- Joined
- Apr 25, 2018
- Messages
- 16
- Purraise
- 5
Hi,
I’m a new cat owner; I got my 2 year old kitty from a friend who found him outdoors (I know his age thanks to the vet’s predictions). He was formerly a stray, most likely abandoned because he is very amicable towards people and is neutered.
He is an absolute sweetheart, but i have one problem.
He is OBSESSED with scraps, and I don’t know how to control him!
While I cook or prepare food, he will jump on the counter and will try to stick his paw or attempt to eat whatever im cooking (dangerous)! I have to repeatedly put him down on the ground because he is insistent on jumping on the counter and licking stray pieces nearby and wants to inch closer to the food.
When I eat, I CANNOT leave the table unattended for even 10 seconds. I went to get a glass of water once and I caught him standing on my plate of food, clawing my rice!! With everything that falls on the ground (even with food against his biology, like carrots or veggies) he will not hesitate to lunge and devour it.
While I eat too, he will jump on the table and try to paw on whatever is on my plate. I have to grab him and place him on the floor every 10-15 seconds because he is very persistent, to a point where i have to keep him in the bathroom while i eat.
When I do make food I try my best to leave a heavy lid on pots/plates of food. But he’s learned to push them off.
I made a smoothie recently. I made the mistake of believing that my cat Maurice would not be interested in it... I had to throw it out completely because he was pawing the smoothie contents.
After any meal we have, any plate that goes into the sink, my cat jumps at the counter to lick at whatever residue, sauces, and chunks are left over.
If putting him down on the ground consistently ever 10-15 seconds sounds tedious enough he eventually resorts to lightly biting me or scratching me out of frustration when he does not get what he wants.
I’ve tried placing aluminum foil on counters to discourage him from jumping up and left it on for a week, but he doesn’t mind it! I’ve tried catnip on certain toys and places to distract him but he is unaffected by catnip.
Even having meals with him at the same time is futile! I put big servings in his cat bowl (it’s a miracle he is not obese). After his meal, he will immediately jump on the counter and begin to paw at my food.
I’ve tried changing his diet habits where I give him smaller meals sparsely scattered throughout the day but that too doesn’t work.
My mother has tried spraying him with water (he actively enjoys water) so that obviously didn’t work. Yes, negative enforcement is not the best option but we really don’t know what to do anymore; we avoid yelling and hitting him because that is what it is: unethical.
I’ve tried EVERYTHING at this point and I’m eager for him to learn that this isn’t allowed, nothing online helps either... I’ve asked friends with cats and from what they’ve seen he is an extreme case.
I had to throw away plenty of meals because of my hungry kitty, and at this point I need some perspective and advice. Help!
I’m a new cat owner; I got my 2 year old kitty from a friend who found him outdoors (I know his age thanks to the vet’s predictions). He was formerly a stray, most likely abandoned because he is very amicable towards people and is neutered.
He is an absolute sweetheart, but i have one problem.
He is OBSESSED with scraps, and I don’t know how to control him!
While I cook or prepare food, he will jump on the counter and will try to stick his paw or attempt to eat whatever im cooking (dangerous)! I have to repeatedly put him down on the ground because he is insistent on jumping on the counter and licking stray pieces nearby and wants to inch closer to the food.
When I eat, I CANNOT leave the table unattended for even 10 seconds. I went to get a glass of water once and I caught him standing on my plate of food, clawing my rice!! With everything that falls on the ground (even with food against his biology, like carrots or veggies) he will not hesitate to lunge and devour it.
While I eat too, he will jump on the table and try to paw on whatever is on my plate. I have to grab him and place him on the floor every 10-15 seconds because he is very persistent, to a point where i have to keep him in the bathroom while i eat.
When I do make food I try my best to leave a heavy lid on pots/plates of food. But he’s learned to push them off.
I made a smoothie recently. I made the mistake of believing that my cat Maurice would not be interested in it... I had to throw it out completely because he was pawing the smoothie contents.
After any meal we have, any plate that goes into the sink, my cat jumps at the counter to lick at whatever residue, sauces, and chunks are left over.
If putting him down on the ground consistently ever 10-15 seconds sounds tedious enough he eventually resorts to lightly biting me or scratching me out of frustration when he does not get what he wants.
I’ve tried placing aluminum foil on counters to discourage him from jumping up and left it on for a week, but he doesn’t mind it! I’ve tried catnip on certain toys and places to distract him but he is unaffected by catnip.
Even having meals with him at the same time is futile! I put big servings in his cat bowl (it’s a miracle he is not obese). After his meal, he will immediately jump on the counter and begin to paw at my food.
I’ve tried changing his diet habits where I give him smaller meals sparsely scattered throughout the day but that too doesn’t work.
My mother has tried spraying him with water (he actively enjoys water) so that obviously didn’t work. Yes, negative enforcement is not the best option but we really don’t know what to do anymore; we avoid yelling and hitting him because that is what it is: unethical.
I’ve tried EVERYTHING at this point and I’m eager for him to learn that this isn’t allowed, nothing online helps either... I’ve asked friends with cats and from what they’ve seen he is an extreme case.
I had to throw away plenty of meals because of my hungry kitty, and at this point I need some perspective and advice. Help!
I always gave my cats people food on a cat dish/saucer on the ground AFTER we finished eating. Over the years I have relented and will give them a lick of cream cheese or butter off my finger while I'm eating. I do not reward them getting all over me while I'm eating. I reward them with treats when they sit quietly. Yes you can teach a cat to sit 
very easily 
Dogs yes, cats no. All cats are different.
