Why are my cats naughty thieving bastards?! Help!

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 2021-05-03T16:15:16+00:00

We have two cats. Brothers. They're 6. Had them since kittens. They're so so greedy. They wolf their food down like you wouldn't believe. I can't give them a full pouch because they eat so fast that they throw up immediately. I've tried separating them. I now feed them little and often but they act like they are starving all the time. They steal. They broke into a cardboard box and plastic wrapper and ate a cake a few days ago. One of them has been known to eat bread from bird tables. They are fed enough. They are both a healthy weight. They have been wormed. It's exhausting and they're driving us mad to the point you can't even leave wrapped food out in case they eat it. I caught one trying to get in the bin. They're just so naughty. They jump on the side despite me trying numerous tactics to stop them but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Can anyone give me any advice on how to tackle this? I love them to bits and won't give them up but they're making life really, really hard. Should I ask the vets? Is it likely there could be something medically wrong with both like thyroid issues or something?! Thanks in advance

Poppins2016 · 03/05/2021 17:27

Oh dear. Cats are definutely all different! One of my three is serious about food and will steal from your plate as you're eating, beg for food, weave in between legs 'crying' with meows to ask for food... my other two just aren't that bothered (unless they're starving, in which case they might stare at you and give a meow).

If your cats have been like this from day 1, I'd assume this is their normal! If it's not been a life long thing, it might be worth speaking to the vet to rule out issues.

As for survival tips... keep food in cupboards or solid containers that will withstand paws and tiny sharp teeth. Rather than a cake box, you need a cake tin! Get some wire mesh for the bird table to keep them out of it or buy the feeders that only allow small birds in (the globe/mesh type). Make food entertaining by hiding it in scrunched up newspaper or purpose made toys. Get a slow feed cat bowl.

Want2beme · 03/05/2021 17:27

If you've ruled out health issues with the vet, maybe they can suggest a good quality food for very hungry cats. Do you feed them separately? They might be competing with each other for their grub. Do they have access to their food all day long, ie dry food? Do they have any treats? Could it be boredom? Maybe they need interactive?

Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 03/05/2021 17:45

@Poppins2016

Oh dear. Cats are definutely all different! One of my three is serious about food and will steal from your plate as you're eating, beg for food, weave in between legs 'crying' with meows to ask for food... my other two just aren't that bothered (unless they're starving, in which case they might stare at you and give a meow).

If your cats have been like this from day 1, I'd assume this is their normal! If it's not been a life long thing, it might be worth speaking to the vet to rule out issues.

As for survival tips... keep food in cupboards or solid containers that will withstand paws and tiny sharp teeth. Rather than a cake box, you need a cake tin! Get some wire mesh for the bird table to keep them out of it or buy the feeders that only allow small birds in (the globe/mesh type). Make food entertaining by hiding it in scrunched up newspaper or purpose made toys. Get a ]].

That's quite reassuring actually. That's exactly what they're like. Except stealing off plates because they don't get the opportunity but one has got into the washing up bowl to try and get to played and pans etc.

Have tried food in cat toys. One of them managed to break into it and ate the whole lot in one go. Clever buggers they are actually.

I will have a look at the bowl. Thank you

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Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 03/05/2021 17:49

@Want2beme

If you've ruled out health issues with the vet, maybe they can suggest a good quality food for very hungry cats. Do you feed them separately? They might be competing with each other for their grub. Do they have access to their food all day long, ie dry food? Do they have any treats? Could it be boredom? Maybe they need interactive?

They're due their vaccinations soon so I will ask. I asked last time and she just told me to ensure they are wormed which they are.

Yes usually feed them opposite ends of the room but may try different rooms completely.

They do have occasional treats. Tried to use treats as a reward for not being naughty but to no avail.

Possibly could be boredom. They are quite lazy tbh. Tried lots of toys but they don't bother much, they used to when they were kittens. I may try some new bits.

They go out occasionally, one more than the other. One can't go out unattended because he's allergic to bees and likes to eat them but one anaphylactic shock was enough!!

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Bargebill19 · 03/05/2021 23:12

What about those bowls with ‘fingers’ designed to stop pets from wolfing their food to quickly and some of those treat dispensing toys for dried food?

floofycroissant · 03/05/2021 23:17

Try them on raw food, very filling and very good for them. Buying raw is pricey, but you can DIY batches fairly economically if you don't mind taking the time to do so.

floofycroissant · 03/05/2021 23:19

Just realised I didn't explain why! But if you DIY you leave bone and cartilage (totally safe!) in and it forces cats to chew and eat slowly. Also portions are likely smaller, coats get glossier and their 💩 stop smelling too.

wheresmymojo · 03/05/2021 23:33

Do you know anything about their mother?

Two of mine (siblings) are like that even though they've been with us since birth (we were fostering their mother) and have never gone hungry.

It's because their mother had been stray for some time and was totally food obsessed as a result of that experience and they learned it from her.

25yearsnhsworker · 03/05/2021 23:37

Do they have a high meat content dry food to graze on all day. Something like purizon.

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 03/05/2021 23:43

Our cat is like this - she was a stray who turned up in a back garden under a tarpaulin with her kittens 😻. We can't leave food out and can't leave her dry food to graze on as she'll just eat the lot.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 03/05/2021 23:47

I have two cats and they are demanding, especially one of them. I give them four small meals a day, but he would eat six times a day if you let him. I've tried increasing portion sizes and fewer meals but it doesn't make any difference. He always looks for more. He likes to jump onto the counter and lick the butter dish, runs to the fridge looking for ham if you're making a sandwich. And he also tries to eat the other fellow's food, so I keep an eye on him. He's very food-obsessed. Luckily, he doesn't like cake!

Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 07:52

@Bargebill19

What about those bowls with ‘fingers’ designed to stop pets from wolfing their food to quickly and some of those treat dispensing toys for dried food?

I'm going to look into this, I think it will help!

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Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 07:52

@floofycroissant

Just realised I didn't explain why! But if you DIY you leave bone and cartilage (totally safe!) in and it forces cats to chew and eat slowly. Also portions are likely smaller, coats get glossier and their 💩 stop smelling too.

Thank you, I have no idea at all about raw feeding but I shall do some reading up

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Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 07:56

@wheresmymojo

Do you know anything about their mother?

Two of mine (siblings) are like that even though they've been with us since birth (we were fostering their mother) and have never gone hungry.

It's because their mother had been stray for some time and was totally food obsessed as a result of that experience and they learned it from her.

Unfortunately no, we got them from a "rescue" which turned out to be a lady with a lot of probably not very well treated cats. She said they were old enough to be away from their mum but we took them straight to the vets and they weren't. They were far too young. As a result they are very, very attached to me. It's entirely possible the mum was a stray but even if she wasn't it seems likely she would have had to compete for food

I think mine literally think they are my babies.

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Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 07:57

@25yearsnhsworker

Do they have a high meat content dry food to graze on all day. Something like purizon.

I do leave dry food out and 9 times out of ten it's gone before I come back. Should I do this or not? I've had mixed advice from friends etc!

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Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 07:58

@MotherOfGodWeeFella

Our cat is like this - she was a stray who turned up in a back garden under a tarpaulin with her kittens 😻. We can't leave food out and can't leave her dry food to graze on as she'll just eat the lot.

Aww what a sweetie!

@IsFuzzyBeagMise yeah that sounds just like ours they would literally try to eat anything, except fruit. They won't try and eat fruit but anything else they will.

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nancywhitehead · 04/05/2021 07:59

What type of food are you giving them? If it's a low quality one like whiskas, felix etc maybe it just isn't right for them and isn't satisfying? Do they have dry food as well?

nancywhitehead · 04/05/2021 08:00

Sorry just saw you are leaving dry food out too.

I think it might come down to the brand you are using. Some of the supermarket brand food is literally like McDonalds for cats - it's complete rubbish infused with flavourings that will attract them, so they will eat more.

Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 08:11

@nancywhitehead

What type of food are you giving them? If it's a low quality one like whiskas, felix etc maybe it just isn't right for them and isn't satisfying? Do they have dry food as well?

Both wet and dry. They're on the "posher" one from Aldi at the moment but I have tried loads over the years and quite a lot of others seem to give them upset stomachs unfortunately. None of them have made them less ravenous.

They do have dry as well yes usually I leave it when I go our during the day.

I was looking at "better quality" dry food last night but there is so much conflicting information! Some saying all dry food is bad, some saying it's fine if it's grain free I'm not sure I'm any more informed than I was before I looked

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nancywhitehead · 04/05/2021 08:18

Yes it doesn't surprise me to hear that and I really think that's your problem. Cat food from Aldi, even if it's the "posher" one, is not going to be good quality.

When I had a cat we used to order a good quality dry food online and supplement it with occasional wet food/ meat. You can get dry foods for sensitive stomachs etc. Pets at Home also stock a few decent brands. Your cats will probably refuse it at first but that is because they are used to eating junk. Just leave it out and eventually they'll eat it (lots of people pander to their cats way too much!)

You need to get switched onto a food which is filling and satisfying... talk to the vet about it if you are struggling, I'm sure they will have some recommendations. Good luck.

Original poster

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 04/05/2021 08:22

@nancywhitehead

Yes it doesn't surprise me to hear that and I really think that's your problem. Cat food from Aldi, even if it's the "posher" one, is not going to be good quality.

When I had a cat we used to order a good quality dry food online and supplement it with occasional wet food/ meat. You can get dry foods for sensitive stomachs etc. Pets at Home also stock a few decent brands. Your cats will probably refuse it at first but that is because they are used to eating junk. Just leave it out and eventually they'll eat it (lots of people pander to their cats way too much!)

You need to get switched onto a food which is filling and satisfying... talk to the vet about it if you are struggling, I'm sure they will have some recommendations. Good luck.

See this is where I'm confused because like you that was my initial thought. Then I started looking at dry and read a few forums where people were saying even the worst wet is better than the best dry?

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nancywhitehead · 04/05/2021 08:22

Basically giving your cat supermarket food is like feeding them a diet of nothing but McDonalds burgers and coco pops. That's why they are always ravenous. The pet food industry has a lot to answer for!

nancywhitehead · 04/05/2021 08:24

See this is where I'm confused because like you that was my initial thought. Then I started looking at dry and read a few forums where people were saying even the worst wet is better than the best dry?

The best person to talk to about it is your vet, they will be able to recommend something that will work for your cats.

If you go on forums online you will get as much conflicting information as you will about human nutrition, people have very different opinions and a lot of it is just opinion.

nancywhitehead · 04/05/2021 08:29

For what it's worth, I used to give my cat Wainwrights dry food from Pets at Home and as I said I'd supplement with a pouch, a tin of tuna, a bit of chicken here and there. He did very well on that and lived well into his 20's.

DisappointedOfNorfolk · 04/05/2021 08:48

You've had lots of advice about feeding, so I thought I'd offer some about jumping onto worktops!

If you can't keep them shut out of the kitchen unless you're in there to supervise, then I would try laying sheets of tin foil on the worktops where they jump up...

I don't know why, but cats seem to really hate landing on tin foil and they should jump straight off with a disgusted look on their face and avoid jumping up in future if you leave it there for a few days!