Why does my cat refuse food from her bowl, preferring the bag?

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.

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.

This is one of those things we may never be able to answer. I suggest you just get a different type of bowl and see if he likes that. I would recommend a low, flat, shallow bowl (kind of like a tray). Some cats develop an aversion to their whiskers touching the sides of a deeper "normal" bowl.

I am sorry to hear that Stella was so sick! The posture you are describing (squatting outside the litter box) could indicate that Stella is having an issue with either peeing or pooping, or there could be a behavioral issue. As far as not eating the food goes, sometimes cats will act picky when they know that they will get something special if they hold out for a while. If they are otherwise acting fine (drinking, not vomiting or lethargic), try putting the food down for meal times, then picking up whatever is left after 15 minutes. You can also talk with your vet about the strange behavior and get their advice. Best wishes!

She may have a tooth ache or ulcers or other painful conditions in her mouth. Get some Fancy Feast canned food for her and feed her that until you can take her to a veterinarian (preferably today) for an exam. She is obviously hungry, so there is a chance that eating hurts her or the food is spoiled (sometimes that is not obvious) or the formulation changed significantly.

Naughty Luna! She may still be hungry, or bored or she likes the cat food so much she is trying to get to it. You may want to spread out the food over 3 feeds during the day with one of those feeds in a feeding ball. That way she gets more exercise, and she can "graze". If she is ruining the container, you may want to hide it in a cupboard. If she is a bigger cat, then 7.5 lbs may be a bit light. Have your veterinarian assess her body score next time you take her for an exam.

Rogue is a beautiful cat! First I would have her evaluated by her veterinarian to make sure there is no medical reason she is less interested in her food. Possibilities include a sore tooth, inflamed gums, gastrointestinal discomfort or food sensitivities. In the meantime you could try adding a little warm water to her food to soften it and enhance the smell or you could offer her some canned food mixed in or on the side, or you could try transitioning her to another brand of dry food.