I had a cat now for 5 months who is about 9 months old, I think, and I have 3 cats in all. I had a connection to her instantly, and she was the most affectionate cat ever and still is. I spoil my cats, and by that I mean I have a cabinet full of expensive brands and treats. I pay more for their food than I do, and I gotta be reminded by my family not to OVER feed them actually. Their food dishes are never empty though, and that's why I can't understand why my newest kitty won't stay away from my own food.
Pushing her away doesn't help. As in, I would say during me eating a meal she comes back to my plate after me pushing her away each time probably seriously at least 60–80 times if I had to best just make a guess. Pushing away has taught my other two cats quick and early not to try and get my food, but this new kitty of mine is seriously incapable of learning that from a push. She comes back the very instant she was pushed away, even. And yes, this has been going on since day one, and yes, I'm at my limit.
I have volunteered to work with cats for a few years even and had them as pets my whole life, and have NEVER seen one this persistent and not capable of taking no for an answer. Yes, I have even spray bottled her and it didn't phase her. No, I can't put her outside even for a second to eat because I have no fenced in yard and live by a road. No, I can't put her in another room and close the door while I eat for even 5 minutes because she freaks out instantly and wants out, and will meow at an eardrum shattering level and rip the room down, and it also makes me too sad to hear her like that.
It's gotten so bad that me eating is just me struggling to keep her away and holding my food at constant different angles away from her. It takes so long to eat even a tiny snack, and sometimes it goes cold from how long it took me to eat it. My brain is even starting to associate me being hungry for something with high stress, and I get filled with dread when it's time for me to eat because I know what's coming.
I'm aware sometimes it stems from cats eating together, so they might want to with you, but they usually learn easily you don't like that. Is it goofy that I kinda feel like she can pick up that she's causing me great distress from all the pushbacks and distress sounds I start to make, but doesn't care, and it kinda makes me sad? I know that sounds kinda funny, but it is what it is.
Yesterday, after struggling for over 20 minutes to eat just a literal Lunchable, she sneezed in it, so I just got so disappointed and was so hungry, and I had to just give it to her after that. I walked off feeling like I was gonna cry, and she instantly just ate it. My family being over thinks it's cute or funny when they see it, but they just haven't seen how bad it is. I used to think so too, but it's just not funny anymore for sure, because it's an actual horrible issue.
I hate to say it, but it feels like my bond is breaking for her, and I had thoughts of giving her away, but I'm horrified that someone else might hit her over that behavior. I'd never, but I'm so scared someone else would flip out on her physically over that behavior. I'm also not sure with that behavioral issue that she would be a good fit for literally anyone but i want her to have a nice owner and home. Is there even anything else I can do... any advice? ):