If your cat has been taking your food a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat take my food? Likely reasons why your cat takes your food are that it simply likes your food, your cat likes the smell or that it is hungry.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat takes your food and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat take my food?
Below are likely reasons why your cat takes your food and what would make them more likely.
Your cat simply likes your food
A likely cause is that your cat simply likes the food you eat. This would be more likely if your cat only wants your food when you are eating certain types of food such as fish or certain meat.
Boredom
A part of the cause could also be that it is bored and stealing your food is an opportunity for your cat to do something exciting. This would be more likely if your cat does it more when it has been sitting around for a long time.
Your cat likes the smell
The cause could be that your cat likes the smell of the food. This would be more likely if your cat only seems to want your food when it is something that is particularly smelly.
It is hungry
Another possible cause is that your cat is hungry. This would be more likely if your cat only takes your food when it has not been able to eat in a while.
A problem with its diet
It might also be the case that a problem with your cat’s diet has been causing your cat to eat your food in order to get extra nutrients. This would be more likely if your cat has started stealing your food since a change in its diet.
Nature
Food can be hard to come by in the wild and it could be the case that your cat naturally takes food whenever it gets the opportunity. This would be more likely to be the reason if your cat takes your food even after it has been fed and it is food that it does not like.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always taken your food
If your cat did not always take your food, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started taking it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as a change in its own diet or because you started leaving food unattended.
The timing of when your cat takes your food
If there is a certain time that your cat tends to take your food, it would also help to consider the timing. For example, if it does it before it has been fed or when it has not been able to eat in a while, it would be more likely that your cat is hungry.
How do I stop my cat from taking my food?
Below are some options you have when getting your cat to stop stealing your food.
Make it harder for your cat to access your food
The first thing to do would be to avoid leaving food out in the open so that your cat is unable to steal it in the first place.
Feed your cat at the same time you normally eat
Another option would be to feed your cat just before you normally start eating. By doing so, you should be able to keep your cat occupied while you are eating and to prevent it from taking your food.
Get it to stay elsewhere when you are eating
Another option would be to get your cat to stay in a different room when you are cooking and eating so that it is not able to take your food.
Ensure its diet is right
It would also help to ensure that your cat has been getting the right diet since it might have been taking your food due to an issue with its own diet.
Give your cat distractions
Another option would be to give your cat things to be distracted by when you are eating or cooking. Things you could give it could include toys to play with that have some treats inside.
Why does my cat steal my food?
Your cat might steal your food because it is hungry, it is in its nature to take food when it becomes available, your cat is bored, or that it simply likes the taste of your food. It would help to consider if there is a certain time your cat tends to steal your food and it would help to limit your cat’s access to your food.
Why does my cat beg for food when it has food?
If your cat begs for food when it already has food, the cause could be that it does not like the food you have been giving it or that it really likes the food that you eat yourself.
Why do cats want human food?
Cats do not care who the food belongs to. If there is food available to it, a cat will usually take the opportunity to take the food. The reason why your cat wants human food is likely to be that your cat likes the taste of the food. It might also be the cause that your cat is hungry or that there is an issue with its diet.