes. She goes crazy over it, so that would hopefully distract her while we're eating.

Thanks guys - you've been really helpful!
Take care
D.

liz545

Ishtar - we used to combine wet and dry food as we were told that the water content of wet food helps prevent UTI's. I've since discovered that if you add a little hot water to most dry foods it forms a kind of gravy and stops the biscuits being too hard for sensitive mouths. May be worth a try? And I'd definately put her dinner down just before you sit down to eat yours - it'll distract her and hopefully she won't be as hungry so won't try to steal from your plate!

sooz

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

They are terrified of plastic bags, bin bags, and boxes, absolutely hate them and will run a mile if they see them. The younger one is also terrified of feet, especially mens/bigger feet ... we wondered whether he might have been kicked at some point.

that sounds exactly like my cat......

I'd often wondered where he goes to when he wanders off...now I know

very weird! I got mine when he was 6 weeks old, and I too think he was maltreated by a man with a plastic bag before I bought him

suzanne72_2

Ishtar wrote: »

Apart from this problem she's a lovely little thing, but we're starting to think very seriously about having to let her go. We have a 2 year old daughter so life's hectic enough without having to deal with a cat who should really know better by now.


I can't believe you are thinking about "letting her go" because she doesn't come up to your expectations!!

You said you got the cat from the cats protection league? Obviously this poor kitty has not had the best start in life and by "returning" her you are partly responsible for her future.

I really don't understand people who buy cats then want to give them back when they aren't perfect.

Your situation is not that drastic to warrant giving the cat up, you just need patience or to be a little firmer. Did you really think this through before re-homing an abandoned cat?

I'm just shocked, I'd never give up a rescued cat for whatever reason let alone a trivial one.

DIRTY_CASH

If moggy comes from a house which had many other cats also then this is classic behavior - many cats and not a lot of food will result in the cat snatching and stealing it at every opportunity. Also if she has seen feeding as a group thing she thinks she is being social and doing nothing wrong.
Bolting the food is also classic. My cat is a rescue cat and we couldn't do anything with him for weeks. We couldn't even stroke his sides as he used to go for you. My sister picked him up and tried this once - it sank its fangs into her hand!!!.

Unfortunately for him - we worked out what he didn't like and that was carrier bags. If he even came near the table - we shook the bag and he retreated to the door. After a while he got used to it and now doesn't bother us at meal times at all.

We also feed him first - in his own space - i.e the bathroom. He has got used to this being his food and the kitchen table being out of bounds. He is such a bundle of love and fun now - I know its frustrating but stick with moggy - they get used to us eventually.

teapot2

Gingernutmeg wrote: »

I wonder if it's something to do with how she was treated before? Like Sharifa says, cats really don't get over things that have happened to them in the past. I have two 'rescued' cats - we're not entirely sure what happened to them before we got them but we know they didn't have an easy time. They are terrified of plastic bags, bin bags, and boxes, absolutely hate them and will run a mile if they see them. The younger one is also terrified of feet, especially mens/bigger feet

Hi Gingernutmeg, that is so weird you could have been describing our lovely cat sadly now deceased. He was an abandoned stray who lived outside in the bushes round our flats. i have never seen such a scared cat in my life. I put food down for him by dropping it out of the ground floor window for over a year before I was able to pat him. Then one day he appeared at the door and came in and stayed, he didn't go out for 6 weeks! He was very scared but determined and if anyone raised an arm he was off behind the settee but after 6 months he was able to sit on my knee... He eventually settled and was always a completely lovely boy even when he was nicking food and jumping on the surfaces - I understood it was what he'd been through that made him be like that. He lived with us for 13 years but sadly in the end got all sorts of medical complications including diabetes. We had to have him put down in the end when the vets couldn't stabalise the diabetes after 2 years or so. We were brokenhearted and I still miss him. Have more rescue cats now but he was the best boy.

So Ishtar stick with it, try some of the tips on here but please be patient it does take time.