44 Pet-Thieves That Were Caught Red-Pawed When Stealing Food

A kitchen counter may not look like a big deal to you, but to your pet, trust me, it’s the holy grail, a promised land, a gold mine all in one. Its captivating aromas, mouth-watering sights, and unforgettable flavors make it virtually irresistible for any four-legged friend to turn into a serial thief.

Remember that piece of a leftover muffin you were about to dig into until you turned around for a sec? This compilation by Bored Panda is a humble farewell to all the delicious bites that got stolen without mercy.

Luckily, these doggos and cattos have all been caught red-handed while committing their petty crimes, but even if we all forgive them, it doesn’t mean they won’t do it again. And again. Forever.

After you’re done with this post, don’t forget to check out a previous batch of four-legged red-handed criminals with a big appetite here and here.

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#1 Egg Thief

#2 He Started Barking At The Door, When I Got Up To Look Outside He Ran Back A Stole A Slice Of My Pizza. No One At The Door

#3 I Guess We Will Never Know What Happened To The Catnip

To find out more about why our pets love stealing food so much, Bored Panda reached out to Kate Mornement, a qualified animal behaviorist and consultant based in Melbourne who runs the animal behavior consultancy “Pets Behaving Badly.”

Kate said that some pets are notorious food stealers because “they’re more motivated by food than other pets and their prior attempts to steal food have been reinforced (rewarded).”

The animal behaviorist gave an example: “a dog who has successfully stolen a whole roast chicken off the kitchen bench is likely to repeat the behavior given future opportunities.” If the act of attempting to steal food really pays off, the chances are high your furry companion will repeat it.

#4 Just Want To Apologize To Any Of Our Neighbors Who Are Missing A Full Rack Of Ribs

#5 When A Cat Runs To The Fridge Every Time It Opens, A Sign Is Necessary

#6 When Mom Turns Her Back And You Steal The Leftover Corn Muffins From Dinner

Kate explained that stealing food, which is also known as “counter surfing,” is “an opportunistic behavior.” It is solely based on realizing that such behavior pays off, so animals are drawn to repeat it.

“It has nothing to do with being dominant; rather, it’s influenced by previous experiences finding food on kitchen benches and tables,” she concluded.

#7 My Girlfriend’s Cat Likes To Steal Bagel Bites, When You Catch Him He Pretends To Be Asleep. Meet Neji

#8 The Nefarious Mr. Sugar Paws Caught Red-Handed Trying To Steal Some Raw Cauliflower, Which Is Inexplicably One Of His Favorite Foods To Nom

#9 My Cat Steals Potatoes And Walks Around Like A Boss

The good news is that you can indeed train your pet not to steal food “by making an incompatible behavior, such as staying on their mat, more reinforcing than investigating food in the kitchen.”

Kate said that this can be done by frequently rewarding your pet with high-value treats for staying on their mat while you are preparing or eating food. “It’s important to avoid leaving food on countertops and tables outside of training sessions or when you cannot supervise your pet,” she added.

Be patient, and “over time and with repetition, your pet should be less likely to steal food,” the pet behaviorist concluded.

#10 Who Could Resist A Cinnamon Roll?

#11 My Dog Escaped. Showed Up At The Front Door With Unopened Nachos

#12 I Was Wondering Who Ate The Bread

#13 Mr. Muffins Stealing A Muffin

#14 Sneak Thief Caught In The Act – That’s A Nose In The Hole

#15 How I Found My Kitten Trying To Steal Food From The Top Of The Fridge

#16 Bro My Lunch Has Been Stolen

#17 Doggo Steals A Pupperoni Pizza

#18 He Tried

#19 Busted, He Stood Silently

#20 Caught Redhanded

#21 Caught Yogi Red-Pawed Stealing From A Picnic Basket. Too Cute To Be Mad

#22 The Identity Of The Flour Thief Remains A Mystery. Investigations Continue

#23 We Caught Our Cat (Cookie) Red Handed Trying To Steal Our Cheese

#24 I Caught Her Red Handed. This Stinker Managed To Get Her Paws On A Croissant And Then Promptly Stuck It In My House Shoe

#25 So My Friend’s Cat Decided To Steal Some Chicken

#26 He Stole My Pretzel

#27 Cat Stole My Lunch

#28 So My Cat Stole My Toaster Strudel Out Of The Toaster Today And My Mom Took A Picture Before Prying It Out Of His Mouth

#29 High After The Vet, Caught Stealing French Fries

#30 I Was Distracted By The Baby When My Cat Knocked My Dinner Onto The Floor For My Dog To Steal. I Had Only Eaten One Bite

#31 My Dog Steals Bananas From The Counter All The Time. Only The Bananas, Never Eats Them Though

#32 This Is Nico. Here’s A Compilation Of Him When He Steals Food Just To Hold On To It

#33 Hey, That’s Mine

#34 Busted. With The Ramen She Stole From The Pantry

#35 When You Get Caught Stealing Someone’s Chips Because Your Snout Gets Stuck In The Can

#36 Dog Thought It Was A Great Idea To Taste-Test It Just In Case It’s Poisoned. Results Turned Negative. Good Dog For Being So Thoughtful

This huge loaf of bread traveled along with my parents on a 600 km trip to get home. I love this bread as I don’t get to eat it frequently.

#37 Our Cat Tried To Steal Our Chinese Leftovers

#38 Lil’ Goblin Stole My Steak

#39 A Thief

#40 Rare Pic Of The Infamous Bread Thief

#41 Caught Our Dog Stealing A Piece Of Pizza

#42 Caught Red Pawed (Quite Literally)

#43 My Dog, Katie, Who Stole A Baguette

#44 Photographic Evidence Of My Boyfriend’s Cat Trying To Steal My Cookie

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