Cats can develop an obsession with human food for a variety of reasons. If your furry friend begs for scraps or steals food from your plate, they may have learned this behavior accidentally or could be attracted to the smell and taste of people food.
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Cats obsess over human food because it smells appealing, tastes good to them, or they have learned to associate it with getting treats and attention from their owner.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the top reasons behind food-obsessed cat behavior, signs to watch out for, health risks, and how to curb the behavior through training, adjusting their diet, and more.
Common Reasons Cats Obsess Over Human Food
It Smells and Tastes Appealing
Let’s face it, human food often smells and tastes way better than regular cat food. The aromatic spices and flavors entice cats’ sensitive noses, and the taste appeals to their preferences for strong flavors. It’s no wonder they go crazy begging for a bite whenever we’re cooking or eating.
Their evolutionary history as hunters drives them to seek out calorie-dense foods with strong scents and tastes.
They Have Accidentally Been Rewarded With Table Scraps
Many well-meaning cat owners start offering tastes of human food as a treat or to show their cat some love. However, this actually reinforces begging behaviors by teaching the cat they’ll sometimes get rewarded for pestering you at mealtimes.
Before you know it, you’ve got a certified “food thief” on your hands constantly trying to steal unattended morsels.
Attention-Seeking Behavior
Cats often solicit human food as a means of getting attention from their owners. Begging behaviors like persistent meowing, nudging your arm, or trying to snatch food are ways for them to say “hey, pay attention to me!”
It’s best to ignore attention-seeking behaviors to avoid encouraging the cat to engage in them more often.
Learned Association Between Food and Positive Reinforcement
If your cat has successfully obtained human food through begging in the past, they are likely to associate being fed people food with positive experiences. Their brains release dopamine when they eat the coveted food, reinforcing the connection.
This makes ignoring their begging very difficult as they desperately try to recreate that “dopamine high.”
Stress or Anxiety
For some cats, begging for food can stem from feelings of stress or anxiety. The unfamiliar smells and activity around human meal preparation may cause them insecurity. Pestering you for food helps comfort them.
Make sure to give your cat adequate playtime, environmental enrichment, and bonding time with you to help prevent stress-related food fixation.
Signs Your Cat is Obsessed with People Food
Begging, Meowing, or Pawing at You During Meals
One of the most obvious signs your cat is obsessed with human food is persistent begging behaviors during mealtimes. Your furry feline may stare intently at you, let out loud meows, or repeatedly paw at your arm or leg while you’re eating in hopes of getting a taste.
This type of food-obsessed behavior can start from a young age if kittens are allowed to eat scraps from the table.
Jumping on Tables and Counters Seeking Food
Cats who have learned that tasty human foods await them on countertops and tables may constantly jump up to search for unattended morsels. Some particularly brazen food thieves may even try to tear open bags or knock over containers.
It’s not uncommon for cats to appear the moment you open the fridge or take food out of the cupboard as they eagerly anticipate their chance to steal a bite.
Stealing Unattended Food Items
Has your cat ever snatched a piece of meat straight from your plate or lapped up your unattended cereal bowl in the morning? Food stealing is a common problem for pets obsessed with people food. Given any opportunity, they’ll gobble down meals before you can even turn your head.
Some clever cats can even open fridge doors or unwrap food items in their quest to sneak a taste.
Gaining Excess Weight
A cat who manages to get their paws on too many table scraps or unattended meals may start packing on extra pounds. Obesity is unfortunately very common in cats, with 59% of cats in the United States classified as overweight or obese.
An overweight cat is a clear indicator that they’re getting too many extra calories from people food or overfeeding.
Dangers of Feeding Cats Human Food
Nutritional Imbalances
Cats require a carefully balanced diet with the right proportions of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Human food usually lacks the nutrients cats need and can upset this nutritional balance. For example, too much fatty meat can lead to vitamin deficiencies while too many carbohydrates from bread or pasta leave cats deficient in arginine, an essential amino acid for felines.
Feeding table scraps may feel like we’re being generous to our feline friends, but it risks their health in the long run.
Weight Gain and Obesity
Human food is often higher in fats and calories than cat food. It’s also usually more appealing to cats since it tends to have a stronger aroma and flavor. Feeding too many snacks or table scraps can quickly lead to obesity.
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over 50% of cats are overweight or obese. Excess weight puts stress on joints and organs while also increasing the risk of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and cancer.
Sticking to proper portion sizes of quality cat food is key to keeping your kitty fit and healthy.
Gastrointestinal Upset
Cats’ digestive systems are adapted to process the high protein, low carb diet of whole prey animals. Human foods, especially fatty, spicy or rich foods, can disrupt their digestive tracts. Common symptoms cats may experience include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and gas.
These not only make cats uncomfortable but can also lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and even pancreatitis. It’s best to stick to cat treats in moderation versus sharing your pizza and ice cream.
Pancreatitis
The pancreas produces enzymes for digesting fats, proteins and carbs. In pancreatitis, these enzymes activate prematurely in the pancreas and begin “digesting” the organ itself, causing severe inflammation and pain.
High fat human foods are the biggest culprit for triggering this potentially life-threatening disease. Dogs are more prone to pancreatitis, but cats can also develop it from dietary indiscretion. Once a cat has had pancreatitis, they usually need to be on a very strict low fat diet for life.
Food Allergies or Intolerances
Just like humans, some cats may be allergic or intolerant to ingredients found in human foods. Common triggers include wheat/grains, dairy, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and fruits/veggies. Feeding human foods may expose cats to novel proteins their bodies see as foreign invaders.
This can cause GI issues or even full-blown allergic reactions. If your cat has food allergies, it’s critical to avoid the problematic ingredients completely rather than trying to limit exposure.
The bottom line is cats’ bodies are finely adapted to eating a meat-based, carb-limited, human food-free diet. Our food tastes great to them, but it can wreak havoc on their health over time leading to chronic illness.
While the occasional treat may not harm your cat, it’s best not to make table scraps and sharing human food a regular part of your cat’s diet. Your furry friend will be far healthier sticking to the diet nature intended cats to eat.
Tips to Curb Food-Obsessed Cat Behavior
Stop Rewarding Food Begging Behavior
It’s understandable to find your cat’s begging behaviors cute or funny, but giving in and rewarding them with scraps of human food only reinforces the behavior. As hard as it is, stop reacting and walk away when they beg. This teaches them that begging doesn’t work.
It may take time and consistency, but it’s one of the best things you can do.
Adjust Their Diet Appropriately
An imbalanced diet lacking proper nutrients could be driving your cat’s food obsession. Consider switching to a high-quality cat food made with real meat proteins if you haven’t already, and feed age-appropriate formulas for kittens, adults, or seniors.
Feeding the proper amount is also key – follow the bag’s feeding guidelines based on your cat’s weight.
Provide Plenty of Exercise and Play
Food obsession can sometimes stem from boredom or excess energy. Make sure your cat gets plenty of stimulating playtime and exercise opportunities each day. Activities like chasing wand toys, batting balls around, pouncing on interactive feeders etc.
can all help satisfy their predatory instincts in healthy ways. Tire them out and they’ll be less obsessed with food or misbehave out of boredom.
Use Deterrents Around Forbidden Areas
It’s smart to use deterrents like SSSCAT automatic sprayers or double-sided sticky tape in areas you want to keep your cat away from, like kitchen counters. Every time they jump up, the deterrent gives them an unpleasant surprise that teaches them to avoid.
Deterrents, plus keeping human food put away, reduces temptation and reinforcement.
Consider Anxiety Treatment if Needed
In some cases, food obsession stems from underlying anxiety issues. If your cat also exhibits other anxiety symptoms like inappropriate elimination, aggression, or over grooming, talk to your vet. Prescription medications or pheromone treatments could help ease their anxiety so food is less of a coping mechanism.
Keep Human Food Out of Reach
Making human food inaccessible is an important piece of curbing food obsession. Keep pantry and fridge doors closed, install child locks if needed, and never leave unattended human food within reach. The more often your cat succeeds in stealing food, the more the behavior is reinforced.
Restrict their access to take away the opportunity and motivation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cats can easily develop fixations on human food, whether due to taste preferences, accidental training, or underlying issues like stress. To curb food obsession in cats, be sure to stop rewarding begging habits, adjust their diet to meet their needs, provide adequate exercise and playtime, use deterrents, treat anxiety if present, and keep tempting food inaccessible.
With consistency, you can help refocus your cat’s energy away from food fixation and onto healthier outlets. In time, the fascination can fade, resulting in a happier, healthier cat.