More issues with my new kitten

calliekitten16

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My 7 month old female calico has some behavioral issues.  From what I understand the previous owners let her outside and every time I try to go outside she makes a quick bolt for the door and I am afraid she will get out and get hurt. I live in the country and we do have predators lurking outside even feral barn cats.  My other issue with her is that she likes to jump on the kitchen counters when I am preparing people food and she also jumps on the kitchen table when we are trying to eat.  She also tries to eat my dog's food.  What can I do to discourage such behaviors?
 

talkingpeanut

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Is she spayed? That may be why she's running out.

She also sounds like she might be bored. How often and how do you play with her?

And how much are you feeding her? At 7 months she can have constant access to food, so I'm thinking she might just be hungry.
 
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calliekitten16

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Yes, she is spayed. I give her access to as much food as she would like at all times. I play with her quite often. She is a very good girl it just upsets me that the previous owners let her out in the first place and now every time I go out she tries to get out. I don't want her to escape and end up getting hurt. Thank you for responding to my post.
 

justagimmick

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I let my cats out, so can't really help there (its more common to let cats out in the UK, I think.  Mine have a cat flap and roam as they like)

With the jumping up, I would just put her down on the floor, say no, then go back to what I was doing.  No raised voice or anything.  Then it's a case of repetitive persistence.

Doesn't have to be a 'no'.  I clap my hands with my cats and they know to get down (they do it now when no ones looking!) 
 
 
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calliekitten16

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Thanks for the suggestions.  I have tried clapping and saying no and it just doesn't seem to help but perhaps that is because I just got her a few days ago.
 

DreamerRose

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Yes, be persistent. Cats are persistent too, so you have to out-persistent them. I have one cat who hops on tables, and I've started smacking the table with a small paper tablet. A rolled up newspaper would work too. She knows she's not supposed to be on the table, but just saunters to the other end if I only tell her to get down.

My other cat is a door-bolter. It's taken two years, but he finally doesn't bolt anymore. But, I can't leave the door open other than to slide out, or he will, too. When he used to bolt out, I went after him immediately and pounced on him. He didn't like that one bit. One night, he went right through the front door screen chasing a moth. I had to get the door rescreened with pet screen, and he's since learned he can't claw that.
 
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calliekitten16

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Thank you very much for the advice. I will continue to be persistent.
 
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