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Cat Leaves Food in Bowl: When to Start Worrying
08.10.2024 21:26
Many cat owners start to worry when they notice that their furry pet leaves some of its food uneaten.
This can happen for a variety of reasons.
Survival instinct
Cats, as predators, have innate mechanisms that helped them survive in the wild. If access to food is limited, the animal must leave some food in case there is an opportunity to return and eat it later. Even if your pet has never experienced real hunger, there is no escape from instincts.
Inappropriate feeding conditions
Sometimes food remains at the bottom of the bowl because the dish the animal has to eat from is too deep or narrow, and it simply cannot reach the food. In addition, cats do not like it when their whiskers touch the edges of the bowl. Try changing the dish - perhaps the problem will be solved.
Change in the smell of food
If the food has been in the bowl for a long time, its smell changes, even if the food is still not spoiled. Don't want the changed "aroma" to push your purr away from the food? Then reduce the portions.
Large portions
In continuation of the above: if you offer your pet too large portions of food, he may not finish it.
In addition to the above, a cat may leave food in the bowl due to stress, problems with teeth and gums, etc.
If you notice that this behavior is accompanied by other problems – weight loss, aggression, etc., show the animal to a veterinarian.
Lack of appetite may indicate hidden health problems, so you should not ignore this signal.
