my cat steals my cookies and popcorn! why?

[Ladysnakes]

My kitten Arlo has been stealing my food lately. I'm not just talking meat/cheese sandwiches or pizza or ice cream... and I don't mean he just "tries" foods. He will, with great enthusiasm, try to chow down on popcorn, bread, gingerbread cookies... anything I leave sitting ANYWHERE in my apartment. I have to be really careful because I know it can't be good for him =/ I don't want him to get into something that could really hurt him. He eats plenty of his canned food and I give him a good brand and more than enough of it. I even give him a variety of kitty treats. But I still catch him with his head in my popcorn bag.

So a couple questions... first off, how weird is this? I've never seen a cat do this, personally. My first cat was super-finicky about her food. I mean, Arlo is weird in a lot of ways (hypoplasia cat, curled piglet-tail, extra toes on one foot...) but this is unexpected. More like a dog habit than a cat one. Um... other question is, any suggestions for what to do? Besides just watching him closely, I mean, and of course putting food away.... Can't think of much else to do, myself, but input's always appreciated :)

[ringletchk]

Too Funny! I have to same problem with Skeeter. He wants anything that I'm eating or getting ready to eat.

He's been known to eat the mustard off the bread while I make a sandwich, spaghetti is one of his favorites, jello he thinks he likes but still not sure. But he's never attempted popcorn, he's smelled it but that's about it.

Everytime I'm baking, he thinks he has to be in the batter of whatever it is. He once stepped into brownie batter in the bowl. Holy cow! That was a nightmare to get off him and he hasn't tried that one since.

I normally just pick him up and move him or if he's persistent I will have to spray him with a water bottle.

Good luck. It's a toughy

[Ltlpistol]

I don't think popcorn in limited amounts will hurt him. It's basically just fluffy fiber. Unless you get the kind with lots of seasoning on it. Like Garlic or Cheese or Onion. I used to have a cat that would skip right over the polish sausage to get to the sauerkraut! Cats are really weird critters! LOL

[lindsayanng]

One of my cats will eat salad, carrots, brocolli, lasagna, you name it, she will eat it.

also, are you SURE she is eating them and not just taking them out the crunch on it. My cats LOVE to stick their heads in ANYTHING thatlooks like a box or a bag.. and they will take out the pieces and crunch them up but not eat them.. theyre just trouble makers.

[e1beth1]

Why don't you try putting some dry cat food in a popcorn bag while you have popcorn out to see if he'll ditch yours for his own? The only good way I've found to keep my cats out of something is the water bottle, but of course you have to catch them in the act.

[KathyW]

We have the opposite situation--our current 2 cats are finicky, whereas all my previous cats would eat just about anything. (I remember puzzling over the "Morris the Cat" TV ads when I was a child, trying to imagine a finicky feline because I'd never met one!) We've always had to be so careful not to leave a plate of food or a glass of whatever lying around, but now it doesn't matter--they just sniff and walk away. Unless they change, of course, which they could at any moment. :p

[Ladysnakes]

Haha, these stories... well I feel less alone now, anyway. I guess he's just gonna keep being a food bandit and I'm gonna keep intervening. as for am i sure is he eating and not just enjoying bags and boxes and crunching sounds... yes. he will remove cookies and popcorn from a bag and then consume it if I don't stop him. He's a rascally one.

[lindsayanng]

yep.. thats my chili cat.. but then when it comes to cat food, she is SUPER picky.. so i buy the cat food that is human grade and she eats it!!!

Just dont let it get outta hand.. thats usually how people end up with obese cats and dogs.

[special]

Haha, these stories... well I feel less alone now, anyway. I guess he's just gonna keep being a food bandit and I'm gonna keep intervening. as for am i sure is he eating and not just enjoying bags and boxes and crunching sounds... yes. he will remove cookies and popcorn from a bag and then consume it if I don't stop him. He's a rascally one.

As you are finding out it's not such a strange habit for some cats after all!

Just be sure Arlo doesn't get ahold of anything chocolate (toxic to cats) or as already mentioned anything with garlic or onion as those two can cause anemia.

And the popcorn, make sure he doesn't get any hard kernals, because he could hurt his teeth or choke.

[Ladysnakes]

yeah... i've been being extra careful with the popcorn (hard edges) and he's never gotten to anything chocolate so far. i'm way too paranoid to leave it anywhere he could conceivably reach it. mostly things are problematic when he sneaks up on me with great stealth and nabs sandwiches or ginger snaps. i don't have a table or desk in my apartment yet so it's hard to keep him off me sometimes when i'm eating =/ and yeah, he's eating human grade kitty food in lots of flavors =) tonight he is having Turducken!
he's normal weight now if not a little under still... up actually from when i got him (he was really really skinny then). i'm just trying hard to keep him away from my food and i keep feeding him tasty wet food. feline greenies, too. his breath is baaaad.

[xpalaboyx]

ready your water bottle and correct your cat's behavior whenever catch Arlo doing it...

[special]

yeah... i've been being extra careful with the popcorn (hard edges) and he's never gotten to anything chocolate so far. i'm way too paranoid to leave it anywhere he could conceivably reach it. mostly things are problematic when he sneaks up on me with great stealth and nabs sandwiches or ginger snaps. i don't have a table or desk in my apartment yet so it's hard to keep him off me sometimes when i'm eating =/ and yeah, he's eating human grade kitty food in lots of flavors =) tonight he is having Turducken!
he's normal weight now if not a little under still... up actually from when i got him (he was really really skinny then). i'm just trying hard to keep him away from my food and i keep feeding him tasty wet food. feline greenies, too. his breath is baaaad.

His breath issues may clear up after a few months of good nutriton. My Jennie (also rescued stray) had very bad breath too when I rescued her, but the vet said her teeth are good. And now, after 7 months on good food she has nice sweet breath.

I don't know about greenies, I've heard some not so good things about them, (for both dogs and cats) but can't confirm anything. You might try a tartar control treat like Whiskas or.....I can't think of the one I used to give my cats. If it comes to me I'll post it. My cats enjoyed the crunchy ones.

I forget..has Arlo been to the vet yet?

[lindsayanng]

I feed my cat's TURDUCKEN TOO!!! its merrick brand right?? they love it!

anyways, when we got our chili cat, she was stinky as all get out. Her breath was kicken! you could smell her from 3 rooms away! here read this story Chili Cat - the stinkies sweetest kitty ever (http://www.furryfamilysupplies.com/catalog/adoption.php?osCsid=a4a35ae1b413ae0ef82c668cfb1ee5 cd)

That bad breath did clear up with some good old fashioned cat food. Make sure to offer some dry food to hep it along too.. and if you notice that her teeth are clearing up (no tartar) but there is a thin red line of gingivitis hanging around for no reason, i would get her in for a bartonella test. Its the first sign that other symtoms might start showing up and its best to treat it then before you spend a ton of money in diagnostics.

BTW.. was arlo found outside fending for himself?? those tend to be the kitties who will eat anything.

[vix506]

That is too darn funny! My Lucky won't touch anything thats human food. I find it odd actually!

BTW.. was arlo found outside fending for himself?? those tend to be the kitties who will eat anything.

Lucky was found outside and rail skinny...he had to have been a pet before he found me. I wish I knew his background.

[Ladysnakes]

answerin' some questions:

yep, he's been to the vet =) recently, too. he's got a clean bill of health. and yeah, he was rescued as a stray kitten (i think at about 3 months of age? we don't know his age for sure) with his siblings and their mom. his siblings all got adopted out before him because he's all black and he has cerebral hypoplasia. he DOES eat all wet food (i had him on an all wet food diet because he got dehydrated... i also got him a fresh flow pet fountain and that cleared up). maybe adding back some dry food would be good for his teeth/breath. i buy Core kitten and cat dry food cause it's full of protein =) and his wet food is usually Merrick, yep! i love that he can have turducken and california rolls!

[Ladysnakes]

oh yes and



I don't know about greenies, I've heard some not so good things about them, (for both dogs and cats) but can't confirm anything.


like what? i don't want to feed my kitty anything bad for him =/

[SweetQueenA]

I have to eat my meals with a water bottle. Callie has no interest in my food (just spam), but the other two double team me. PC will sit on the endtable and watch- with my attention on her and one hand on the water bottle; Chunk comes from behind and leaps on the table and snatch and dashes.
they switch up enough I get duped about 50 % of the time. The love pizza and licking potato chips.

[Ladysnakes]

haha! clever cats. sounds like a raptor pack.

[katiem]

I also feed Turducken, but its for my dogs!

One of my cats will eat anything! I figure as long as its in moderation and its not harmful to him he can try whatever he wants. He loves popcorn, spagetti, ice cream, strawberry yogurt, etc...

[special]

oh yes and




like what? i don't want to feed my kitty anything bad for him =/

if you do a search on google, links to several articles come up with stories of bad experiences or even death of pets. From what I gather Greenies has changed their formula since then.

The search I did when I first answered your post brought up a lot of negative testimonials. Just now when I did it again, only a couple came up.

Mostly having to do with choking the pet, lodging in the throat or stomach, or unable to pass them out through the intestine, are the ones I came across the first time last week) I searched.

None were recent, and like I said greenies has changed their formula since then.

So I went back and typed in "greenies bad for pets" and a few more came up. Ask your vet what s/he thinks, would be the best approach I guess.

I used to buy a certain brand of treats at the vet, but they get stale so fast, I've pretty much given up any cat treats. three of them get special treats such as mayo or yogurt with their medicines every day, and chase the kibble seems to satisfy them as far as crunchy treats at other times. (of course they get some chicken when I cook it, or fish, and one of them enjoys a lick or two of spaghetti when I make that, two like my cereal milk.....)

[Ladysnakes]

well that sounds pretty bad... i would hope they've changed the formula. arlo tends to eat very slowly so he might not wolf them down and choke but who knows.

i actually made a vet appointment for him for tomorrow for his breath... it started out bad but now it's just not normal. hopefully that should clear up a lot =) thanks for your help everyone!

[livertrans]

I have a few cats over the years. A stray I took in(she also, I think, had been someones pet- really afraid of men until my husband won her over). This cat love potato chips. There was a school near where we lived and I figure she found stuff kids might have dropped or been fed my them. Just about the best pet I ever had.
Also had a part siamese car the liked corn on the cob and went nuts for apple fritters.
I have read the cats can't taste sweet things but I have to differ. A couple of my cats loved whipped cream(from the can). Amazing what appeals to the.

[DaddyTo2Cats]

If I'm not careful and put away the bag when I'm done eating potato chips, my cat Sylvester likes to stick his head inside the bag and eat some. Once I had placed the empty bag on my bed as I did something on the computer for a few minutes. When I turned around, I found him walking around the room with his head inside the potato chip bag! I guess he's a comedian along with being a very sweet natured cat.

[web-scribble]

The popcorn and chips are probably a favorite due to their salt and greasiness. I would sometimes let my kitty have a bit of the popcorn, but I would break off the fluffy white bits for her. It's not safe to give a human baby popcorn as it poses a huge choking risk - the danger is just as big for pets.

We too had a kitty that loved sweet things - donuts, cookies, cakes. Speaking of cakes, that little gal licked huge patches of icing off the top of an unattended birthday cake - unfortunately before it was seen by the birthday girl - Mom. It had been my first adventure at baking and from my child's perspective, I could not imagine why Mom had found her patch-worked cake so funny. lol

Tag team cat begging/thievery - too funny.

[AndyLizCam]

I just had to pop in because this reminds me so much of my cat who passed away. She Loved potato chips and pop corn. the one thing i remember is my dad would always leave his hamburger in his room before her ate it, she would go in there and eat the patty and my dad would be soooo disapointed.