Eating cat food

[BethG]

I've got a new behavior problem with Cleo. She’s eating my cat's dry food. The cat food is on top of a cabinet about 4.5 feet high, up till now the dogs have stayed out of his food. I’ve been finding the empty bowl on the floor lately, not sure how it’s been getting there until a few days ago when Cleo walked in the TV room with the cat food bowl in her mouth. I reprimanded her (got in her face, leave it command, long down stay). Well last night, after I ignored her demands for attention, she went into the kitchen, brought the bowl in the TV room and started to eat the cat food right in front of me.

I know I have to find a better place for the cat food now, but I wonder what's up with Cleo? Some background info... I’ve changed my ways with her in the past year because she was a spoiled little dominatrix. Also, recently been cracking down on Cleo for teasing the cat. She likes to annoy him sometimes, not constantly, but enough to literally piss him off. He's 16 years old and cranky, and started to pee in the house. The first place he peed was Cleo's bed. Vet checked him and thinks it's a behavioral problem. The rule of the house now is DON’T STRESS THE CAT! Vet put the cat on valium, and he's a pretty mellow kitty now, doesn't even hiss at the dogs anymore. But still, I don’t want Cleo to bother him.

Another development affecting the pack is my boy Buddy (6 yr Rott/GSD) starting getting in bed with me in the middle of the night. I haven't let the dogs on the bed for a while. Buddy has hip dysplasia and spondylosis, and he couldn't get in bed anymore anyway. I could barely get him in the car. But he's been on a diet, and I've been using supplements and walking him again, and he's a new dog. Suddenly he's back in bed with me. He waits until he thinks I’m asleep to climb in. If I catch him trying, I tell him no, but I am a very heavy sleeper. (I sleep through thunder storms and set two alarms.) I don’t know if this has anything to do with Cleo’s behavior, but I think it might have some affect on the pack hierarchy, so to speak.

Cleo is 5 years old. I've had her for 4 years, and she never counter surfed or tried to eat the cat food before. thanks, -BethG

[MARYDVM]

I would say she simply never noticed the cat food before. My 6 year old AB Mabelene never counter surfed before, but last month she noticed a bag containg most of a loaf of homebaked bread on the counter, and had herself a little picnic. Now the bread goes in the cabinet. There is no reliable way to train a dog not to do this when you are not around, and food is. It's an immediate high value reward, no matter how much you fuss afterwards. My cat food dish is on top of the refrigetrator. With your old cat, you might want to set up a "cat room" with a little cutout in the room door so that kittie can go in and out while the door is shut, and dogs are kept outside.

[Miabella]

I rigged my basement door with a hook-and-eye so that it is open far enough for the cats to go through but not the dogs. The cats have their bowls on the landing, they have some privacy and the dogs can't access their bowls.

[jester]

we had this problem we keep the cat food bowl upstairs as the dog does not go up there. cat food is not good for your dog

[work2preserverotties]

you could also try using a baby gate. cut a hole in the lower corner for the cat to walk through. they are cheap at target or like stores.

if you catch her with the bowl or up on the counter, use a noise repremand like a penny can or muffled air horn.

the cat is the king of the castle and should be treated as such until the day he dies. our most recent passing was our 20 year old persian and the rotts wouldnt even walk by her in the hall! yet alone dream of eating her food

[RottiMomCT]

Our cat has the bathroom as her 'space'. Food and (now covered)litter box are kept in there and the bi-fold doors are closed with a chain that keeps the doors open only enough for the cat to get in/out.

Since the passing of Thelda, Ebony (the cat) has started to venture out into the hall and kitchen ...I've even seen her sleeping in the hall...something she never did when Thelda was here. Smart cat...very smart...

[Spoiled Rott'n]

We have had this problem too.... when we first moved into our house in 2002, had the cat food downstairs and it worked out well because the dogs are not down there unless we are.

Since our invasion of mice [which is now done with!!] I figured out that the mice were dining quite well on the catfood, so I had to move the food upstairs in the kitties' room. unfortunately, my dogs noticed it immediately and were elated about their new "treat" I put the baby gate up and have had no problems, except of course me tripping over it to get in the room!!!!

Yes the catfood is terrible for the dogs, as poor Sabre found out when he puked it all up!!

[rottweilerlover]

sounds like a matter of jelousy which is the same reason that dogs eat cat litter at least thats what ive learned in school when i was little we had a sheltie who would only eat cat food the vet said a dog can live off cat food but a cat cant live off dog food but that was over 10 years ago so mabe that has changed idk about the cat litter and food im furtunate to have a 2 tub house so the cat has her cat litter and cat food in my tub! she loves that b/c theres so much prvacy and best of all none of the dogs go in there! :) the st benard tries though

[spidey]

Dogs eat cat litter because it has cat poop in it (AKA gourmet doggie snacks) or because it's got a crunchy texture. Dogs eat cat food because it's food, it's stinky, and it's available. Dogs are opportunistic feeders, they'll eat most anything they come across. Nothing to do with jealousy, everything to do with normal doggy behaviour.