Refusing to eat in the new food bowl spot?

[tubbytabbycat]

I've a handsome boy cat whose a year and a half. His food was previously in the front room but he kept dropping food onto the carpet and smushing it in with his paws. No food matt stopped it- he'd walk to the carpeted area was uncovered and drop it there.

So, I moved his food to the kitchen where it's tiled- and easier to clean up his food dropping, but he's refusing to eat from the new spot. He had a few mouthfuls yesterday, but didn't scoff his food like he normally does. I tried moving the bowl back in case he was just off his food- but as soon as i moved it back- he made up for lost time and ate like a mad cat.

I feel i'm in some sort of war with him and I don't know what to do! I've tried other spots in the kitchen and he's still not eating it when it's there. I've tried sitting with him in case it's because it's quiter, and still he won't eat. He's a chubby boy so it's really unlike him and I don't want to let him win this battle!

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

Is the new spot too close to his water?

[Wolfiefan]

Can you put a carpet tile or mat under his bowl? He may associate carpet under ties with eating? Cat minds are weird!

[Wolfiefan]

Or too close to cat litter?
In a thoroughfare?
Too noisy or quiet?

[Fresta]

I would try moving his bowl just a little way each day until eventually, after a week or two it is in the kitchen.

Why on earth would you feed your cat in the living room to start with though?

Oh, and it's the law you have to post a cute picture of your cat. Here's my ginger boy, Wotsit.

[Wolfiefan]

Fresta he's beautiful!

[Weedsnseeds1]

You have displeased him. I think he'll get over it as long as the food isn't next to his water or litter. They do seem to prefer to decant their food from the bowl to the floor. I have no idea why.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

We had to move our old now departed cats food when we had our kitchen refitted. Poor old girl she was a bit batty anyway and she couldn't get the hang of it. She'd go to the new bowl place, eat a mouthful, then go and sit in the old bowl place. 'Slave, move it back here please' were her exact words I believe.
Once the builders started ripping out the kitchen she had no choice, funnily enough she coped fine.
Don't give up, he'll do it when he realises you actually mean it.