Before we had Meow, I was under the assumption that most if not all animals prefer not to be touched while they eat. Well, Meow is very much an individual and sometimes refuses to eat unless we stand there and pet him. It's one of the strangest things I've ever seen. He'll stand in the hall and complain for us to follow him, as though he has no food (we free feed the dry food so it's always available).
So we follow and reassure him that yes, the food is right there in front of him. Sometimes that works and he'll start eating. Other times he won't start eating unless we begin to pet him. And if we leave the room too soon he'll follow us back out and start complaining all over again.
The other thing he does is that the dry food has to be properly mounded to his liking. Otherwise he'll act like it's empty. He's done this ever since we adopted him as a kitten many years ago (he's almost 14 now).
He's very strange but we love him.
So we follow and reassure him that yes, the food is right there in front of him. Sometimes that works and he'll start eating. Other times he won't start eating unless we begin to pet him. And if we leave the room too soon he'll follow us back out and start complaining all over again.
The other thing he does is that the dry food has to be properly mounded to his liking. Otherwise he'll act like it's empty. He's done this ever since we adopted him as a kitten many years ago (he's almost 14 now).
He's very strange but we love him.