Cats change their habits much more than people, I’ve found. It’s true that cats love routine, and that they can be upset, even to the point of causing themselves physical distress, when that routine is disturbed. Yet they will often alter that routine, deciding that they dislike a favourite food, or preferring to sleep in a new location. These changes may be gradual but I have observed that they may also be sudden, and certainly unexpected.
My cat Josie has provided an example of this. She used to love to eat her soft-food. She would clean her dish and ask for more. She would amble over to the dish of someone else, a dish still containing food, a cat not yet finished his meal, and try to intimidate her roommate into giving up his food to her. I always had to keep my eye on her. Josie’s appetite was how she became my Chubs.
But this is the case no longer. At some point - though I think this is an instance of a gradual change - Josie became quite particular about her soft-food, liking some flavours and abstaining from others (though which she prefers and which she doesn’t may not be the same from one serving to the next). She also doesn’t always eat her entire ration. Sometimes she does. Sometimes, she decides that she doesn’t want to eat it in the sitting room or dining area, and will flee to the bedroom. If I follow her there with her unconsumed meal, she will often consent to eat it in the new location.
This has been going on for a while now, and one would think that it might result in the Great White losing some of her bulk. It has not. It has merely meant periodic confusion for me, and a maintained girth for her.
I’m not sure of the cause of Josie’s altered attitude toward food. She has certainly not lost her appetite; it has merely been adjusted. It may simply be a matter of advancing age. Senility? No, not quite. But my Chubs is ten and a half years old now, and her body may have different ideas toward nutrition than her mind does. She is still eager to see what I am offering at meal-times, and she usually does the cooking (!) justice. It’s just another sign that things won’t always be the same with a cat. They change, even if they don’t want to. They change, even if we don’t want them to.
just keeping you on your toes :)
ReplyDeleteSasha is nearly 14 and he too has changed his eating habits somewhat. I give the cats soft food in the evening and he will occasionally turn away from it. He seems to need or want some encouragement. Of course I give it to him!
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes they do it to keep us on our toes!
Very likely your reasoning is sound...Whereas our human's $0.02 is that she's a Princess and therefore entitled to keep her servant guessing about her preferences and wishes. :-D
ReplyDeleteChange instigated by the humans, NO! Change instigated by the kitty, Well of course! Confused humans? Yup, that does seem to be their goal, doesnt it? MOL
ReplyDeleteI do think that cats get fussy and have certain things that they really want. Does she eat dry food?? Lots of cat prefer dry food to the canned food. Mine are always changing their minds about the food that they eat, silly things.
ReplyDeleteTake care and have a great day.
Our big Buddy Budd has kept his appetite for anything but we have been able to keep him at his 14 pounds. What a chore getting there. He was a kibble addict. Changing to wet did wonders for our elder
ReplyDeleteWe think maybe Josie's just trying to keep you guessing. :)
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