Probably every pet owner has experienced an animal exhibiting inappropriate behavior. For example, a dog may crap in the house, or a cat may steal food from the table. So my cat got into the habit of climbing on the table. But this does not mean at all that the pet wants to do evil. Animals do not know human norms. Fortunately, pet behavior can be corrected, and this article will discuss such cat habits as stealing from the table.
Limitation
The next time you notice your cat trying to steal something from the table, observe which side he usually climbs onto the table from. This could be a chair, a stool, or something else that helps the animal climb.
Once you have identified the area through which the cat jumps onto the table, try to place something around that area to limit access. It can be an ordinary board. For greater efficiency, make some kind of trap for the cat so that it acts in this way: when the pet wants to jump onto the table in its usual way, the trap would throw it back and prevent it from reaching the goal.
Desire to attract attention
Pets, like children, really need communication. They need not only to be fed, watered and stroked periodically. Cats should spend time playing with them. If attention is not enough, it is begged for, knocked out or scratched out. Stealing can be one of the ways to attract attention. For them, it's more of a game called "Catch Me If You Can." Having started such a game, the cat can safely count on the unusual activity of the owners and a surge of close attention to his person.
You need to: devote more time to the cat (petting, playing, walking).
Smell
It is known that cats really dislike the smell of citrus and eucalyptus. You can use this fact to wean your animal from jumping on the table.
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Take half a lemon or another citrus with a strong smell, like an orange, for example. Place the slice on the table or squeeze a few drops onto the surface. You can also use a piece of cloth soaked in lemon or orange juice. However, this smell disappears quickly and you need to change the products several times a day.
Essential oils are absorbed into the fabric for a long time, so it is more advisable to use them. Drop a little oil onto a sheet or tablecloth and cover the table with it. Thus, the smell will drive away the agile cat.
In addition, you can use an aroma lamp, into which you should pour a little essential oil. It leaves a smell for a long time, which means the cat won’t even come near the table.
There is one caveat: if this method did not work, it will not work. It may turn out that the cat's interest in the table is stronger than its dislike for a certain smell. Therefore, if your pet continues to steal, you should try another method.
Lack of microelements
To regulate metabolism, normal growth and other body functions, a cat needs the following microelements: calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, sulfur and zinc. If the animal does not receive them from its diet in full, it may feel hungry, even if it has eaten a large amount of food and, of course, will go in search of food.
Talk to your veterinarian about the food you feed your pet and make sure it meets his or her dietary needs. To prevent your animal from stealing, make sure that it receives a balanced diet that includes all the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities.
Foil
As in the first method, it is necessary to determine where it is easiest for the cat to get to the table, while blocking all other paths.
Since cats steal from the table by standing on it with their front paws, you need to cover the edge with foil and not secure it with anything. The next time the cat wants to steal something from the table, he will get up, and the foil will move forward or backward, and the cat will simply be pushed off.
Be careful when using this method. If the kitten is still small, it may hit a table or something else.
Scotch
If your cat climbs on the table, you can try the tape method. Since the animal stands with its front paws on the surface, you should take double-sided tape and cover the perimeter of the table with it. The next time the cat climbs, he will stick, and this will cause him discomfort that he will not want to experience anymore in the future.
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However, there are also disadvantages to this method. Firstly, the sticky substance from the tape remains on the cat’s paws, and the animal will lick its paws for a long time. In addition, if you have a long-haired cat, you should not use this method, since the sticky substance practically does not leave the fur, which means you will have to cut it.
And, of course, the pet may be seriously scared, which will lead to further problems. Therefore, if you have a shy cat, you should not use this method.
Hunting instinct
Cats by nature are predatory animals and natural hunters. Even well-fed pets are no exception. At home, the need to realize instincts, practice and train hunting skills can make them cunning and dexterous thieves. This can happen if:
- they lack activity, they run and jump a little;
- they do not receive rewards (loot) after playing.
The role of prey is given to food left unattended. The theft is carried out in the form of a game and consists of the following stages:
- tracking;
- ambush;
- attack;
- eating.
Everything is like that of predatory animals in the wild.
Need: more time to play active games. At the end, offer a treat (prey).
Water
Everyone knows that cats don't like water, at least most of them. This can be used to stop your pet from stealing from the table.
When you see the cat trying to climb onto the table, spray it with water by wetting your hand or, better yet, buying a water gun in advance. The cat will immediately experience discomfort and jump off the table. If you teach a cat a lesson in this way several times, he will no longer steal from the table.
The downside is that the cat understands that it is you who are spraying on him. Then he will try to climb onto the table in your absence. You can hide several water pistols at home so that if necessary, you can quickly take it and spray your cat. The prankster will understand that it is no longer worth climbing on the table.
Another method is to place a tray with a small amount of water on the edge of the table from which the pet likes to climb. When the animal stands on the table, it will automatically stand in the water and feel hostility.
However, if your cat loves water, then this method will not work.
Consequences of food theft
The human diet is more varied than the cat's diet, even if you do not take into account the fact that a person, as a rule, prepares his own food from a variety of products, and a pet eats food from a bag on an ongoing basis. Biologically, humans are omnivores, while cats are carnivores. But you shouldn’t think that if an animal steals a piece of fish or a cutlet from the table, nothing bad will happen. There are products that can cause serious harm to the health of a pet, and this has been confirmed by international veterinary societies.
Chocolate and sugar, onions and garlic in any form, grapes and raisins are harmful to cats - these products are toxic to them, along with spices and salt.
Raw meat and fish are often infected with helminths (worms), which leads to helminthiasis in cats.
And, contrary to stereotypes, milk is not beneficial for all cats. For the most part, adults do not digest it well, and drinking milk leads to indigestion.
It seems that there are not many foods that are harmful to cats, and the risk is greatly exaggerated. However, almost all ready-made dishes contain salt, sugar and various spices. Perhaps your pet will be lucky and eating such food will have no consequences for him, but there is always a risk of poisoning, infection with helminths, and even toxic damage.
You should not hope that “the cat is not stupid” and its “instincts will work.” Animals, influenced by many factors, including emotions, do strange things. This includes eating things that, in the person’s opinion, they shouldn’t eat.
Own place
This point does not apply to the problem when the cat steals from the table. It will help you cope with when your cat likes to sleep on the table. This also happens, and it can be avoided.
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Cats love high places. It is not surprising that they often climb onto cabinets and sleep there. Perhaps the pet simply does not have his own place, since he likes to sleep on the table?
Provide your cat with his home at height. A regular kennel can be placed on something high, or you can buy a special high house. If you often put your cat there, then over time he will understand that this is his place, and will no longer climb onto the table to rest on it.
Squelch - and your food is gone. This cat Negan swoops in like a hurricane and steals everything his owner eats.
In Minnetonka, Minnesota, there lives a very cheeky cat who steals food and doesn't blush. Moreover, any kind of food: both the one that doesn’t fit well and the one that fits very well - even in your mouth. The owner of the hungry monster no longer knows what to do, so he created a Facebook page about him. Now the cat is a star.
Negan is a gray cat. His little black sister's name is Lucille.
Negan looks harmless enough, but he's only pretending. As soon as his owner starts eating, the cat is right there.
Here's an example of Negan's daring theft when he couldn't resist a burger. And look at the dogs! They wait and don’t get impudent.
The Facebook page about Negan's audacity immediately reveals the essence of the cat: "Negan the cat who will take half of your food."
The pet only steals food so far, but he just hasn’t heard about the cat Sir Whiner, who steals money from passers-by. But Negan has a lot of potential. No matter how hard it grabs you, it won’t let go.
And it’s like everyone is ok that he continues to eat the burger that the cat bit? Cats do lick their asses, right?
But others came to his defense.
I didn't see anything bad in the video. I won't eat it myself, but if he doesn't mind eating the food after Negan has taken a bite of it, there's no need to blame him. Life is an individual thing.
Others believe that the owner himself is to blame for allowing the cat to steal food in this way.
You never taught him discipline, that’s why he steals food from you. I would be so mad. Cats sit and lick their butts all day, and you let them come near your food.
If you allow them to treat you like this, they will continue to beg or steal food right out of your hand. It's not cute at all.
Many users could not resist commenting on the excess weight of the cat's owner. Someone decided that Negan was doing him a favor by stealing food.
Come on people, watch it and understand what this video is about. Bad guy Negan saves this guy from a heart attack. Negan is a true MVP (most valuable player in sports - Medialeaks note).
Obesity, as it turned out, affects not only people, but also cats, and the problem is becoming more and more serious. In Great Britain, for example, so many fat cats have appeared that zoologists have already begun to explain what needs to be done with pets.
Electricity
It’s worth saying right away that this method should be used only as a last resort, when all others do not work. After all, this method is quite dangerous and can cause harm to the animal if used incorrectly.
You can buy a mat at large pet stores or online that gives a small electric shock when you stand on it. But this blow is safe for the animal. When the cat feels this, he obviously won’t want to experience it anymore, which means he won’t climb on the table. However, the mat should only be used under the supervision of the owner.
There are also similar collars that also give a small shock. Control is carried out using a remote control or an application on a smartphone.
Cleaning
The safest and most harmless way to rid a cat of the habit of climbing on the table is to remove everything unnecessary from the table. First of all, the pet is interested in the table because there may be something edible on it. Remove all food from the table when it shouldn't be there. You should also remove all other items that might interest the prankster. When the cat tries to find something interesting on the table, he will be disappointed and interest in this object will disappear.
