Increasingly food obsessed...

[martiniscrazy]

We have an 8 year old cat who has always been quite food motivated but is now demonstrating some concerning behaviours. He has always been interested in fatty foods and would routinely lick a frying pan in the sink if it had oils or fats in it. We have always discouraged these behaviours and keep a spray bottle on hand if he jumps up on the counters or sink.

He is at the point now where the spray bottle does not deter him. He will jump up on the counters 6 times over a 30 minute period. Each time we spray him he gets off, leaves the kitchen for 5 minutes only to repeat the process again. He has been eating foods he was previously disinterested in, almost whatever he can get his paws on. He is licking olive oil bottles that are out on the counter and has eaten through the plastic wrapping over cakes.

His normal eating routine is that we leave a bowl of dry food out for him to graze on and give him wet food once per day. Any help with this cat would be much appreciated!

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi! Other than giving him more canned food, and of those meals having them be different brands for the different nutrients the manufacturers use in their recipes, have you gotten him in to the vet?

 

[LTS3]

A trip to the vet would be helpful. Sometime excessive hunger can be caused by diabetes or hyperthyroid or other health condition.

Here are tips on curbing the counter surfing:

How To Keep Cats Off Counters And Tables - TheCatSite

Ever wonder what you can do to keep cats off counters and tables? We have some expert advice in this comprehensive article.

thecatsite.com

How To Set Healthy Boundaries For Your Cat [A Complete Guide] - TheCatSite

Discover effective strategies to establish healthy boundaries for your cat. From creating safe spaces to managing behavior, learn how to set boundaries for your cat and foster a harmonious living environment.

thecatsite.com

Keep all foods off the counters if possible. If food must be kept on the counter, put them inside food storage containers that have lids that snap on securely. Bottles of oils etc can be kept in a cabinet or in tall food storage containers. Keep the sink clear of dirty dishes. Keep the trash can lid on and / or place inside a cabinet or other inaccessible place.

Spraying water has no effect on cats and may even reinforce the negative behavior:

5 Reasons To Never Spray Water On Your Cat [Or otherwise punish them] - TheCatSite

We present to you the reasons why you should never spray water on your cat. Even if you have done it before, it is never too late to learn.

thecatsite.com

 

[fionasmom]

Your cat is way too food motivated to consider this to be just a behavior. He is eating unlikely foods and more or less desperately searching for something to eat. I am not implying that you do not feed him enough by any means. Any time I have had a food motivated animal which fits this description there has been an underlying reason.