Yes, more than people expect. Deep narrow bowls compress a cat’s whiskers as she eats, often called whisker discomfort or whisker stress, and some cats respond by leaving food behind, pawing it onto the floor or refusing the meal outright. A shallow, wide dish or even a flat plate solves it. Ceramic or stainless steel is generally easier to keep clean than plastic, which can hold odors and bacteria.
Yes, or some equivalent vertical space. Apartment cats need height to feel safe and use their territory. A wall shelf works too.
Usually she can’t reach it. Senior or overweight cats can’t groom their back half, and the skin dries out where the oils don’t get distributed.
Why does your cat drink from the faucet and ignore the bowl? The quick fixes, the reasons behind it, and when a change in drinking is a vet call.
Cat devours a flavor for a week then snubs it? That is flavor fatigue, not stubbornness. Here’s the science of the novelty effect, how to feed a serial flavor fatiguer on rotation, and the safety line that tells boredom from illness.
Cats are wired to be cautious about unfamiliar food. A sudden full switch from one brand or format to another commonly triggers refusal, sometimes with stomach …
Two main culprits: constipation or a urinary blockage. In male cats, urinary straining is an emergency. How to tell which.