Squeak Has An Addiction...

[Pawla]

I don't know what to do. Squeak has gotten really addicted to Whiskas Temptations. She expects them every time I walk into the kitchen. While I try to limit her, she is VERY demanding. She will cry this awful cry until she gets them. I'm not very good at telling her no, and sticking to it. I guess it's a good thing I don't have two-legged kids, they would walk all over me. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to break this habit?

[Catty1]

That's why I try to avoid a lot of commercial treats - they are flavoured to really appeal to cats, just like junk food is for humans. Even the ones that have a "tartar formula" on them don't impress me. No nutirition in them.

However, I have received packages from Mom as gifts for them. I just mixed the bunch up into my new Treat Jar (thanks again, Karen!) and dole them out sparingly.

I suggest getting a healthy treat, like Medi-Cal (nice fishy aroma for kitties), and start mixing them in with the Temptations. Slowly wean her off the Temps and onto the other.

Sometimes, instead of treats, I give my cats a sprinkle of catnip! :)

My cats love the Medi-cal treats.

Another thought - she might be craving these because her body senses something missing in her regular diet. Just out of curiosity, what is Squeak's main course food?

[Kalei]

I have no idea how to break that addiction...hmm if it were me I would probably just give the kitty a few at only one time a day, and then after awhile she will not expect it all the time, but this does mean having to say no that cute face lol:p

[catmandu]

I WISH I DID AS THERES A CERTAIN JUKE JOINT JOSEPH WHO HAS A WHISKAS TEMPTATION MONKEY ON HIS BACK TOO AND YOWLS UNTIL THAT YELLOW PACKAGE IS OPEN.
HE AND SQUEAK WOULD LOVE EATING UP THE TREATS.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/Picture1771.jpg
HEY SQUEAK LETS SHARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WITH H H LADY EDWINA ROSE OF COURSE.

[Pawla]

Just out of curiosity, what is Squeak's main course food?
She has dry food available at all times, and a half a can of Fancy Feast in the morning, and the other half in the evening. The reason I started giving her the treats in the first place is because they're hairball control, and she HATES hairball medicine. I don't give her the hairball ones all the time. I also give her the ones in the same bag, but without petroleum.

[Pawla]

I WISH I DID AS THERES A CERTAIN JUKE JOINT JOSEPH WHO HAS A WHISKAS TEMPTATION MONKEY ON HIS BACK TOO AND YOWLS UNTIL THAT YELLOW PACKAGE IS OPEN.
HE AND SQUEAK WOULD LOVE EATING UP THE TREATS.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/Picture1771.jpg
HEY SQUEAK LETS SHARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WITH H H LADY EDWINA ROSE OF COURSE.
She knows the difference, too! I've tried others, and NO WAY! It looks like the cat in the background in your picture has a Whiskas monkey also.

[Pawla]

I have no idea how to break that addiction...hmm if it were me I would probably just give the kitty a few at only one time a day, and then after awhile she will not expect it all the time, but this does mean having to say no that cute face lol:p
It is sooo very hard to say no to her. She will come into the kitchen, and stand up on her hind legs for me to pick her up. She gets treats on the counter. I've tried just picking her up, and putting her up there just for petting, but she's not satisfied.

[Kalei]

It is sooo very hard to say no to them. She will come into the kitchen, and stand up on her hind legs for me to pick her up. She gets treats on the counter. I've tried just picking her up, and putting her up there just for petting, but she's not satisfied.

Oh wow, I thought that my Bobo was the only cat that did that. The only difference is that he stand up on his hind legs for me to pick him up and hug him and scratch his head forever. Its so cute and makes me feel soooo loved:)

[Catty1]

Did the vet say she had to be on hairball treatment? Just curious.

There is a hairball dry food you can get - from stores and from the vet.

Just a thought. :)

[Pawla]

Did the vet say she had to be on hairball treatment? Just curious.

There is a hairball dry food you can get - from stores and from the vet.

Just a thought. :)
No, the vet didn't say she needed to be on hairball treatment. She just has a problem throwing them up without the treats. She would throw up at least once a week, and since I started feeding her the treats, it's stopped.

[Pawla]

Oh wow, I thought that my Bobo was the only cat that did that. The only difference is that he stand up on his hind legs for me to pick him up and hug him and scratch his head forever. Its so cute and makes me feel soooo loved:)
Ellie would do that. Squeak only does it if it's going to benefit her. LOL! :D She's not much on being picked up. When he would do it I felt loved, when she does it, I just feel used! :D (Just kidding!)

[Medusa]

Boy, do I feel like a meanie! I never gave my fur posse treats until just a few months ago when Dr. Lee gave one of my cats a few Greenies. I give them out sparingly at night, just 2 or 3 bites each. I know how addictive those treats can be. When I had dogs, I used to give them jerky treats. OMG! My son took pix of them getting into the treat cabinet, one playing the lookout, the other, the thief. I don't want to get my cats into that predicament now. I feel for ya because I know how persuasive they can be w/the yowling. I'd wean them off slowly if you can.

[Pawla]

I'd wean them off slowly if you can.
I'd like to, but she is soooo demanding! I feel as if I'm being a mean Mom if I don't give in to her. I'm telling you, it's a good thing I don't have two-legged kids!

[caffeitina]

The only thing I can think of is when the treats run out, don't buy any more. Squeak might be upset at first, but sooner or later she will forget all about them.

That's how I broke Howard and Luna of their Meow Mix Treats habit.

[columbine]

There's another anti-hairball treat that doesn't have any petroleum. It's called Cat Lube (seriously!) and it's made by Veterinarian's Best. It's psyllium and some enzymes, and chicken flavored.

Smudge used to get horrible constipation and constant hairballs, but when he started getting mucus plugs (the THIRD kind of urinary blockage) he just lost his taste for anything containing petroleum. Wouldn't eat it, even Temptations, which he'd loved before. But he definitely likes Cat Lube (they're big; if Squeak is small you can break them in half). You can also mix psyllium fiber (MetaMEOWcil ;) ) in Squeak's canned food.

Smudge's treat of choice these days is CET (fish flavor) teeth-cleaning treats. They're a bit pricey, but he's 11 and his mouth is perfect! And they're about the size of a small mouse, so he has fun taking them apart too.

Oh, and not long after Smudge refused to eat any more petroleum, his mucus plugs cleared up. Coincidence? Who knows.

Love, Columbine

[Pawla]

There's another anti-hairball treat that doesn't have any petroleum. It's called Cat Lube (seriously!) and it's made by Veterinarian's Best. It's psyllium and some enzymes, and chicken flavored.

Smudge used to get horrible constipation and constant hairballs, but when he started getting mucus plugs (the THIRD kind of urinary blockage) he just lost his taste for anything containing petroleum. Wouldn't eat it, even Temptations, which he'd loved before. But he definitely likes Cat Lube (they're big; if Squeak is small you can break them in half). You can also mix psyllium fiber (MetaMEOWcil ;) ) in Squeak's canned food.

Smudge's treat of choice these days is CET (fish flavor) teeth-cleaning treats. They're a bit pricey, but he's 11 and his mouth is perfect! And they're about the size of a small mouse, so he has fun taking them apart too.

Oh, and not long after Smudge refused to eat any more petroleum, his mucus plugs cleared up. Coincidence? Who knows.

Love, Columbine
THANKS! :D

[Pawla]

The only thing I can think of is when the treats run out, don't buy any more. Squeak might be upset at first, but sooner or later she will forget all about them.

That's how I broke Howard and Luna of their Meow Mix Treats habit.
She gets really upset! I've even tried picking the crunchies out of her dry to try and fool her, but it doesn't work. Every time I go near the kitchen she's standing up, screaming.

[RICHARD]

I mix them up with the dry food, rebag the mix and them toss them out liberally...


Ed knows his colors and letters (and the shapes of the bags....)

Good luck!

[jazzcat]

My guys aren't too bad about treats but I only give them out about once or twice a week at most.

Good luck with breaking the habit (or addiction).

[catmandu]

HI SQUEAK
DO YOU GET THIS MANY TREATS!!!
I AM SAVING UP FOR MY HH LADY EDWINA ROSE AND MYSELF!!
BUT DAD SAYS TO SHARE!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/Picture579.jpg
HAH AHA JOSEPH YOU MISSED THESE.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/Picture359.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/jjtempt.jpg
MOOSE AND JOSEPH ARE SHARING.ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/moojj.jpg

[Pawla]

HI SQUEAK
DO YOU GET THIS MANY TREATS!!!
I AM SAVING UP FOR MY HH LADY EDWINA ROSE AND MYSELF!!
BUT DAD SAYS TO SHARE!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/Picture579.jpg
HAH AHA JOSEPH YOU MISSED THESE.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/Picture359.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/jjtempt.jpg
MOOSE AND JOSEPH ARE SHARING.ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/moojj.jpg
NO! There's NO WAY Mom would leave out that many bags for me! I would find a way to get them open.

[Freedom]

Reminds me of what I am always saying about these cats as well.

If you do something ONCE, and they like it, then it is a RULE, and they expect it over and over and over. :rolleyes:

I think you just need to stop cold turkey. Pick A TIME like the 10 AM snack break, give one, and that is it until the next day. Believe me, I know it will take at least two days to get the message through to the cat. The rest of he time you need to be retrainig that hugs and snuggles are GOOD things. (Good luck!)

[Pawla]

Reminds me of what I am always saying about these cats as well.

If you do something ONCE, and they like it, then it is a RULE, and they expect it over and over and over. :rolleyes:

I think you just need to stop cold turkey. Pick A TIME like the 10 AM snack break, give one, and that is it until the next day. Believe me, I know it will take at least two days to get the message through to the cat. The rest of he time you need to be retrainig that hugs and snuggles are GOOD things. (Good luck!)
I don't want to stop all together. If I do she will start to throw up hairballs again. The treats are hairball control. I've tried the stuff in a tube, but it's like pulling teeth trying to give it to her. I've been trying to show her that we don't get treats everytime Mom goes into the kitchen, we just get treats once a day.

[catmandu]

A LITTLE WHISKAS TEMPTATION VIDEO FROM THE TIME WHERE THE BIG PACKS WERE ON FOR 1.88.
WERE THEY EVER HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/th_Picture705.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/?action=view&current=Picture705.flv)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/th_Picture1769.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/?action=view&current=Picture1769.flv)

[Pawla]

Squeak would eat until she died! She would think she was in kitty heaven! :D

[catmandu]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/th_Picture2022.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/?action=view&current=Picture2022.flv)
A FUNNY VIDEO OF THE FOUND CATS GETTING THIER TEMPTATIONS AND A GREAT CLOSE UP OF THE MOOSE ANGEL PURRRING AND EATING.

[catmandu]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/cats023.jpg

KING OF THE TREATS JUKE JOINT JOSEPH.

[kittycats_delight]

Vixen used to go gaga for those damned temptations. Then I discovered they have conservatives that have cancer causing properties. I immediately stopped them. It took me some time to find treats she loved as much as the temptations but I did and actually she loves them more. I give her Gimpet treats. She gets grasbits(made with cat grass), mutli kisses(multi vitamin) and malt kisses(for controlling hairballs). She either gets one of each or she will get a different kind each day.

I found the link for the malt kisses. It is all in german though.
http://www.gimborn.de/katze/pflegegesundheit/verdauungshilfen/?tx_tocgimbornprodukte_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=155

This is the link for the grasbits again in german.
http://www.gimborn.de/katze/ernaehrung/vitamineleckerbissen/?tx_tocgimbornprodukte_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=476

And this is for the mutli kisses once again in german.
http://www.gimborn.de/katze/ernaehrung/vitamineleckerbissen/?tx_tocgimbornprodukte_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=478

If you would like to try these let me know. They are a little expensive. But 1 pouch does Vixen a month. As you can only give a limited number.


Michelle

[CultureJunky]

This is the doing of JJJ! He has been a bad influence on all the other PT cats, secretly posting in their inboxes telling them about the great highs you get on Temptations! Shame on you Joseph! lol :D

[KitCat]

You trained your cat to cry for treats! Your cat is a smart animal and you were rewarding the crying behavior with a treat. Of course that will make it cry more, kitties like treats!

Now you must never give that kitty a treat just because it cried. I give my cat a treat but he must earn it. You need to teach the kitty to work for the food. You can reward the cat for being quiet and not crying, or you can ask it to perform a small task. Standing for food is pretty easy because you can use the food a a lure to make the cat stand, and then when it does, you give it food. That way you are substituting a less annoying behavior for the crying.
Good luck and BE CONSISTANT!

[catmandu]

JOSEPH DOES FEEL BADLY IF THERES ANYTHING WRONG WITH WHISKAS TEMPTATIONS . THEY TASTE DELICIOUS AND JOSEPH LOVES THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING AND HE HOPES THAT THERE ARE SAFE FOR ONE AND ALL.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/catmandu/new%20photos/cats101235.jpg

[columbine]

You trained your cat to cry for treats! Your cat is a smart animal and you were rewarding the crying behavior with a treat. Of course that will make it cry more, kitties like treats!

Now you must never give that kitty a treat just because it cried. I give my cat a treat but he must earn it. You need to teach the kitty to work for the food. You can reward the cat for being quiet and not crying, or you can ask it to perform a small task. Standing for food is pretty easy because you can use the food a a lure to make the cat stand, and then when it does, you give it food. That way you are substituting a less annoying behavior for the crying.
Good luck and BE CONSISTANT!There are also other treats that you can offer - Kitty Kaviar is just plain fish, and quite low in magnesium (and high in flavor!)

If it's an anti-hairball treat without petroleum you're looking for, Smudge gives this stuff (http://www.petco.com/product/7517/Veterinarian-s-Best-Cat-Lube-Hairball-and-Digestive-Aid.aspx) four thumbs up. Looks like it's on sale at the moment, too.

Love, Columbine

[Pawla]

You trained your cat to cry for treats! Your cat is a smart animal and you were rewarding the crying behavior with a treat. Of course that will make it cry more, kitties like treats!

Now you must never give that kitty a treat just because it cried. I give my cat a treat but he must earn it. You need to teach the kitty to work for the food. You can reward the cat for being quiet and not crying, or you can ask it to perform a small task. Standing for food is pretty easy because you can use the food a a lure to make the cat stand, and then when it does, you give it food. That way you are substituting a less annoying behavior for the crying.
Good luck and BE CONSISTANT!
THANKS! We are doing better. We are down to twice a day, morning and bed time. She does have to stand to get the treats. She stands on her back legs for me to pick her up. She will also come to me and stand if she spots a moth in the house.