Cats have a reputation for being picky about what they eat. But when you think about how they eat in the wild, it’s easy to see that how you’re feeding your cat might be almost as big a factor as what you’re feeding her.
Your cat’s whiskers help her sense the width of holes, doorways, and other openings, so she can tell whether she can squeeze through. But that means, when your cat’s eating out of a deep bowl with steep or straight sides, her whiskers are getting lots of input. Even if they’re not unpleasant, those sensations might be pretty distracting. Try switching to a flat plate or a very shallow dish that won’t make her feel hemmed in.
Cats tend to crouch when they eat because it brings them closer to the ground, where their food is usually located in the wild (and often at home). But it’s actually easier for your cat to eat when the dish she’s eating off of is slightly elevated, and therefore closer to her mouth. Give her a boost by using a stand that raises her dish a couple of inches off the ground. (Want to DIY it? Here are some instructions for an elevated cat feeding station.)
If your cat seems anxious or unhappy at mealtimes, and if she’s leaving a lot of mess around the food bowl, try a new way to offer her meals. You might find yourself with a happier eater who enjoys her food more than ever.
Get a personalized feeding guide for your dog or cat from Purina’s nutrition experts.
