Mastodawn

UhBell Jul 13, 2023

YSK: Cats don't like their whiskers touching their food bowl. This is why they beg even if food is still left at the bottom.

https://lemmy.world/post/1430679

YSK: Cats don't like their whiskers touching their food bowl. This is why they beg even if food is still left at the bottom. - Lemmy.world

Whisker fatigue causes stress and overstimulates their senses. Using a flat bowl or plate will relieve this issue and allow your cat to eat all their food without stress. You can also search for “whisker fatigue” bowls specifically made for cats. More info [https://www.petmd.com/care/whisker-fatigue-cats-what-it-and-how-help]

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marmo7ade Jul 13, 2023

Not all feline vets think whisker fatigue is a real condition or cause for concern. Dr. Cathy Lund of City Kitty, a feline-only veterinary practice in Providence, R.I, questions the validity of whisker fatigue. While a cat’s whiskers do serve as very sensitive tactile sensors, she does not believe contact between whiskers and objects causes stress in cats.

Yea, me too. The article is based on inference and opinion. You actually have no idea what your cat thinks about whiskers touching the bowl.

That said, stress, for whatever reason, is a real issue of concern for cat owners and vets, Lund says.

No one is doubting this. The amount of stress this puts on that cat is what is doubted.

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FiveMacs Jul 13, 2023

This applies to pretty much every article about animals…it’s just humans putting human stuff on animals for the sake of humans. :/

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IDatedSuccubi

It happens often in media, but real scientists don’t rely on what they think animals think, instead using objective data like brain activity scans, heartbeat rates etc, often presenting pure data without a conclusion on what they think the animal feels. Those studies will then come to media, where the interviewed scientists will give their thoughts on how they interpret the results, even if it’s obvious that the animal likes/dislikes something. These also exist in media.