My cat is a young cat (about 9 months) and pretty chill most of the time. Of course he is curious when I eat something, but he’s not annoying. Only when I pick up his bowl to get food for him, boy does he start meowing. It’s super annoying and I don’t know what to do to teach him that he doesn’t need to tell me to give him food, while I’m giving him food.

I’ve tried maintaining eye contact and taking a step backwards every time he meows. Then I wait a few seconds for him to be silent and start walking towards where the bowl is supposed to be, but whenever I start moving again he starts meowing again. Sometimes it works, but only after I spent half an hour walking back and forth on the same spot. I just don’t have the time or energy to do that every single day, and I don’t feel like he understands what he’s supposed to do. He sits on his scratching cardboard, rubs on my legs, walks around, or lies on the ground, but he never stops meowing for more than 5 or 10 seconds.

By now I resorted to locking him in the bathroom until he shuts up and then letting him out with the bowl already in place, but I also feel like that is not a very effective solution. Also it just feels wrong.

Does anyone have an idea how I can train him better?

  • Gonkulator@lemm.ee
    0·
    6 months ago

    Hes showing gratitude. Hes saying he loves you and very much appreciates that you are nurturing him with food. Hes reminded of his mom feeding him and sees you as that mother. You should cherish him letting you know this.

  • toxoplasma0gondii@feddit.de
    0·
    6 months ago

    We stopped preparing/bringing the food whenever they started getting annoying and only continued as they went silent again. First 2 times took some time, after that they learned pretty quickly that silence gets the belly full quicker. This obviously only works with regular and sufficiently fed cats. As soon as one of ours needed to go on a brief diet (stomach flu) they started to get very vocal very fast and did only turn down their volume weeks after getting fed normally again. I think shes still salty about it months later… :(

  • Seigest@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    You could try preparing the food ahead of time if possible?

    This may eveually cause them to release that the preparation of food doesn’t always mean that they will recieve the food.

    Or they will just annoy you at all times you are in the kitchen.

  • streetfestival@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    Your cat is either concerned they won’t get fed if they don’t maintain your attention through meowing or they’re trying to socialize with you around food. I would stop the efforts to train this behaviour out of your cat - I think you’re only going to frustrate yourself and strain the relationship. If you need a break from your cat’s meow, pick it up, give it some affection, and remind the cat it is loved and cared for

  • QualifiedKitten@kbin.social
    0·
    6 months ago

    I have 2 cats, one who generally yells the entire time I’m preparing food, and the other is totally silent. I have also found myself quite annoyed with the yelling and have tried various methods to train him. The most effective method to stop his meowing has been feeding him via an automatic feeder, meaning that there’s a separation between when I prepare his food and when he gets to eat. For a variety of reasons, I had to stop using the auto feeder, and have instead worked on training myself to be less annoyed by the meowing. It still gets to me when I’m already stressed, but I’ve learned to appreciate it most days. The other thing I notice with my cat is that if I respond to his meowing, he tends to meow more, so if it’s one of those days where I’m annoyed by it, I try my best to keep my mouth shut while I dish up their food.

    One other idea that I haven’t actually tried yet is clicker training. Well, I’ve done some super basic clicker training, but haven’t reached a point yet where I’ve tried using it to train “speak” or “quiet”. My loud cat is also HIGHLY food motivated, and seems to pickup new commands with the clicker training very quickly, so you might also have some luck with that option.

  • theodewere@kbin.social
    0·
    6 months ago

    scream in horror any time it meows at you… at the top of your lungs… no really, it will stop very quickly…

  • BillDaCatt@kbin.social
    0·
    6 months ago

    I had a cat who did this. I loved it and was a bit disappointed when he stopped a few weeks later.

    You said he is young. He will likely calm down as he gets older.

    If the crying really bothers you, pick up the bowl as soon as he stops eating and don’t put it down again until the next meal. Then there will be fewer clues when it is time for food. He will still know, but it will require more effort on his part.

  • Gabadabs@kbin.social
    0·
    6 months ago

    Cats aren’t dogs. The best way to get the results you want with a cat is positive reinforcement and redirection. Punishment does not and will not work, it will actually worsen whatever behaviors you’re trying to stop. Feeding at a consistent time can help, but your cat is a kitten, give it some time and he’ll chill out.

  • thepixelfox@kbin.social
    0·
    6 months ago

    It’s just cats being cats.
    Not feeding them for however long to ‘train’ them is just cruel man.
    My cat shouts at me when it’s food time. Randomly through the day. When she wants attention. Another cat shouts at me when she wants attention. And all four shout when it’s food time.

    If you can’t deal with cats being cats. Don’t have a cat.