Eating from the table

Are you a nice mom/dad and let your cats sample from what you're eating?

Or are you a mean mom/dad like me and refuse to let them have even a bite, even one time?

Maybe it's just because these are my first kittens and I'll lighten up later on, but they do not get to share in what I eat. Frankly, a lot of the stuff I'm eating I'm not even sure is good for ME much less for the babies.

Do you agree? How do you feel about feeding pets from the table?

I am a good mom and NEVER feed my cats from the table. Human food, prepared with spices and such is NOT good for cats. It's not a question of being nice or mean, it's a question of doing the best thing for your cats. Feeding them from the table fosters behavior that I don't want my kitties exhibiting, bothering me while I eating, jumping up on the table while I'm eating and possibly while entertaining guests are not manners I want my kitties to acquire. The dining room table and the kitchen counters are the 2 areas that are completely off limits to my kitties. Training them when they're young to not bug you while eating and to stay off the counters is teaching them manners and proper behavior.

Just to clarify, the "nice" and "mean" was meant to be sort of sarcastic, like from the kitty's perspective.

Well I have always wanted to post something like this but did not want to start a "war". Now I think some people food for a "normal and healthy" cat as a treat is fine. When I say cat I also mean domestic cat.

So with that in mind I will share my experience, like it or not . I give my three domestic cats bits of meat if they want it when I have it. I will give them small pieces of Bologna, Steak, Hamburger, Turkey (a favorite) and Turkey breast.

Now my domestic cats might be odd but as they have gotten older (13/17 to 1 and half years old) they will just take some of the food I offer or ignore it all together . When they where younger they loved it but not so much anymore. I guess cause it is not a treat?

Now I have never fed them from the table. I will only feed them in there dish due to the fact I may love cats but not IN MY DINNER .

Well with lots of kids running around my house, my animals are bound to have some people food

Their favorite is when the kids have school, I get them eat, they eat breakfast and we rush out the door, I leave everything where it is until I get them on the bus then I come in and clean up, usually when I come in the cats are on the table licking out of the cereal bowls

It doesn't really bother me, when it's meal time, Oliver likes to get up and sniff my plate to see what I'm having, I let him sniff then I set him on the floor.

I don't mind sharing some of my food (broiled steak, chicken, fish). I am not fond of spicy food and if I did, I would not give my cats.
Oh, and btw, my kitties have never jumped on the table while I am eating or if there are guests. They're pretty well behaved. The closest they have come to begging is just sitting and looking up at me with cutie patootsie eyes.

I do share on occasion, but like dogs, its never a good idea to share while you are eating, as it just sets them up to become nuisasance beggers.

I share healthy items, in their own dishes, after I have finished.

I've fed Monet chicken and fish, as long as they don't have seasoning. I've also fed him cauliflower. Those are the 3 things he'd get as snacks from me

A freshly air popped kernel of popcorn MAY or may NOT have fallen on the floor a time or two while popping (rarity)

Sometimes I let him sniff things and that satisfies him... like if I have a drink or food and he comes over and sniffs it then he walks away.

I don't really give him ppl food though other than his pumpkin and as I said a piece of plain popcorn or two

No way for my cats, as it sets a bad precedent.

Both my sister's dogs harass guests at the table because they are constantly being fed table scraps. Cute as puppies, but a hugely muscular Boxer laying his heavy head on you with occasional tummy nudges is not always cute.

Mine never get so much as a lick, and while they are allowed on the table, if they get close to anyone eating they get an immediate "TSST!" followed by ejection from the table if not respectful.

The advantage with being 100% consistent, is that even a foodie like Wesley (he will meow your head off around feeding time or when he smells or hears his can food being opened) will not touch food I put on the table while I'm still walking back and forth setting things out. May be mean, but its for both our sakes.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

Mine never get so much as a lick, and while they are allowed on the table, if they get close to anyone eating they get an immediate "TSST!" followed by ejection from the table if not respectful.

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That's exactly my policy. Once they discovered that they wanted what I was eating (took them awhile to cotton on), it took several tries per meal and dumping them on the floor over & over to get results, but now they might try to get close once or twice and my hiss sends them packing. It's nice to eat in peace. Underrated.

Thanks all for the responses. It's interesting to hear everyone's views. My friends who have cats think I am a mean mom, but it's my house!

My cats do not eat any table food. Never gave it much thought to be honest. The nakeds never showed any interest in what we were eating. Now when it is time for them to eat, they caterwaul and whine until the food is set down in fromt of them.

Growing up we had a cat named Groucho, that cat LOVED sauerkraut and would do anything to get a bite. Strange cat he was I still miss him and he has been gone for 25 years or so.

Sami is a begger. She will sit there and stare in your face for food and make little chirpy noises to get your attention. (She does this with roommate, not me, since I don't feed her anything).

Parker and Buddy are not even allowed in the room when I eat because I don't like being watched while I eat. However, if I have something they can safely eat, I will, occasionally, save them a bite and feed it to them away from my plate so they don't see it coming from there.

My sister feeds her cats from her plate on the table and I can't stand it. When I am there, her big, beefy, bossy cat will come over and actually try to take food off of your plate as you're eating. She meows loudly if you try to shoo her away. Not a good experience for guests! lol She's lucky I love her.

Originally Posted by Arlyn

I do share on occasion, but like dogs, its never a good idea to share while you are eating, as it just sets them up to become nuisasance beggers.

I share healthy items, in their own dishes, after I have finished.

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Unfortunately, DH doesn't see it that way, so when he's eating alone, Jamie will sit on the chair beside him or on the table and beg or "steal" from his plate. Jamie has even developed a taste for hot peppers for that reason.

DH has done that with every pet we've had, and the result has been nuisance beggars and food stolen off the table or counters (we've always had large dogs and/or cats, so just about everything is "in reach").