How do I know if my cat is too spoiled?

Question

My cat (he's a rescued orange tabby) is extremely sweet and affectionate, however, he's increasingly more demanding of my attention. And when I eat, he literally tries to stick his nose in my mouth to see what I'm eating (of course, I share all my food with him). He constantly paws at me while I'm eating and tries to sit in my lap. I've tried to push him away but this has no effect whatsoever. Has anyone ever "cured" a cat of being such a pest?

Answer 1

Feed him only his food. Sharing your food w/ him only opens the door for him to think that when you eat he's supposed to eat your stuff too. My cats learned this rule when they were kittens, I'm not sure how to get an older cat to stop unless you strictly only allow him his food and maybe "treats" given away from your meal.

Answer 2

Hello, Your cat must be related to my King Cruiser! Also a rescued orange tabby. If you find a "cure" my husband would appreciate sharing the information. BTW KC is 14 years old! Obviously you love him a lot, just as my husband loves KC. My other 2 (girls) are not quite so demanding. And I think you already know there is no such thing as a cat that is too spoiled! Non-cat people will never understand. They will think sharing your food is gross! Bet the share with their children tho! And it is a proven fact that there are fewer germs in a cat's mouth than a human one! Just ignore them! Your cat made a wise decision by adopting you!

Answer 3

I have 4 cats, 1 of them was a lot like your cat, when someone would be eating, she would come up & try to stick her nose in their plate. She would jump up in your lap, or do whatever she could do to get a bite of your food. We didn't let her get away with it, we would always tell her no & make her stay down. She would keep trying & we just kept making her get down. She is alot better now when we eat, but she still will try sometimes to jump up if we aren't paying attention. All 4 of my cats are spoiled, but they do have to have some manners. Try giving him some of what your eating only after your finished eating. Just keep trying, he sounds like a smart cat, if he knows you won't give in he will stop being such a pest.

Answer 4

First off, orange tabbies are known to be a little more aggressive in nature than other breeds. I have an orange tabby at home as well and it was the vet that informed me of this. The more you spoil him and the more you give into his demands, the more of you he will demand. My husband spoils him and he gets really demanding of him and will actually nip at him if he's not getting what he wants. With me on the other hand, I stand firm and will spray him with the water bottle or talk sternly to him. He doesn't bother me as much as my husband! AND, I taught him to sit if he wants a treat out of me!

If you want your cat to stop being so demanding you have to start being more firm with him and not giving in so much. Spray him with a spray bottle or put him in a time out when he is not being good (we put our cat in the washroom for a time out with the lights out for no less than 20 minutes). It's hard to do sometimes because you end up feeling bad but it's the only way to get him to stop.

Answer 5

If you share your food with him, you are conditioning your cat to want human food. Cats often seem to think human food is tastier than their regular kitty food especially if they've been fed human treats such as chicken, beef or shrimp. To keep your cat from going to such extremes to get your food, use negative reinforcement such as a squirt bottle, or a firm "Down!" if he goes onto your table or lap, then back it up by physically moving him away if needed. Keep moving him away from your lap while eating, plus use the squirt bottle and a firm "No!" if he persists.

Answer 6

Put the cat into another room in the house when you eat. Also you shouldn't give your cat table food as it really is bad for them.If you do not want to put him in another room, then give him his own bowl of food or a snack.If he goes for yours, tell him no and offer the bowl. Move the bowl further away each time telling him no.One reason to discourage this behavior, is company sometimes does not think that this is good manners to allow the cat around the table or where you may be eating.

Answer 7

If you love your pet, there is no such thing as being "too spoiled". Just teach him a few manners, such as to stay away when you are eating. Try feeding him his food at the same time you are eating.

Answer 8

There is no cure for a cat ruling the household. My cats do the same thing even when they know they don't like what we are eating. I just ignore them. But I am actually luck y that neither one of them jumps on the table while we are eating.

I personally think its funny!

Answer 9

That's cute - he loves you. Our cat is very nosey and always hanging around us, which is cool. He will come if called and he likes to sleep on the bed too. If I'm in the kitchen doing things, he will come in and eat. If I leave, he leaves. If I go to the dryer to dry clothes, he comes along to watch. When I go to bed, he will come out of wherever he is and go to bed too. Be glad you have an affectionate cat bc some could care less about humans!

Answer 10

Set rules and stick by them. If you don't want him in your plate, each time, tell him in a firm voice "no, this is mine" and push him back. Never let him sit in your lap while you are eating. Share your food with him AFTER you have finished and put it in his bowl. It will take time, but you've let him become aggressive. It's time to let him know who's boss. Never yell or hit him. Just be firm, consistent and you'll get through to him before you know it.