Many guardians find it curious that their kittens do not want to eat during their absence. Or sometimes they “demand” their owner while enjoying their food.
In general, this behavior derives from a habit acquired while raising your feline. However, it is also important to find out if your kitten feels safe and comfortable at home. Or maybe 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 fear? Why do cats want you to watch them eat? Below we explain the reasons for this feline behavior. We also offer some tips to make your kitty eat when it is alone. Do not miss it!
Why Do Cats Want You to Watch Them Eat: Cats Are Animals of Habit
Cats have earned a widespread “bad name” for being picky and somewhat picky about their palate and eating habits.
However, we must consider that many of these so-called “whims” are actually favored by some customs that we ourselves add. For example: If my cat wants me to watch her eat or to watch her while he feeds, I must be at fault too.
Like that, if it happens in your case too, it is very likely that this habit was implemented during his rearing and early education. But why does it happen? We explain…
It is important to understand that felines stick to a routine as a way to preserve their health and well-being. It is also to avoid dangerous or unfavorable situations. Although habits comprise a large part of the cats’ routine, they also include many things in their environment. Such as:
- Their food,
- Their schedules,
- Their toys,
- The stimuli and objects and
- Even the other individuals that make up their environment.
When we adopt a pussycat, it is natural that we want to ensure that our new companion receives the best care. We try to give her adequate nutrition to strengthen her body and develop in good health. For this reason, many guardians tend to observe and accompany their cats (especially puppies) while they feed.
This attitude is not wrong or “bad” since it is really essential to ensure that our pets eat regularly. However, it may be the explanation of the cat only eats when I watch. Kittens get used to having the presence of their guardian during their feeding. And they maintain this habit during their adult phase. Then kitten won’t eat when they are home alone.
Cat Wants Me To Watch Her Eat: Why Does My Cat Only Like Me?
This particular behavior can be a way of telling that she loves you. As a guardian and a confidant, you are her last place to go. You feed her, bathe her, love her, and she wants to make you feel the same in return. That’s why she wants you to stay with her while eating.
But on a different note, it can be a past trauma that she still remembers. Maybe she was hurt by some human that she only trusts and loves you. But she absolutely hates others.
All Animals Need a Safe Environment to Feed
In the wild, the moment to feed is extremely delicate for cats. They become more vulnerable to various dangers, such as attacks by predators.
To ingest its food, the animal must be exposed. And its senses will not be able to be so focused on its environment. At this time, any “surprise attack” could be lethal, as the animal is somewhat distracted with its food. And they may become slower than usual, not having time to escape or defend themselves.
Although our home looks almost nothing like a wild habitat, our kittens will also feel more vulnerable when feeding. Therefore, they must have a calm and positive environment. They need a place where they feel safe to consume their food and enjoy optimal nutrition.
For many cats, the presence of their guardian is essential to generate this sense of security. They need this to enjoy their food.
We know that it is very gratifying to feel that our cats love us. It is refreshing that our presence generates good feelings, such as security, trust, and peace. But it is important to ask ourselves why a cat cannot feel safe when it is alone in the home. Why a cat purrs while eating?
What Should I Do If My Cat Make Me Watch While He Eats?
While many guardians “normalize” their cats not eating when alone, it is important to be careful when reinforcing this behavior. On a day-to-day basis, it may seem that this habit does not negatively impact your kitty’s nutrition. However, the problem usually appears when guardians want to go on vacation or when they spend long hours away from home.
What if you are away for a long time, and your cat does not want to eat alone? This means that her body will have to undergo a prolonged fast. By going many hours without food, animals accumulate digestive fluids in their stomach. This causes intense irritation and inflammation of the stomach lining and can make your cat vomit bile.
If prolonged fasts are frequent, this inflammation can also cause ulcers in the intestinal tract. It will end up damaging the health of your kitten.
So what should we do that our cat asks for food but does not want to eat alone?
- First of all, we will need to be very patient, because changing habits is never easy. To get rid of this habit from our kitten, we will start by changing their feeder inside the home.
For example: if your cat’s feeder is usually left in the dining room, we will move it to the kitchen or bedroom. It is important to choose a clean, safe, and well-conditioned environment where the cat can feel safe to feed. It should also be away from the sandbox or water.
- To stimulate her appetite and curiosity, we can offer her a tasty homemade, wet meal. It should feature her favorite aromas, flavors, and textures. In the wild, felines eat the meat of their prey while still maintaining their body temperature (between 36.5ºC and 38ºC).
Therefore, if we can gently temper the food before offering it to our kitten, this will be very beneficial to awaken their 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 mentioned, each feline is a unique individual, demonstrating a unique personality.
Therefore, it is important to have the help of a professional to better understand your kitten’s behavior. It will help to establish an adaptive process appropriate to their specific needs.
Enriching Your Kitty’s Environment
Having an enriched environment can improve eating habits eventually. Put toys, scratchers, accessories, and sensory stimuli that will allow her to exercise her body and mind. She will spend more energy and, later, will have to feel the need to eat to satisfy her hunger. It will lead to replenishing the nutrients essential for her body.
In addition, good physical and mental stimulation is essential to preserve her good health. And it will prevent behavioral problems associated with stress and boredom.
Is Your Cat Not Eating And Has Other Symptoms? Is Your Cat Meowing While Eating?
Suppose you notice that your cat does not want to eat or has symptoms consult your trusted veterinarian. The symptoms may be vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or changes in behavior. Some diseases can alter your pussycat’s appetite and affect its digestive tract.
Additionally, the accumulation 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.
Conclusion
To find out why do cats want you to watch them eat; you need to look at the details. It is also important to pay attention to the quality of the food that we provide to our kittens. If you offer a low-quality feed to your cat, it is possible that it will reject it. For this reason, remember to prefer high-end feed as the basis of your feline’s diet. Additionally, you may consider starting it on a BARF diet. It offers numerous health benefits, such as facilitating the digestive process, preventing tartar formation, and strengthening your immune system.