I just got a new 8 week old kitten a few days ago, and i noticed that when i try to touch her or pick her up whenever she is around food, she starts growling and getting really mad at me. I don't want her to continue to have this behavior when she is an adult. Is there any way to stop her from being so protective of her food? Should i be worried about this?
2007-01-24 17:54:21 · 5 answers · asked by Miso 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
This is very normal behaviour for a cat or kitten. They are not social animals like dogs, and do not need to be taught submissiveness (that you are 'boss'---cats don't give a damn, but dogs do need that lesson).
Just don't bother her while she eats. Many cats have that behavior as kittens, and it subsides as they grow older. 2 of my cats did it a lot when they were young, but rarely do it now.
Your kitten will eventually learn that her food won't be taken away, and relax about it.
2007-01-24 18:31:52 · answer #1 · answered by P-nuts and Hair-dos 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This behavior usually starts due to competition for food when they are still nursing. They usually have to compete to nurse. Hold some food in your hand and have the kitten nibble the food from your hand. This will help her get used to you. However, let that baby eat and don't try to pick it up when it is eating. How would you like it if someone picked you up away from you food when you were trying to eat?
2007-01-25 07:37:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Really, you have just got her. Cats need time to adjust to a new situation, as does any animal. Quit bothering her while she is eating, for the moment at least, or you risk antagonising her, and making her feel unsafe in her new home.
You don't need to be the boss of your cat, and there is no reason you will ever need to bother her while she is eating. Give her time to settle in, and go easy on her. She should be gradually getting to know you, becoming your friend right now, and eating is a private matter for a cat. It isn't like food aggression in a dog. It isn't so much being protective of her food, as her privacy, and in a cat I would respect this.
2007-01-25 02:17:52 · answer #3 · answered by meptastic 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
shell prolly grow out of it but she needs to know you are the boss. i would try to feed her bits by hand just before you give her the dish and pet her while she eats from the dish. thats what you do with dogs. get all in her space because you gotta teach her young that people are not to be messed with. you dont want a full grown cat scratching you because you were too close at meal time.
2007-01-25 02:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by mypurpleelephant 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
leave her alone and warn others not to touch her when shes eating, its a normal response for a cat thats lived with too many other animals and had to fight for enough food to survive.
2007-01-25 02:18:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋