I have a rescue cat (she was picked up as a stray) approximately 1.9 years old, I've had her about 9 months
She is neutered, great health, normal weight no worms etc.
When she arrived to me she was seriously small and underweight - I thought she was 4- 5 months old as she was so small.
Within a few weeks of eating well she gained weight and doubled in size.
Her weight is now stable as I have been very consistent with her food as the vet told me she was getting too fat.
The problem is she is ravenously hungry all the time.
She will break into the bins, fridge, food cupboards which now all have toddler locks on them.
She will steal food from your plates, hands while eating, the stove while cooking, etc.
She will eat anything of food origin, eg even raw broccoli ends from the bin etc.
She is fearless, I've tried spraying her with a water spray bottle when she goes on the table or kitchen worktops etc. it only works when you physically remove her - I currently lock her out of the kitchen-diner while cooking/eating (outside) using the cat flap, if I try and shut her out internally she digs at the door continuously.
When it's her food time, she will aggressively hassle you for her breakfast/dinner - including scratching and trying to bite for attention (needless to say whoever is up earliest feeds her immediately - which is standard - but it's the actual aggression which is worrying.
She has free access to outside/the garden - she does go out, but mostly like to stay home. She doesn't seem to hunt, only brought back one 'present' she's not particularly bored, she plays with her toys, hangs around with the humans of the house or the dog.
Is there anything I can do?
I hate having to lock her out of the house while cooking and eating etc - especially when it's cold, but it's so dangerous when you're cooking and she tries to knock the hot pans on the floor etc, or when you are chopping and she's trying to grab things.
I'm 99% vegetarian, so I'm not even cooking meat/fish!
I'm worried she will poison herself one day.