Cat wanting company when he eats?

[katew355]

Our cat is very vocal all day about wanting food and is absolutely obsessed with eating. However I've noticed recently that if I'm nearby, he won't eat unless I come and stand near his food bowl. If he can hear me in the kitchen ( his bowl is in the utility room) he will come out and meow at me until I go in. Does anyone else's cat do this and any ideas why? X

Oh mine does this and it can be really irritating. Its like she goes on a hunger strike unless I sit at the bowl with her and tell her what a good girl she is when she finishes it all.
I thought it qas quite sweet at first although now with hindsight I wish I'd have pushed for her to be more independent.

Yes- cute but annoying too!! Any idea why they do it? X

A cat that used to live with me used to wake me up at about 4.30am by rubbing his (wet) nose on my cheeks. Then I'd get up to let him out. He'd want feeding and wouldn't go out. But if I didn't sit next to him he wouldn't eat. Then it evolved to not eating unless I praised him while he was eating!! This is true!!

After that he'd go out. If I went back upstairs to bed before he'd eaten, he'd come and meow..or put his nose in my ear..purr!

He'd only go out in the morning if I watched him eat first and later on with the praise.

Maybe he feels vulnerable while he eats so your his protection.

You've got to be the lookout! It's only fair, he probably does it for you...

fgs human

Maybe he feels vulnerable while he eats so your his protection.

I think you are right. My cat is an ex feral and growls at me if I go near her food. I just leave it and go away.

My friends cat does this, I’m such a sucker I sit with her when she eats. She’s elderly and it takes her ages to eat. She sits and looks at you and meows, until you Walk with her to her bowl. She then starts to eat and looks up and checks you’re still there periodically.

I understand it’s because in the wild they are vulnerable when eating as that’s where their focus is, so they wish someone to be looking out and protecting them when they focus on the food.

Oh yes, our boy does this. He comes and gets from whatever pointless human activity we're engaged (ie work) so we can stroke him while he eats.
Can't say no to the little bugger though!