I've come to realize one of the 'perks' I've lost, with the kittens

[Siwsan]

Because of the way Sophie, as a young kitten, was neglected by her first human, she never formed any concept of human food. Her owner was a drug addict who didn't spend a whole lot of money on food for herself, and simply poured out amounts of cat food (or it could have been dog food since she had one of those, too) for her 'pets'. A hint of how bad that house was when we rescued the animals - she also didn't realize that you needed to walk a dog outside, at least to let them do their 'business'. And she didn't change or scoop the litter boxes - just kept piling it in. Imagine the state of that house.

When I got Sophie and Boudicca to my house, I could leave a plate full of food on the floor, and neither of them would go near it. That's still pretty much true, today, with Sophie (although she's developed a sudden love of cream cheese so I have to protect my bagel by giving her a dab).

Now, these kittens, on the other hand, well, there's NO WAY to eat anything around them. They even try to get into my coffee cup.

So, no more enjoying a meal on a tv table, in the den. I'll just put up with the accusatory looks I get, after I dine in another room.

[Walleye]

1. I had a cat who like to sip my coffee. Of course it had cream in it

[Siwsan]

3. The first time I visited my brother and his wife in California, they had a tiny black kitten

We made big cups of cocoa with whipped cream, and were sitting on the floor, talking. All of a sudden, little Beezle took a nose dive into my cup and I pulled back with his face COVERED in whipped cream. I thought we'd never stop laughing.

[Walleye]

4. That's great. Mine was all black cat too. May she rest in peace

[Rorey]

2. I used to have to hide from my Rottweiler

I couldn't eat anything without him standing there with drool running out of his mouth. I'm a vegetarian, so you wouldn't think he'd be too interested in my food.

Whenever I had a bowl of cereal, I'd leave a little milk in the bottom of the bowl for him. I know a lot of people might think that it's gross to let the dog lick your bowl, but I made a lot of concessions with him. After he went over that Rainbow Bridge, it took me a little while to stop leaving that milk for him. The first few days I'd just stare at my bowl and cry.

I had a very hard time saying goodbye to that guy. Best dog ever.

[3Hotdogs]

5. I have to lock "The Black Demon" in the bathroom in order to have a quiet meal.

I squirt whipped cream in my coffee instead of milk and sugar. In order for that to go well, I have to quirt a bit on her dish to get her to leave me alone.

[niyad]

6. Ohhhhh, they are soooo going to get you for cheating them like that! Glad to hear

that Miss Sophie is starting to like cream cheese.

Years ago, a friend gave me a mug with a picture of a cat and paw prints. It read, "yet another mug for m cat to drink from when I am not looking."

I do hope that the monster who had her and Boudicca first suffered a long, painful exit.

[Siwsan]

7. I never found out what happened to her after she lost her teaching job

Yes, she was a teacher. The woman had more psychological and addiction issues than I can name. She was very creative when it came to trying for another prescription. Every hospital had her on their list of pain killer abusers.

When we went to get Sophie (Boudicca was almost feral, hiding in the piles of hoarded junk) there was about an 18" pathway through the tiny, tiny house. My sister wouldn't let me near the kitchen or bathroom. Total bio hazard zones.

But, someone adopted the dog and I ended up getting both cats, so a happy ending for the animals.

[Freddie]

8. Cats can be funny about people food

The boys we have now could care less, although Charlie likes to lick my coffee cup when I’m done.
The late Ricky, a Maine Coon, loved sweet baked goods. If you had a donut or muffin he HAD to have some, just a bite or two. Once he knocked an angel food cake on the floor so he could have some, I think he found the almond extract irresistible. He also loved olives, didn’t eat them but had to rub his face on the cutting board if I chopped olives.

[Random Boomer]

9. Trade you for a 100lb dog with a food obsession

We have a rescue hound that was pulled out of a horrible situation (a dozen starving dogs tied up in the yard, no food) that has left her with a permanent food obsession. (Thank goodness she's not food aggressive or she probably would have been euthanized.)

The first day we brought her home, she dashed through the house trying to eat anything she could find. As I chased after her, she was climbing up on furniture to reach the cat dishes and when she reached the kitchen she started counter surfing and ate half a tub of butter before I could wrestle her away. When we carried our plate out of the kitchen, she was leaping at it trying to snatch the food. For the first year, she was constantly chewing up any plastic items she could find: hair brushes, vacuum cleaner parts, pens, cell phone stands, you name it.

Now, after four years, she's calmed down considerablly. We can actually sit on the couch and eat without her trying to grab our plate (but if you set it down and turn away, it's fair game).

[Siwsan]

10. Little Squeaky (now named Cinder) had some food insecurities/aggression

He'd guard his bowl with his whole body when he ate - usually head and front paws buried in the food. And, if he had anything in his mouth, you risked losing a finger to try and get it out. The noises he'd make put most Halloween cats to shame. I think that was because, as the 'runt' of the litter, he probably had to fight for every drop of his mom's milk.

He got less worried, before he left for Chicago.

[Ocelot II]

11. My late cat Milo always preferred people food.

It was really challenging to try to eat any kind of meat with him around - I contemplated becoming vegan just so he'd keep his paws out of my food - he could snatch a morsel off my fork before I could get it to my mouth. He was especially fond of ham sandwiches, and once he stole an entire pork chop off my plate and ran away with it. My one remaining cat, Pixie, is not interested in people food at all, which makes my lunchtimes a little less challenging - but I sure miss Milo, he was such a character. He passed away last summer, just a month after I lost my gray tabby, Jeoffry. I miss him, too. He didn't steal food but he was really good at getting all the treats out of food puzzles.

[spinbaby]

12. One of my foster kittens is a food stealer

She climbs into my lap. purrs, looks adorable, bats her eyelashes at me, then grabs the food and bolts away like a little food-stealing ninja.