Why won’t my cat eat unless I’m standing next to her?
Some cats associate meals with company and the routine, not just the food. If yours eats happily when you are nearby but ignores the bowl alone, the request is really for you. This is easy to reinforce: every time she eats only after you arrive, the behavior is rewarded. Feeding on a predictable schedule and decoupling attention from the bowl (play and affection at other times) usually rebalances it over a few weeks. There is no real health concern as long as she is eating normal amounts when you are around.
