Hi! My name is Kris. I recently took in a stray cat. I'm having problems with her eating her cat food. She insists on begging for mine or my finances food and rummaging through the trash. I've seen her eat her cat food before, it doesn't make her sick. She just won't stop rummaging. I don't know if her previous owners (she used to be a house cat before her owners left her when they moved) gave her table food or what. I would just like to know what I can do to get her off of rummaging and begging
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I'm so glad you took Princess in and gave her a good home! Princess should see your vet for a checkup to help rule out a physical cause for her behaviour. Your vet may want to run some tests (such as bloodwork) to help rule out any causes for the increased appetite. Check with your veterinarian to make sure that Princess is eating a diet that is sufficient in quantity and quality for her. Your vet may recommend changing to a higher fibre, more filling type of food if the behaviour continues. Visit the link below for some more information on how to stop Princess from stealing food: https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/keeping-your-cat-counter You may need to make some adjustments so you can help keep your home a low stress and comfortable place for Princess. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit veterinarypartner.com, indoorpets.osu.edu and healthcareforpets.com for tips on stress reduction. Providing adequate enrichment activities and a comfortable space to live in may help reduce the food stealing.
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