How to Keep Your Dog Out of Your Cat's Food Dish!
Published in Cats & Dogs News
Does Your Dog Eat up Poor little Kitty's Food? Is your cat meowing miserably because when she finally gets to the food dish it is empty and she's left hungry? Does your dog gobble up both HIS food and your CAT'S food? Have you tried everything you could think of to stop your dog from eating up your cat's food and been unsuccessful?
Did you try to shout, scream and maybe even hit your dog for doing it again and again? Are you just FED UP??? Calm down, I shall help you now stop your dog from eating your cat's food up. If you want your dog to stop eating up your cats food then read these tips carefully on how to prevent your dog from stealing your cat's food away.
1. Get a square cardboard box from a local supermarket or book shop. The size of the cardboard box depends on the size of your cat: If your cat is a big maine coon cat for example, then it would be best to get a big sized box in which your cat could comfortably fit. However, if you have a small cat, you needn't get a such a big box.
2. Place the opening of the box upside down onto the floor where your cat normally eats.
3. Cut a small flap hole into one of the sides of the box just big enough for your cat to squeeze through. Make sure that there is no chance that your dog could fit even just his head through it.
4. Place your cat's food dish inside of the cardboard box.
5. Fill your cat's food dish up with your cat's favorite food.
6. Watch what your cat does.
7. Either your cat will squeeze right through the flap into the box to get at the food or else she might not.
If your cat doesn't want to go into the box it might be because of one or more of these reasons state below:
* The box is new and unknown to your cat.
* Your cat hasn't been in the box before and doesn't know if it's safe.
* Your cat is worried to get in.
* There might be a smell of another animal inside of the box, a dog or a different cat.
* The opening is too small for your cat and your cat thinks that she might not fit in.
* Your cat isn't hungry.
You can mostly tell if your cat is scared of the new box by her behavior: That is, if your cat is staying away from the box then you can see that she is worried about it. Is your cat meowing sadly, swishing her tail back and forth, and rubbing against your legs? Are her ears back as though the box were her enemy? If this is the case, you will want to try this:
* Pet your cat, lift her up, calm her down and whisper soothing things to her. Cats can often tell how we humans feel by the sound of our voices. Therefore, talking to our cats in a soothing voice can often have affect on our fellow purring machines.
* Tell her the box is okay and that you love her.
* Open up the box to show her that there is nothing dangerous inside of it.
* Place it upside down and let her explore it at her own pace. If she doesn't feel like exploring it right then, maybe she will later on.
* Lift her cat's food dish up in front of her eyes and place it inside of the open box.
* Do it a few times, taking the dish up from where you have always placed it.
* This will make your cat get used to the idea that the food dish is not anymore where it has used to be and that the new box is okay and safe for her to get into. Cats have very short memories so doing it a few times will cause your cat to remember it better where the food dish is.
* Show your cat where the flap is.
* Hold the flap open so that your cat can get in and out easily.
* Try widening the flap or hole if your cat still doesn't want to go in.
* Place some of your cat's favorite cat treats and snacks inside of it so that she can smell them and climb inside of the box to get them. After doing this a few times, your cat will get used to the idea that the box is a good box after all and want to go into it all the time!
TIP: To make sure that the box won't tip over or be knocked over by your dog, place some heavy books or stones on top of it. If all this doesn't work, then try feeding your cat and dog in different rooms with the doors shut between them so that the dog won't be able to get at your cat's food dish.
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Luisa Maniel is a Loving Cat Owner and writer for many big online sites including her own Cat Lover's Community Site CatLovingCare.com.
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