Dealing with Begging Behavior in Cats: Strategies and Concerns

[Altair]

Begging for food is a common behavior in many cats. This can be frustrating for cat owners, especially if they are trying to set up a feeding schedule or make sure their cat is getting a healthy diet.

Have you ever experienced your cat begging for food? How do you handle it? Have you found any effective strategies for discouraging begging behavior? Do you think there are any underlying reasons for your cat's begging behavior, such as hunger, boredom, or attention-seeking?

Additionally, do you think that rewarding begging behavior with scraps of food can have negative consequences for cats? What are some potential risks or concerns associated with feeding cats table scraps or human food?

 

[Nikki]

One of my cats has a habit of begging for food even though she was fed not too long ago. We know she is not hungry as she will have only been fed around an hour of so ago. We tend to just stick to our word and just tell her no and walk away so that she learns she can not always be begging for food because she wants it. This seems to work and then we feed both cats on the schedule we have.

 

[Shortie]

Smokey when she was younger was never one for begging for food, it wasn't until she got older that she would beg for more food not long after she was fed and we knew she wasn't hungry but more greedy at the time so we used to stand our ground and when we said no, it meant no until we knew she was due her next feed.

We always used to keep dry food such as biscuits in a bowl for her that we would change out daily if she never at them so she always had those to fall back on if she was feeling a little peckish but she would not go for them even though we knew she liked them and would instead beg for more wet food.

The key is to stick to your guns and when you say no, stick to that. It is very easy to give in to them especially when they beg but it is always best to for their own good, say no and mean no.

 

[Henrywrites]

One of my cats has a habit of begging for food even though she was fed not too long ago. We know she is not hungry as she will have only been fed around an hour of so ago. We tend to just stick to our word and just tell her no and walk away so that she learns she can not always be begging for food because she wants it. This seems to work and then we feed both cats on the schedule we have.

You can also give the cat little food. As long as it is an in-house thing, you shouldn't worry so much on what you are going to do about that situation.

 

[Destiny]

Cats will try it on sometimes, I have noticed that with my cats a lot. They will beg for food not too long after being fed in the first place and because of that, it can get a little frustrating.

Much like humans though, even though you have fed them, they may still be a little hungry and a snack wouldn't hurt them at all in between meals as long as it isn't unhealthy for them.

 

[Henrywrites]

Cats will try it on sometimes, I have noticed that with my cats a lot. They will beg for food not too long after being fed in the first place and because of that, it can get a little frustrating.

Much like humans though, even though you have fed them, they may still be a little hungry and a snack wouldn't hurt them at all in between meals as long as it isn't unhealthy for them.

This is my view as well. Feeding them the snacks or little food doesn't hurt. This is especially if they don't do that begging attitude often.