Cat Food Theif!!!

[Cessena]

When we adopted our dog in June we started feeding the cats up on a microwave stand, so the dog wouldn't get into their food. We had a couple incidents early on with him counter surfing for cat food, but he got caught, got in trouble and stopped.

Well he has now improved his technique. When the cats aren't eating he will eat out of the bowls on the counter (instead of pulling them down, which used to alert us to his naughtiness). It's pretty funny to watch because first he checks REALLY carefully to make sure there is no cat waiting to bop him on the nose.

Does anyone have any suggestions besides blocking off the kitchen? His water is in there, and I'd rather not have to move it to the carpet, he's a messy drinker, but if that's the best option, that's the best option.

I'm trying to think of aversion techniques that wont also be aversive to the cats. (As if a dog in their food bowl wasn't yucky enough.)

[Bodi's Mom]

We just adopted a kitten - same problem. Our dog Bodi, who is very large, will surf any counter for kitten food or any food for that matter, so putting the kittens food up high was out of the question. We were stumped. Then I tried putting the kittens food under our kitchen table - with all the table and chair legs in the way, Bodi can't even get close to the food, and it creates a little haven for our kitten. It's worked like a charm. Good Luck!

[lizzybeth727]

I had the same problem, so I just quit free-feeding my cat. Why should you free-feed anyway? I feed her at night after my dog goes to bed, and if she has any food left over in the morning, I take it away until I leave for work (when my dog goes back to her crate).

[Hillside]

Depending on the size of your dog, they make pet gates now that have small doors inset, so that smaller pets can still get through. There is also a top entry litter box with a lid to keep dogs out. Perhaps you could modify that as a feeding station?http://clevercatinnovations.com/(S(n55bi43cjdlrds55mk0unh55))/top_entry_litterbox_order.aspx

Or since it is just pretty much a tub with a hole in the lid, make your own?

[Cheetah]

If you end up moving the water bowl, get a mat to put it on to protect your carpet, like one of these:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751054&cp=2767032.2857407&utm_term=4883455&utm_medium=cpc&fbx=0&fbn=Taxonomy%7CPlacemats&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2857407&utm_campaign=dog_bowls_and_feeders&fbc=1&utm_source=google&parentPage=family&keepsr=1

[Maxy24]

can you move it onto a room with a door and then get a kitty door so your dog can't fit through? I had that problem with max but we didn't free feed so i just locked the cats in during dinner and all went fine.

[summitview]

Try feeding your cats at specific times rather than allowing them to free-feed. This way, you can crate them or close them off in a room to eat so the dog cannot bother them.

How Often Should You Feed Your Cat? From the pages of Cornell's Cat Watch. (http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/news/feed.htm)

[Khalid]

I agree... Either isolation at feeding times or different feeding times usually helps in these situations...

Cheersss...