Grabby cat

tuxedokitties

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Mr. Underfoot is a bundle of love, an in-your-face cat, which I like - I can grab him & hug him anytime, he's such a giant teddy bear cat.

However, this same lack of inhibition causes problems when it comes to house manners...if he wants something, he takes it (or tries to take it). He'll even try to grab my hand if there's food in it that appeals to him, or try to grab my fork at supper. He also grabs my hand when I'm giving out cat treats, and often ends up with the other cats' treats, too.

I've usually dealt with his grabby behavior by just putting him in another room when we eat, and while I'm cooking. Sometimes hissing & growling at him works, but it's not something I can do when we have guests over.
Also, will hissing at him when I have food make him fearful of me?

Does anyone have any other ideas or solutions, ways I can train him to be less grabby without using punishment? Or is he destined to spend suppertimes in 'the cooler' (the spare room)?
 

lotsocats

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You can train him to sit and be quiet while you eat. Have some tiny (size of tip of fingernail or less) pieces of food that you can reward him with. Then, you sit down to eat. Every single time he just happens to sit quietly on the floor, drop one of these tiny pieces of food to him. Say "sit" as you do this and "good boy" when he gets the food. and NEVER EVER let him have food when he is not sitting quietly. Soon, he will learn to sit quietly and leave you alone while you eat.
 

rosiemac

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If there's one thing Rosie will do, it's to wait until i've finished eating, then she knows its her turn!.

She will sit at my feet watching me, then as soon as i've finished, i'll pick up her bag of treats, then she knows she can jump up on my lap for them!.

Susan
 
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tuxedokitties

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Thanks for the idea.


I'll start trying it tonight - hopefully he'll get it. He's a pretty smart cat...just ruled by his tummy.

I'll let you know how he does.
 

hissy

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Just something I want to pass along that I have learned over the years. When you reward a cat for being good, place the reward on a plate or in a bowl, not on the floor. Sometimes, feeding them with foodbits placed on the floor, turns them into mini Hoovers and they start searching your floors all the time, eating anything they find there, old bugs in corners, pieces of thread- dust bunnies...Not a good thing for the ol pocketbook or yours, but great for your vet's pocket book!
Also be clear that they have their bowls, and you have yours. Don't feed them off of your plate, or saucer or they will come to understand that your plate is actually THEIRS!
 
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tuxedokitties

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Originally posted by hissy
Also be clear that they have their bowls, and you have yours. Don't feed them off of your plate, or saucer or they will come to understand that your plate is actually THEIRS!

I think that may be part of the trouble...when I lived alone I used to let him lick my plate when I was finished, if it had safe foods on it.


I'll use one of the cats' bowls. Thanks for the hint.
 
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tuxedokitties

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Hmmm...I think he's beginning to get the idea!
It'll take some practice, but this might work.
Thanks!
 
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