Many guardians find it curious to note that their kittens do not want to eat during their absence or "demand" their supervision while they enjoy their food. In general, this behavior stems from a habit acquired during the upbringing of your feline. However, it is also important to find out if your cat feels safe and comfortable at home or if he is very shy, fearful or spends much of his time hiding.
Do you feel identified with this situation, whether we are talking about a sociable cat or one with fears? Why does my cat want me to accompany him to eat? Find out on our site, below we explain the reasons for this feline behavior and we also offer some tips to do with that your kitty can eat when he is alone. Do not miss it!
Cats are creatures of habit
Cats have gained a widespread "bad reputation" for being demanding and somewhat capricious in relation to their palate and their eating habits. However, we must consider that many of these supposed "whims", in reality, are created or favored by some customs that we ourselves add to the routine of our kittens. If your cat wants you to accompany him to eat or watch him while he feeds, it is very likely that this habit was implemented during his upbringing and early education But why does it happen? We explain…
First, it is important to understand that felines stick to a routine as a way to preserve their he alth and well-being, as well as to avoid dangerous or unfavorable situations. Although habits comprise a large part of cats' routine, it also encompasses their food, their schedules, their toys, the stimuli and objects in their environment, and even the other individuals that make up their environment.
When we adopt a kitten, it is natural that we want to ensure that our new companion receives the best care and receives adequate nutrition to strengthen your body and develop in good he alth. For this reason, many guardians often observe and accompany their cats (especially puppies) while they feed.
While this attitude is not wrong or "bad" (since it really is essential to ensure that our pets eat regularly), it may be the explanation why your cat wants you to join him for meals. Kittens get used to having the presence of their guardian during their feeding and maintain this habit during their adult phase. Then they can refuse to eat when they are home alone.
All animals need a safe environment to feed
In the wild, feeding time is extremely delicate for felines, as they become more vulnerable to various dangers, such as predator attack. To ingest its food, the animal must expose itself and its senses will not be able to be as focused on its surroundings (eating also requires a dose of concentration and dedication). At this time, any "sneak attack" could be lethal, as the animal is somewhat distracted by its food and may become slower than usual, not having time to escape or defend itself.
Although our home looks almost nothing like a wild habitat, our kitties will also feel more vulnerable when it comes to feeding. Therefore, they must have a calm and positive environment, where they feel safe to consume their food and enjoy optimal nutrition. For many cats, the presence of their guardian is essential to generate the feeling of security they need to enjoy their food.
We know that it is very gratifying to feel that our felines love us and that our presence generates good feelings in them, such as security, trust and peace. But it is important to ask ourselves why a cat cannot feel safe when he is alone in the house.
If you've just adopted a kitten, your little one may not have settled into his new home yet, so he may not feel totally safe or comfortable feeding himself alone. On our site, we tell you how long a cat needs to adapt to a new home and we offer some tips to help their adaptation process. Do not miss it!
What should I do if my cat wants me to join him for a meal?
Although many guardians "normalize" their cats not eating when they are alone, it is important to be careful when reinforcing this behaviorOn a day-to-day basis, it may seem that this habit does not negatively impact your kitten's nutrition. However, the problem usually appears when tutors want to go on vacation or when they spend long hours away from home.
If you are away for a long time and your cat does not want to eat alone, it means that his body will have to go through a prolonged fast When staying many hours without eating, animals accumulate digestive fluids in their stomach. This causes intense irritation and inflammation of the stomach mucosa, and can cause your cat to vomit bile. If prolonged fasting is frequent, this inflammation can also generate ulcers in the intestinal tract, harming the he alth of your cat.
So, what should we do if our cat doesn't want to eat by himself? First of all, we will need to have a lot of patience, because changing habits is never easy. To remove this habit from our kitty, we will start by change his feeder to another place inside the home. For example: if your cat's bowl is usually in the dining room, we will move it to the kitchen or another room. It is important to choose a clean, safe and well-conditioned environment, where the cat can feel safe to enter and feed. It should also be away from the litter box or water.
In principle, we will make this movement of the feeder while we are at home, but we must not stay in the same room where we place the feeder. The goal is to make your kitty learn, little by little, to eat in a place where he does not have your company. When you notice that your feline is already comfortable eating alone in the other room, you can move on to the "next level" of adaptation. Now, you will leave his favorite food served in his feeder (in the same room chosen during the first stage), but you will have to leave the house.
To stimulate your appetite and your curiosity, we can offer you some pâté or a tasty homemade wet food, which has your favorite aromas, flavors and textures. Felines, in the wild, eat the meat of their prey while they still maintain their body temperature (between 36.5ºC and 38ºC). Therefore, if we can gently warm the food before offering it to our kitten, this will be very beneficial to awaken his interest in food.
If this process is not effective, it is best to seek professional guidance from an expert in feline ethology As we always mention, every feline he is a singular individual, who demonstrates a unique personality. Therefore, it is important to have the help of a professional to better understand your cat's behavior and establish an adaptive process appropriate to their specific needs.
Enriching your kitty's environment will also help…
By having an enriched environment, where you find toys, scratchers, accessories and sensory stimuli that allow you to exercise your body and mind, your cat will expend more energy and, then, he must feel the need to eat to satisfy his hunger and replenish essential nutrients for his body. In addition, good physical and mental stimulation is essential to preserve your good he alth and prevent behavioral problems associated with stress and boredom.
Is your cat not eating and has other symptoms?
If you notice that your cat doesn't want to eat or shows symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or behavioral changes, don't hesitate to contact your trusted vet. Some diseases can alter your cat's appetite and affect its digestive tract. In addition, the buildup of hairballs in its intestinal tract can also cause a cat to suddenly stop eating. In both cases, it is essential to have the experience of the veterinarian to establish an adequate treatment.
It is also important to pay attention to the quality of the food that we provide to our kitties. If you offer a low-quality feed to your cat, it is very possible that he will reject it. Therefore, remember to prefer high-end feed (Premium line) as the basis of your feline's diet. In addition, you can consider starting him on a BARF diet, which offers numerous he alth benefits, such as facilitating the digestive process, preventing the formation of tartar and strengthening his immune system
