Do you let your cat(s) lick your bowls or plates?

[AllAroundTheWorldYeah]

One of mine will often dive on an unattended bowl or plate, & if it's done with and something safe for her (no onions etc) then I let her lick it before I put it in the dishwasher. My other cat has never shown any interest in human food.

If you have a cat that wants to lick your plate, do you let them?

I didn't train my cats because I'm happy for them to go wherever they like.

No. Unlike dogs, cats are obligate carnivores so only eat meat. Leftovers, sauces etc can make them ill.

@AllAroundTheWorldYeah

Just admit You haven't trained your cat or like to let them lick off your plate. Cats are trainable.

As I said in my OP I have two cats. They're the same age and I've had them both from 8 weeks. Both have experienced the exact same training, yet one jumps on the counters and eats our food, & the other doesn't.

It's basically a damn good science experiment which shows that cats' personality is more dominant than training.

no, that was an excellent exampe of the cat training you.

If, every single time, the leftovers went in the bowl and he was firmly dumped off the worksurface, he would have eventually got the message.

Of course cats have different personlaity, but every cat can be trained if you want it.
That's the difference though.
I wanted to train them, you are happy to let them lick.

Your choice, but they can be trained if you want to.

No, I pride myself on the fact my cat has never had anything that I eat.

No it’s revolting. So many people think cats don’t need to be trained. Mine have always been trained, only took me 2 weeks to train my husbands wild cats. No sides, no food off of our plates, no bedrooms and definitely no litter trays in the house

No, but only because he's too lazy to go in the kitchen (past the dogs) and get them. His brother was a bugger for counter surfing, plate licking, and food stealing.

The germs on my hands are more dangerous to humans than the germs in a pets mouth, and I trust hot soapy water to do the job in either case.

My then, I once put my bin lid through the dishwasher and lived to tell the tale.

No

I don’t have a cat but I do my dogs. It’s a hot wash on the dishwasher. No issue as far as I’m concerned.

Cats- don’t feed them from the table but do given them scraps of roasted meat and the carving dish to lick. Occasional plate on the floor if there is a small amount of leftover suitable people food, usually we put it in their bowls. They don’t go on the table or work surfaces. Hot water and soap/washing up liquid is an excellent way to remove bacteria (have done microbiology courses).

God no.me the cat’s mouth is repulsive and spends far too much time in contact with the cat’s anus.

That’s not to say he doesn’t make the occasional dart for an unmonitored plate or bowl, as he is a greedy bastard. We also have quite a time keeping him off the kitchen worktop - telling him off doesn’t work, and the worktop is too long for it to be constantly monitored. However, once we’re making food on it he will be scooped off and deposited elsewhere if he makes a run for it.

I have never allowed cats to beg/lick plates or climb on kitchen countertops. Even if the plates go in the dishwasher, I do not like him going for my plate constantly. He is well fed and gets his dinner at the same time as me.

No absolutely not. He also gets short shrift if he tries to jump up to grab food. I would absolutely not let him lick my plates

Absolutely not! I wouldn't even put my cats dish in the dishwasher with ours, as dishwashers don't get hot enough to sterilise. If I give my cats something from my plate, it goes into their bowl which is washed by hand with separate cloth!

Absolutely he licks plates. He doesn't go on work surfaces, but if we are eating off laps absolutely he helps himself to the remains if we put the plate down on the ground or the sofa arm. I mean he licks our faces, why would we not let him lick our plates?

I regard it as a prewash, prior to dishwasher.

(On many occasions it seemed to me that the plate was actually clean enough to go straight back in the cupboard, but my darling partner caught me and put an end to this.)

I've never actually allowed it but it has happened. The plate or dish just goes in the dishwasher.

(On many occasions it seemed to me that the plate was actually clean enough to go straight back in the cupboard, but my darling partner caught me and put an end to this.)

What a bastard! Many years ago I had a cat who would, on the occasions I ate in my armchair, slowly reach out a paw to grab whatever was there. Her favourite was broccoli. I let her because it made me laugh and made her happy.

@MrsPsmalls wtf are you letting them lick your face?

I let her because it made me laugh and made her happy.

A beautiful relationship

It’s a no from me. Same as it’s a no for my dog.

TBF, I live on my own - so am no trying to keep an eye on or look out for anyone else. And, maybe I’ve been lucky but my cats have never tried to get food off my plates. They’ve occasionally jumped on the table and had a sniff, but I’ve just “no” and they wander/ed off.

Even if I wasn’t lucky with their temperament, I still wouldn’t do it - and would always do the same as I do for my dog. She doesn’t beg or pester during mealtimes. If there’s anything leftover that’s suitable for any of them, then they get some added to their own bowls once I’ve finished eating.

Probably more dog-related, but I’ve always wanted her to only eat food that is “permitted” ie in her bowl or given to her by hand etc. Rather than eating anything random she comes across. And I love a quote I saw which explained why cats are superior - dogs will pick up and eat any old crap, cats are rather more discerning about what they eat!

Anyway, long-winded way of getting back round to the fact that, for me, it’s about manners (mixed in with safety). Am occasionally happy to give them some of my food in their bowls. But I never want them to feel it’s ok to help themselves. Having that clear line helps me know what they’ve ingested in case there’s a problem.

Absolutely no way. I find that disgusting. I also cringe when people let their cats and dogs like them, particularly on their face and mouth - yuck!

I'm finding the superior tone of some posters quite amusing.

Must bring this perspective to quite a few other MN threads.

@LubaLuca

No, and I'm not a hugely fussy cat owner. No going on the kitchen surfaces, no eating our things, no licking bowls. It might not be hugely risky from a health point of view, but there's no need for it and it's very easy to stop them. Cats do learn what will get them told off, and they don't like being told off so they soon stop.

Luba how do you train an older cat please? I have tried loud noises like empty cans and the decompressed air spray, foil (which she doesn’t mind and will play with), sticky surfaces which is fine at the time but when I need to use the kitchen and remove she is straight back on. Every time she jumps I say no sternly and put her down.

This battle of wills has been going in for 18 months. Do you recommend any videos or websites? I don’t want to spray her with water or shout at her. My flat is open plan so no doors to shut.

My cat only goes where her food is. Nothing else happens in that particular area. I had to put her food there otherwise my dog would have eaten it. She also has a stool to jump on to get there (she needed it when she was a kitten) if I move the stool, that's where she goes. The floor is lava in every other room but the kitchen.