Cat Has Started Getting Into The Cabinet

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FLHTPI - 08 Jan 2006 13:39 GMT

I have two female Occicats, (sisters).
They're both almost three years old.

Recently, over the past couple of months, (out of nowhere), one of
them has started getting into the garbage pail under the sink, in the
kitchen cabinet.

We've started using a childproof lock on the cabinet, but would prefer
a way to "un-train" her form this habit. It's especially annoying
when we forget to put the lock on, and she gets to the garbage,
dumping it all over the floor.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this behavior and
what, specifically you did to curb it.

Thanks!

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topcat - 08 Jan 2006 16:25 GMT

> I have two female Occicats, (sisters).
> They're both almost three years old.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this behavior and
> what, specifically you did to curb it.

I've been lurking, but this post has me in delurk mode for at least a while.

I have a 12, 13 or 14 year old male cat (I really don't know since I adopted
him about 10 years ago from a shelter, and they said they thought he was 3
or 4 at the time).

Anyway, he's a very cool cat, in that he does some very strange things. One
of them being he likes to go into the kitchen cabinets. If I take out a
cereal box (which I keep in a lower cabinet) and forget to close the door,
as soon as I come back into the room he's headed inside the cabinet. I have
a sound I make when I don't want him to do something, so I make it, and he
struts away with his tail in the air.

When it comes to this cat, I've realized, I can't beat him, so I have to
join him. What I've done is make him a very comfortable bed in the bottom of
my linen closet (just around the corner from the cereal cabinet). During the
day, I leave the linen closet door ajar, and more times than not, I'll find
Snooky sleeping in the bottom of the linen closet. He has a bunch of other
"quirks" I work around, but this is my way of keeping him out of the kitchen
cabinets.

Okay, back to lurk mode...

TC

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Mark Stringer - 11 Jan 2006 03:25 GMT

>> I have two female Occicats, (sisters).
>> They're both almost three years old.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> him to do something, so I make it, and he struts away with his tail
> in the air...

One of my cats used to annoyingly scratch at the cabinet doors. Now
I keep all the ones at floor level open at all times. I felt it was
easier than trying to modify his behaviour somehow. The odd time he
sleeps in one of them but otherwise he pays them no nevermind unless
I forget to open them back up after I sweep or something. Weird.

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jwardl - 08 Jan 2006 22:50 GMT

I'm no expert and could be full of ****, but my guess would be that she
needs something she's not getting in her diet.
Either that, or is just becoming bored with the menu.

> I have two female Occicats, (sisters).
> They're both almost three years old.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Thanks!

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alt4 - 09 Jan 2006 21:50 GMT

I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with diet. Our 6 year old and our eleven
month old will go into the kitchen cabinets if we don't close them tightly.
Actually in the house before this the cabinets had lever doors and the cat
could open them. They only do it when we unpack after grocery shopping,
they're just curious about what we're putting in there and can they fit. The
6 year old fit? lol He's too fat, but he tries. The kitten is like the
December cover of Cat Fancy only black.

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"Other than telling us how to live, think,
marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our
children and now, die, I think the
Republicans have done a fine job of
getting government out of our personal
lives."

> I'm no expert and could be full of ****, but my guess would be that she
> needs something she's not getting in her diet.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>>
>> Thanks!

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Jan P. - 14 Jan 2006 05:44 GMT

I have two cats female also they love closets, cabinets and drawers if they
can fit they are in. I do not curb that behavior they love to hide ..as for
as the garbage pail issue mine is in a open area and they have never
bothered it. try a lid on the pail.... a variety of food for them would be
nice also.
Best wishes,
Jan

> I have two female Occicats, (sisters).
> They're both almost three years old.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Thanks!

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