Food snatching cat and seperation issues

[angie7]

So we have this kitten. He's a doll and about 4/4.5 months old or so (we aren't exactly sure) I've had a lot of pets in my life and a lot of cats as well. I have never seen one that steals food?? He steals meat straight out of sink and rips it open and eats it. He climbs in my dogs food bowls while they are eating and tries eating their food! Good thing my dogs are trained not to be food aggressive (I do get him out for respect for my doggies) He has eaten a loaf of bread that we left on our stove to thaw out. He even stole our snakes food out of a tupperware container that had a plate on top of it! Goes to show it isn't just about convience, he just wants the food!

I know many will say "keep your food someplace else" well that's an easy solution but also an annoying one. Our dogs eat raw and we thaw their food out in the sink in a large bowl. We keep a plate on top of it or he will steal that too. Now we have to thaw the meat that we eat and our snakes food in the microwave (just sitting in there) which is inconvient when we need to use it b/c we always have to move the meat around. And if we leave it unsupervised for a second, he is there in an instant to steal it.

He also has seperation issues. If we leave the house, even to check the mail and the toilet paper is left out, he will shread it into tiny little pieces. None of our bathrooms have toilet on the holder anymore. He gets tons of attention (I have 3 y/o twins that absolutely adore him and shower him with love), he has a lot of toys, he is well fed, etc.

I know dogs like the back of my hand and most animals for that matter but I can't figure this cat out. It's like he is addicted to human food even though he doesn't get it willingly...Any ideas how to get him to stop since he does when we don't see him?

[greenmagick]

I really have no idea....even though I have always had cats, its really sad how little knowledge I actually have of them.

Is he on a raw food diet? Maybe he needs more?

This book always looked interesting to me, have no idea if what you described is covered though.

Good luck figuring something out...they only other thing I can think of is to work really hard at training him to stay off the counters and out of the food bowls....

[angie7]

Thanks! No he isn't raw fed, he eats a quality kibble food. He is really interested in raw and I have thought about switching him but I'm afraid if I do, his food snatching ways will get worse b/c then he will think all raw meat is his, kwim?

[greenmagick]

yeah, but maybe thats just what he wants, and if he gets it he'd stop snatching? I have no clue really though

I am *almost* jealous..I wish my cats would show even a tiny interest in raw meat:

[Skim]

Well our shelter kitten eats a raw diet, and has always eaten whatever else she could find! She especially loves bread in plastic bags... When she was really little it was a problem because our food made her sick, but she would still try as hard as possible to eat it - any food that falls on the floor: bagels, hummus, cookies, beans, anything left open on a table or on the counter.

We feed our now-adult cat as much as she will eat in about an hour, twice a day, but she still scavenges. She hunts mice and rodents, too. She is an indoor/outdoor cat.

We have not been able to figure out what is going on except that it's fun for her.

She also has separation issues and chews things: she especially loves electrical and telephone cords, and our shoes. We figure she was weaned too early.

As for stopping, we have simply had to learn to change our habits. We never leave food out unattended. We clean up food that falls from the dinner table right away. It's a pain, but once you get used to it it's a little better. I don't have any good advice, though, about keeping him out of your dog's food! Good luck.

[mouso]

Was he a stray?
One of my cats is a stray off the street that we got at about 3-4 months old. He would steal and eat and drink ANYTHING when we brought him home.
Meat, muffins, drink my hot tea, fruit, you name it- he'd eat it and drag it off and hide. Oh, except cat treats- those he would never touch.

It was b/c he had spent so much time scavenging for himself. We did have to be extra cautious for quite a while (maybe 6 months-year) but once he realized he always had food available to him (we feed dry food that is out all day/night) he started to relax and now is a normal cat who still loves meat and such when we feed him tidbits but does not eat/steal anything and everything.

Oh, he's 13 years old, but has been "reformed" for years and years.

[MaWhit]

What kibble are you feeding him?

Do you supplement with wet food?