My kitten is a thief!

I recently discovered that the keys I've been missing for two weeks were being hoarded by my youngest cat, Zelda. Today I awoke from my nap and caught her in the act of stealing my glasses. I've also noticed that she'should recently become possessive of her toys. She'll still play and share with Freya, but when she decides play time is over she'll pick the toy up and look for a place to hide it, like under the couch or in my shoe. Had anyone else ever had a cat exhibit this behavior? How can I rectify it? I mean, her making off with her toys is one thing but I can't have her stealing things like keys and glasses. Is there a reason this behavior is starting to manifest? There haven't been any major changes in her life but she is just entering adulthood so could this maybe just be a new quirk? I rescued her from the out doors at six weeks of age so could this need to hoard things be a leftover instinct from when she didn't have enough food or anything else? Can I get her to stop or do I just need to plan on hiding things she can carry on her mouth?

Honestly the situation is a little amusing, but the little stinker needs to stay away from my keys lol.

what a little bum, I think you need to find a place to key your keys where she can't get to them 

I'd keep important things out of kitty-reach!

I hope she's not gearing up for a life of crime.. another good reason to keep cats indoors:

Keep where Zelda can't find it, these babies can play with many things that not supposed to or steal your food lol

I am watching  Mia closely because she's into everything. Last night she stole my food and running and hiding from me, luckily Macha got the piece of meat and I took away from them lol

Lol, my cats are inside only anyway, so the only things they'll be stealing are mine. I guess it's probably just a new quirk she's grown into. Hopefully she'll grow out of it as quickly as she grew into it.

Oops is like that. The cats have about 8 million toys but she has a couple that are "hers." She tucks them in her favorite bed or in MY bed so the boys won't find them. She also loves to take my stuff. Lately it's been the honors cord from my B.A. I had it hanging across my diploma and the little brat has figured out how to jump up and snag the end of it, pulling it down!

She's also made off with various pens and my earbuds. My solution has been to just let her have anything she wants, which probably isn't the best method of discipline. But I'd have to draw the line at keys and glasses!

I made a post on this very subject a while ago: http://www.thecatsite.com/forum/newestpost/293675

My kitty Tempest is a cat burglar of the highest degree.

She is also especially fond of stealing glasses, even if they happen to be on your face.  We haven't found any way to break her of the habit, unfortunately, so we just work to keep anything she might try to steal out of reach.

I believe years ago we had a member who would find anything from toy mice to her jewelry/necklaces buried in the litter box! My Noodles steals the occasional stuffed animal & q-tips; but nothing major beyond that. My MIL has a klepto kitty. She is mostly an outdoor cat & has brought home toys & things from her adventures.

Hehehehe. Since I created my own thread, I've discovered that Tempest hides the things she steals beneath the mat her litter box is on top of! She is such a clever girl. 

They  ARE  mischievous!  I hide my keys,  changed a light bulb 4 days ago still searching for the doom a higgy that screws cover back into the ceiling...have my suspects   *hope you find your keys    

Although amusing, all this behavior is perfectly natural. They are hiding their 'prey', or something they want for later, to follow the instinct of survival. All animals are selfish in this regard, even humans have to be taught to share. Remember those terrible twos and 'NO"!? I love to watch the big cats drag their prey up into trees to enjoy it at a later time, and to keep it from the non tree climbers, like hyenas. Just think, our sweet babies are mimicking something the 'big boys' do!   

They're just kleptomaniac is all. You must just try and learn their hiding places.

OH dear.  Yes, there are two kleptokats now that I know of who have FB pages where their owners post items retrieved from said pussycats for reclaiming.  One in the US and one in the UK.  Maybe we're just gearing up for the next generation.