Why won't my cat eat kibble from his bowl but eats it off the floor?

Some pets get in the habit of eating a certain way. They become conditioned in a sense to doing things a certain way and feel safer with their owners there for them. Cats in particular like to have flat dinner trays to avoid any rubbing of their whiskers when they eat. They are still very much un-domesticated in a lot of ways and so they want to make sure they can see around them while eating as a defense mechanism. This may be why your kitty likes to eat from your flat hand that is raised off the floor, because he/she feels safer in that position. You can try a flat dinner tray that is slightly raised off the floor and see if this encourages your kitty to eat on his/her own.

I would first encourage you to consider whether Norik is actually having appetite issues and not bowl issues. If you're sure that he has a strong/normal appetite, that's good, but remember that sometimes reluctant eaters actually have gastrointestinal issues - for example, intestinal parasites are very common in puppies - and make sure that you and your vet have ruled out potential medical issues first, especially if there are other concerning signs such as vomiting and/or diarrhea. Also think about whether he might have neck pain that is keeping him from wanting to lower his head all the way to the floor. If Norik has a great/normal appetite, and you've made sure that any potential health problems are ruled out, but he truly doesn't like bowls, then I would recommend trying to feed him on something extremely shallow, such as a plate or cookie sheet. You might also consider an elevated feeding bowl to see if getting the bowl up higher is more appropriate for him.

It may be impossible to train her to eat from the bowl. It’s not uncommon that pets will remove food from the bowl to eat on the ground or only eat if the food is placed on the ground. Unfortunately we don’t know why they exhibit these behaviors. I recommend to experiment with feeding her on a plate or a very wide bowl that does not come in contact with the whiskers on her muzzle or the top of her head. It could be a tactile sensation she does not like. Also observe her closely to make sure she’s not showing evidence of illness or not wanting to eat due to a medical condition. There are many reasons a cat will stop eating including sickness or dental problems. If you are not sure if Luna is healthy, have her examined by the veterinarian. Best of luck.

Some dogs stop eating from a bowl and it's fine as long as you are fine with it, feeding directly on the floor would be the preferred alternative method, make sure you clean that floor area after each meal. If you would like to try the bowl again, change the type of bowl and it's size as well, those changes might work.

There are a few things you can try: One is trying a different type of bowl such as ceramic or plastic, or one that is wider or flatter, as sometimes the feel or sides of the bowl can be scary or irritating, especially if Simba is interested in eating still. The other is to start offering a piece of kibble from your hand with the bowl in your lap, and alternate one piece of kibble in hand, one dropped in bowl, back and forth, while praising each time he eats from the bowl. You can also sneak in a few tasty treats to make it extra fun for him. As he gets used to "eating" from the bowl with you there, you can gradually add more to it and then distance yourself from the bowl to encourage him to eat more on his own.

I don't think it has anything to do with the glass container. I would just to make sure clean the container very well and make sure it is dry. Then try using it again. If she is still having this issue but is eating from the food in bag, I wouldn't be too concerned. To make sure there is nothing medical going on I do recommend a check up from your vet.

If he is a “food hound” and loves to eat then it is possible that he just eats his dry food so fast that he doesn’t bother chewing it. Cats are very texture oriented so it is possible that he doesn’t like the softer food or treats which may be why he just licks the oil off of them. If you ever notice him trying to eat and the food falls out of his mouth, he is excessively drooling, or he is pawing at his face then I would be more concerned about a mouth or tooth problem. I would have your vet look at him if this is a concern. As far as him sleeping next to his litter box, this may just be a personal preference. You can give him new beds or hiding spots around the house with blankets around the house so he has options. I hope this helps! Norbert is really lucky to have found you!