Kitten keeps nicking my food - Help

[JoCannon]

Does anyone have any hints that I could try to stop my kitten stealing food from plates. He seemingly has an addiction to marmite on toast, if I leave my plate unattended for more than 2 seconds, he is scuttling off round the lounge dragging with him a piece of toast that is twice his size.

But, it is not just toast, he is daily experimenting with his taste buds, anything on a plate is not safe. It is getting really annoying. The problem is not just with unattended food, even if I have the plate in my hands he runs up legs, dive bombs the plate, cunningly distracts me somehow.

When I have guests around I have to lock him in another room as he dances all over their plates. I always feel evil shutting him out tho.

Can anyone offer any hints? He is about 16 weeks old.

[meltoadhall]

do you have a basket or cage he goes in when you go to the vets? try putting him in it when you eat. works with my puppy - have 3 cats but they were never allowed near the table or food so dont have that prob.

dont know if that helps - otherwise keep shutting him out.

[Sequin]

Make a piece especially for him with some tabasco mixed with the marmite - do it a couple of times and he'll soon stop!

[veritymoon]

have you tried a water pistol my cats used to jump on the work tops in the kitchen and all i have to do now is pick up the gun and they run.