semi-feral 6-8month kitten obsessing over human food.

My kitten is becoming 'dog-like' when it comes to human food. Whenever someone is eating, he runs to that place and sits there, or walks toward the plate. I never let him eat my food. I give him chicken sometimes during a separate time than when i am eating. I know it has to do with the fact that he was outside for 6 months. The first time I went to feed him when he was outside, I did try to lure him over to me with some nan I had from an indian restaurant ( I know I know cats aren't supposed to eat nan, but thats all I had when I saw him running on the side of the road for the first time). He ended up stealing a whole piece from me and running away with it. I didn't even think he was going to come with it, but obviously when a cat is hungry they'll eat anything.

I am feeding him 3x times a day, 1/3 a can of 3oz wet food, mixed with half of a 1/4 measuring cup of dry food. His last meal he doesn't get wet food at all just the dry, so 2/3 of wet food total. He's growing pretty quickly.  He must be 7 pounds now.There is a dog and cat in the house I am living which I just moved into, from a house that also had a cat and dog (smaller dog tough). So, I don't know if its just a natural competative thing. I mean he still would try to come to my plate in my last house. I tried to eat at the same time as him, as like a bonding thing, but after he would finish his meal, he'd come right over to mine lol. But he just STOLE a big shrimp off my moms plate. She was eating in bed and he stole it, It was huge so I didn't think he should eat it so I scrunched the back of his neck as I know this is a proper way to handle them at times, and tried to take it out of his mouth.  He started growling quite alot. I took the big piece of shrimp out of his mouth and let him finish the rest. Given maybe she let him get too close, but how do I deal with this behavior? I picked him up and said no and took him to my room and shut the door. Is this punishment not good? Keeping him in my room away from where the human food is being eaten? I know it says on another thread never to yell at your cat, but how do you let them know it's not okay to steal food from someone elses plate?  Is putting them in a 'time out' a good way to handle it? Thank you!!! and yes he is neutered! 

Kalene 

Foraging for food is a learned survival behavior for cats who have had to survive on the streets and who have experienced hunger. Please don't punish or scold your kitty- this is going to take time. Fifteen months ago I took in a neglected outdoor cat from the streets who had a bad parasite and flea infestation that took months to heal. Despite the three different free -standing food stations in my house and the daily treats and wet food, he still sometimes dives into my kitchen garbage can, jumps on the counter and get into the bread, and absconds with a stick of butter. It happens rarely now but it used to be a common behavior for several months after I took him in. I would suggest keeping dry food out for him all the time and don't leave plates of food unsupervised. This behavior will improve over time when he settles down and doesn't fear hunger anymore. I know rescue cats take so much more time and patience than cats who never had to struggle, but they are so grateful for our efforts and are well worth the effort!

Thank you for the post. Sorry it took me a while to respond. I am definitely more understanding of it now. Leaving dry food out though, I was told free feeding isn't the best option for cats, as with routine feeding you can train them so much more. But I suppose a bit of dry in the bowl isn't really 'free feeding' as look as I keep the majority of the food/wet food coming at the meal times i've established.

Thank you so much for your words. It is good to be reminded, that he was an outdoor cat and that makes some things different. He is turning out to be such a loving cat. He wants to be loved and petted at certain times, and others he is a bit fiesty. But I love him. Thank you adn again, and thank you for the rescuing you do and your patience <3 

- Kalene