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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UhBell Jul 13, 2023

Not every cat responds the same, or at all, to stress on their whiskers. Just like people, cats have varrying tolerances to stimulus.

Anecdotally, my cats would not finish their food in narrow bowls but do now that they eat from flat bowls.

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TheActualDevil

I can add my own anecdote to this one. One of my cat’s is fine with any bowl because he’s just very food motivated and will do anything to get to his food at feeding time. The other one, when using a more narrow bowl, would often stop eating normally and scoop out the food with a paw. Once I switched to wide flatter bowls, she scarfs it down without pause. It was clearly bothering her.

While cats vary in their preferences and tolerances, it bothers me that so many people just scoff at this idea. We’re caretakers for cats and should do our best to make their lives as reasonably comfortable and enriching as possible. And just because a cat is fine with touching things with their whiskers in some situations doesn’t mean they’re cool with it in others. Cats are often happy to have you scratch behind their ears, but only when it’s invited.

And come on, bowls are cheap. It’s not that big of an inconvenience to get them a bowl that could be more comfortable, even if they’re tolerating it now.