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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat wanting us to sit with him while he eats - normal?

14 replies

bandito · 15/09/2018 19:10

I fear we are being taken for a ride here, or DCat has developed some kind of food anxiety! He scratches to make a noise until we follow him to his food, where he checks we are staying and then starts to eat. Through the night and day the same, he needs us pottering about in the room or sitting with him (around 2am!) before he will settle to eat. We have feliway but could get another if it would make a difference - the house isn't big, so I'm not sure it will help. He's also wasking more and has some bare patches on his head which the vet thinks may be scratches from fights, or just him scratching. He doesn't have fleas. He just seems worried - he's our first cat and I can't think of anything that has changed. The only thing I can think of is that we went away for a week in August and he hasn't forgiven us for letting a neighbour just keep an eye on him. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
bandito · 15/09/2018 19:11

wasking - washing!

OP posts:
foxotterhare · 15/09/2018 19:12

What about a friend for him.

mimibunz · 15/09/2018 19:13

I had a cat who did this. I obliged and thought it was sweet. There is no normal when it comes to cats! Smile

purpleme12 · 15/09/2018 19:14

Oh this is cute

joangray38 · 15/09/2018 19:15

My cat does this, if we don't stay he walks away from his food. Unfortunately he has now taken this to a new level and now will not use his tray unless someone is with him!

smerlin · 15/09/2018 19:18

Ours has dermatitis that presents similarly (bare patches and over-grooming). I hope for your sake it isn't that as it is an absolute nightmare to manage.

Been for every test in the country as a kitten and determined it is stress-related. Do you have a cat flap? Could another cat have got in and made him insecure of his territory?

HoleyCoMoley · 15/09/2018 19:21

The 2am would annoy me, can you put a small bowl of biscuits down in your bedroom, he might eat and not feel the need to wake you up. He sounds a bit anxious, maybe that's why he is washing more, I'd try another feliway.

Mightybanhammer · 15/09/2018 19:35

Welcome to the world of cat slaveryGrin

Original poster
bandito · 15/09/2018 20:22

Thank you for your ideas. smerlin we are not sure what the patches are, the vet has done a skin test in case ringworm, but nothing has come up so far. He thinks it may be scratches from another cat which are healing and so are itchy, but not certain. He has freedom to be out or in and a chip-sensing catflap so only he is in the house. We've tried the biscuits in our room but he ate a few then wanted to go downstairs but not by himself!

I'm going to try another feliway - he is much calmer by day, but really needy in the night - it would be cute if it was a 'let me sleep next to you ' needy, but he is all over the place and wants us to go with him. We've only had one full night's sleep since we came back from holiday.

OP posts:
Original poster
bandito · 15/09/2018 20:24

joangrey38 that is a whole new level, perhaps DCat is not so bad after all!

OP posts:
SneakyGremlins · 15/09/2018 20:26

Mine is the other way around. I get such a glare if I look at him while he's eating.

MarthasGinYard · 15/09/2018 20:26

Awwwwww

viccat · 15/09/2018 21:00

Could another cat be bullying him in the garden and/or breaking in through the catflap to steal his food? Maybe while you were away?

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 15/09/2018 21:02

Our dog does this. Absolutely will not eat without company. Otherwise a happy little thing. She eats at covilised times though so not so vad

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