What does your cat do while you eat?

I'm just wondering how many other people on this board have cats who beg for food and try to eat out of their bowls. It was actually kind of funny. I spread packing tape, sticky side up, all over the kitchen table with the fantasy of being able to eat in peace. Of course it didn't work out that way because my plate got stuck to the table, along with my arms, and it wasn't very pleasant.

My cat did stay off the table though so I thought it was a success. However, we had a group of people over the other day, and so I took the tape off the table. Today he was sitting on it just like before. I have taken to walking around the house with a plate in my hand. Not good.

Thanks
Mimi

My cats once a while jumps on the kitchen counter as I'm fixing their meals. They know that are not suppose to do that so I just say a firm "NO!" and they immediately jump right off. As for begging for food, I usually just let them sniff my food and 99% of the time, they don't even want to eat it. Yummy human food but my cats don't like them so I don't have a problem with them while I'm eating.

If your cat keep coming for your food, just ignore him or move him away until he finally gives up. It's a battle of patience and persistance.

While i'm cooking my food i always give Rosie and Sophie theirs, so by the time i'm sitting down to eat their busy giving themselves their after dinner bath

If I'm eating chicken wings Cleo will sit and watch me, never taking her eyes off the meat. I once found her with BBQ sauce all over her nose from a venture into the garbage.

Cassius is a yogurt feind. I cannot eat one without him trying to lick the lid or clean the container when I am finished.

Both Maggs and Jazz are shameless beggars . Jazz will jump up on the table and watch me eat, sometimes putting her paw on my hand as if to say "what about me?"

Tiger, Charlie and Ali beg, they get really close to the plate and sometimes try to steal it when I'm distracted. They won't be told they don't like something, they have to sniff and see for themselves. The others don't really bother but Penny does like to lick plates after you have finished if you don't watch her. If it's something like chicken or tuna for dinner then I can become a very popular mummy!

Pesters us - Ling's learned to just wait till we are done. Charlie's still in that process. They ALL know they will get a little extra bite in their supper, but the waiting is hard.

Charlie usually has to be told a few times to get down. While its cute when they try and steal food, its not what we want to let them do. No one is supposed to get food from the table - only after

Originally Posted by Rosiemac

While i'm cooking my food i always give Rosie and Sophie theirs, so by the time i'm sitting down to eat their busy giving themselves their after dinner bath

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yeah that. Sometimes I'l hold back a little on their dinner (give them 3/4 a portion instead of the whole thing) so there's something to put down for them if our dinner is late. That way they eat, we eat and no one is begging. Of course Stanley still wants to take his "after-dinner-after-bath" nap on my husband's lap.

We have a harder time keeping him from playing with the silverware (oooh shiny...)

Tomas dived into a plate of food shortly after I found him, since then if he's tried to stick his nose or paws in my food I've lightly bopped him on top the head (like a mother cat would), said NO, and pssst'ed at him. He now leaves me alone when I eat.

Now if I could only get him to keep his paws off my glass the little brat likes to try to tip it into my lap when I'm at the computer. He's succeeded once...lap full of ice water is no fun.

Out of eight, I have 2 that will do some shameless begging. Leopold and Junior are bold enough to get on the table. Junior's young enough that he's still learning, and Leopold's old enough that he forgot. That's my theory.

Paisley is funny. She'll curl up on the floor, right by the table while we eat...like a dog. She's a funny cat.

It depends on what is on the menu. Sometimes we are ignored and other times it's race to get the food to your mouth before it gets into theirs.

But ours are generally good about not begging. They get curious and sometimes we let them sniff. Just love that "what is that crap you are eating?" look.

The adult cats - QT, Skinny, Wawa, Joji, Ashley and Buddy - have good table manners. They sometimes sit and watch me and the rest of the time they leave me alone. On the other hand, the young ones - Ichi, Ni, San, Yon, Go - tend to be noisy and jump on the chairs. They are still learning not to go on the table so there are slip ups once in while.

well, since my kitchen table doubles as a dresser I usually eat on the couch at the coffee table. I am very lucky in that NONE of cats are stubborn enough too keep trying to snitch my food after being set down off the coffee table about 100 times and being told NO! over and over again, usually when I get a new cat it takes one meal to get through the idea that human food is not for them some of my cats have never even shown an interest. So my advice would be to just keep setting him down off the table along with a loud NO! in your best mean meowmy voice

He just stares at me. Sometimes with wide eyes, sometimes with half-closed "maybe i'll hypnotize her into giving me something" eyes.

My Juno usually just sits on the floor and stares at me. When she finally realizes theres none for her she leaves. Sweetie is bolder she'll jump on the TV tray I'm eating off of and then I make her get down. I do try to feed them first. If anything, I'll save a smidget for them after I'm finished. But not always.

If you want to keep your cat off of a surface, I find that sheets of bubble wrap work well. Something about jumping up on it is an unpleasant suprise and they tend to jump right off. Ive seen this happen with 2 cats (mine, my parents).

My cats have absolutely no interest in people food. It's weird. THE only thing they go crazy over is when I eat a bowl of cereal?? LOL they have to sit right in front of me and just stare at me so intensly.

Chessy is constantly trying to get in our food if there is any meat in it, and Emily could care less. Usually we keep Chessy out of our plates by holding him off or putting him on the floor repeatedly. When there's company though he has to go in another room during dinner, or there would be no keeping him out of their plates.

Originally Posted by Sicycat

My cats have absolutely no interest in people food. It's weird. THE only thing they go crazy over is when I eat a bowl of cereal?? LOL they have to sit right in front of me and just stare at me so intensly.

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Same here, they always want to drink the milk... but none for them!
They usually don't pay any attention to us when we're eating, but they will try and drink out of our glasses no matter whats in there!

We have four cats and two of them are shameless beggers...Gracie and Elliott.

They won't get up on the kitchen or dining room table to beg, but sit under the table pawing at your legs nonstop while we're eating.

If you happen to be sitting on the couch eating something they will sit on the coffee table, grab hold of your hand with their claws and try their best to pull the spoon or fork into their mouths....they are suprisingly strong little stinkers, they've both pulled my spoon into their mouths.