How do you deal with a spoiled cat?

First things first: your cat isn’t spoiled… you’re just extremely well trained. Your cat meows and you jump up. She gives you those big eyes and you open the treats. She knocks something off the table and you react instantly. Congratulations: your cat has trained you perfectly. But don’t panic, because this is completely normal. Cats simply do what works. If a certain behaviour earns them attention or a reward, they store that as a winning formula and repeat it. The good news: you can turn this pattern around. The less fun news: it really does start with you.

How do you recognise spoiled behaviour in cats?

A spoiled cat isn’t a bad cat. It’s simply a cat that has learned the following:

Meowing = attention]
Persisting = food
Knocking things over = reaction
Keeping at it = winning

Cats don’t think in terms of “allowed / not allowed”. They think: Does this get me what I want? Brilliant — let’s do it again.

Step 1 — Stop rewarding the drama

This is the most important step. And the hardest.
Does your cat meow for food outside set mealtimes? → Don’t feed her.
Does she push something off the table for attention? → Don’t react.
Does she follow you around hysterically for treats? → Don’t give in.
Every time you give in, your cat learns: See? Persistence works.
And remember: telling her off, sighing or shouting “no!” is attention too.

Step 2 — Make food predictable

A lot of spoiled behaviour revolves around food.
What helps:
• Fixed feeding times
• Fewer snacks
• No food after attention-seeking behaviour
Your cat learns: food arrives when it’s time — not when I make a fuss.
Tip: use a feeding puzzle. That way, food becomes an activity rather than a reward for whining.

Step 3 — Reward calm behaviour

Ignoring alone isn’t enough. You also need to show what does work.
Is your cat calm? → Give attention.
Is she lying relaxed instead of fussing? → Stroke her.
Does she sit beside you without drama? → Talk to her, play, cuddle.
That’s how she learns: calm behaviour = jackpot.

Step 4 — Boredom can look like spoiled behaviour

Many “difficult” cats are simply bored.
A cat that doesn’t:
• play
• climb
• hunt
• get mental stimulation
…will create her own entertainment. And you’ll be the most interesting toy in the house.

Make sure daily you provide:
• Two play sessions of 10–15 minutes
• Scratching and climbing spots
• A place by the window
• Something new now and then (a box, a different toy)
A fulfilled cat has far less need to create drama.

Step 5 — Night-time fussing? Ignore it completely

If you respond at night — even just once — your cat thinks: Ah. This works at 3:47 am too.
What helps:
• Play before bedtime
• Final meal in the evening
• Zero response during the night
The first few days it often gets worse. That’s normal. Your cat will try one more time, just a bit harder. Stay consistent, it will fade.

Important to remember

Your cat isn’t mean: she’s clever. And you? You were simply a little too accommodating.
Boundaries don’t make her unhappy. They give her security. Cats thrive on clarity and predictability. Teaching a “spoiled” cat different behaviour doesn’t mean you love her less. It means you’re being clear about your limits.
And a cat who knows what to expect is calmer, more relaxed and simply far more pleasant to live with.