How to wean a cat off stealing food from the table?

When dreaming of having a cat in the house, you imagine a cute, fluffy creature that will sit peacefully in your arms or sleep on the bed, gladly give its back to be stroked, go to the litter box from the first day, and sharpen its claws only on the scratching post. The reality, as a rule, is not so rosy. The cat has to be accustomed to many things, although it is believed that this is the prerogative of dogs. Spoiled by claws things, torn sofas and wallpaper, bitten flowers and begging for food from the table – the main list of outrages created by furry pets. And it does not matter whether they are pedigreed or not. In this article, we will consider the issue of “cat’s attempts on the table of the owner”, and more precisely, how to teach a cat to steal food. This is not only a matter of hygiene in the house, but also the health of the pet.

Why does the cat steal food from the table?

The first reason for stealing or begging food from the owner is banal – the animal is attracted by the aroma of human food. If he manages to somehow taste it, and it still turns out to be much tastier than cat food, the pet will “open the hunt” for delicious things lying on the table.

The second reason is related to the fact that the cat is not satiated with the diet offered to it. This can be a period of growth, a certain stage of pregnancy, lactation and even worm infestation. The animal’s diet should be full and high-quality, and the portion size should correspond to its needs.

To wean the cat to steal from the table is important not only for the purposes of hygiene in the place of eating, but above all, to preserve the health of the pet. Human food is not always useful for the animal, which is fraught with food disorders and poisoning.

The third reason lies in the lack of attention to the pet. If he has few toys, and the owner devotes very little time, he will look for entertainment around him. He may be interested in food not as a source of satiation, but as an object for games, which can be extracted by engaging the hunting instinct.

How to teach a cat to steal food from the table?

You can’t quickly teach a cat to steal food. This is a process of trial and error, requiring patience on the part of the owner and ingenuity. In fact, human actions are quite simple:

1. Do not leave food on the table unattended, cover it with foil and hide leftovers in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep the lid on the pan or pot where the fish or meat was cooked closed. This way the animal will not be tempted to steal the tasty stuff. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink so that the cat does not lick the plates.

2. Don’t encourage your cat to climb on the kitchen table, try to wean him off this activity:

• show your displeasure with an angry tone of voice
• spraying water from a sprayer when the pet is climbing on the table works too
• leave a tray with water on the kitchen table for the time of absence, where the animal will certainly get its paws on the table
• put rustling paper or foil on the table, the noise of which the animal will not like when it jumps on the furniture and walks over it
• if the “noisy” paper option doesn’t work, temporarily cover the table with pieces of double-sided tape, which is extremely unpleasant for cats’ paws
• treat the countertop with a vinegar solution or place an old tablecloth, citrus oil scented napkins on top to scare away the cat’s unpleasant odor

3. If the cat steals food from the plate, attach something noisy to the tidbit. A few hits of the noisy trap and the cat will be reluctant to experiment with food extraction.

4. Feed your pet just before you sit down to eat. This is often enough to prevent stealing or begging for food.

5. If the cat is begging for food, offer him from your plate the most unappetizing piece of food, such as a lettuce leaf or other stashed food that he dislikes. Once you’re sure there’s nothing tasty on the owner’s plate, the pet will likely back off.

6. Close the door to the kitchen when you’re not home so your pet won’t be tempted to rummage around.

Very often in the fact that the cat steals food, and just climbing on the table, the owners themselves are to blame, allowing to do this from the first day of appearance in the house. In the kitchen, the animal should not be allowed to jump on the kitchen surfaces and the dining table, for this it is easier to teach the kitten from childhood not to do this. If it is not possible to correct the behavior of a furry friend on your own, contact a zoopsychologist. The specialist will suggest the least traumatic way to eliminate the problem with the least consequences for both parties.

Conclusions

Timely and complete feeding of the animal, as well as treats with special treats outside the kitchen surface, will give the opportunity to wean the cat from stealing from the table. This will also be facilitated by limiting access to human food, as well as a sufficient amount of attention to the pet, including active games and the presence of interactive toys.