Many consider cats to be born thieves because they love to pile harmless objects under refrigerators, sofas, beds and in various other places where their owner cannot reach them with his hand.
There are several reasons why your cat like to steal, and we’ve singled out some of the most common ones for you:
Predatory nature – If your pet likes to steal chicken drumsticks or some other meat from the kitchen counter or from your plate, it doesn’t have to mean she’s hungry. A cat is a natural predator and getting food in a bowl several times a day will not satisfy its natural urge to hunt. If the cat does not eat the food immediately, but goes around and “growls” with it in its mouth, it is an almost certain sign that she is a predatory thief.
Hunger – A cat can be a thief because she is simply hungry, which is not necessarily a sign of whether you are feeding her or not. Maybe your cat is on a special diet or simply has a desire for more food.
Seeking attention – If your cat has been taught that you pay attention to her when she steals something, then don’t be surprised if she uses theft to seek attention. If you just talk to her, say if you just criticize her, it is still a form of attention, so you can encourage her to steal something again.
Boredom – Maybe your cat is just bored with her daily routine. If there is not enough stimulation of another kind during the day, she could very easily use stealing and hiding small items as a way to have fun.
How to stop theft?
First of all, pay attention to the potential reasons why your cat is stealing. If she steals food most often, make sure she doesn’t get a chance to be near your plate anymore. Especially because there are a large number of foods intended for humans, which are very bad for cats. Predatory food theft can be stopped by enriching the time when the meal is given in some other way to make it more interesting.
If your cat is a seeking attention thief, do not encourage her with further conversation and argument when you pick up the stolen item. You can give your cat a lot of toys during the day and the incentive should distract her from stealing tempting things, and this can also be applied if your cat steals out of boredom.
When is theft a cause for concern?
In most cases, this kind of cat behavior is harmless, but there are still times when you should be worried. Stealing hair bands, sharp staples and similar items can cause a serious problem for your pet. Hair bands and staples can be swallowed very easily, and one veterinarian published a case where she managed to remove as many as 50 hair bands from one cat, and the entire upper part of a bathing suit from another cat intestines.
If thefts become more frequent, or you suspect that the cat has stolen and eaten something that is not good for her, it is recommended that you seek the help and advice of a veterinarian as soon as possible.
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