My cats refuse to eat with me

tidesong · July 2013

I work a very hard job being disabled and limited in what I can do during the day. The cats ignore me all day and just sleep. And I'm the one with the disabilities! I could go without lunch, but I don't, but they don't even pay attention then.

All I want to do is come home at the end of my day of being home all day and have dinner with my cats.

But ever since I got them, the have been refusing and sometimes even go into the other room! Actually, they always go into the other room. And it's especially hurtful when they just go upstairs.

What can I do to convince them to spend some time with me and have a nice meal with me? That doesn't involve canned tuna??

theseus82 · July 2013

Maybe if they won't eat with you, maybe you can try certain toys to play with them?

I've never heard of a cat that isn't completely fascinated by a laser pointer. Try buying one of those laser pointers for pets and get their attention with it. They should go nuts for it. Maybe a stick toy might get them to roughhouse near you?

Cats have unique personalities, and it sounds like yours are standoffish. That's too bad, because it sounds like you want them to give you more attention. My two cats are very affectionate. It sounds like that's just not how your cats are.

But I'd try the laser toy. As far as getting them to eat with you, I've not heard of cat owners trying to get something that specific. Normally cats come around when they want something, whether it's food or pets or attention. It's hard to make a cat do something in the present that it doesn't feel like doing.

Do your cats ever come to you for attention? Try not to take it so personally if they are independent for parts of the day. Cats don't always decide to follow around their owners all day. They sleep a lot and move to different places to sleep some more during the day.

PepperWorm · July 2013

YOU'RE SABOTAGING THEIR DIET!

STAHP!

miss_jessiejane · July 2013

Just break up.

Escape_Artist · July 2013

Give them to me.

michelefrench · July 2013

Just break up.

ahh...ya beat me to it :drinker:

jkal1979 · July 2013

Trade them in for dogs. They never leave your side when food is around.

Janice2Shakira · July 2013

Get a tattoo, and make sure you don't tell them until after you get it.

TheCaren · July 2013

I say you eat one of them and the remaining cat(s) will get the message that mama ain't messin' around anymore. She wants some company at dinner.

Oh wait. Are cats dark meat or white meat... Maybe you'd better check with Dr. Oz before you eat the cat to make sure it's good for you. Because he knows all there is to know about health and nutrition...

Hornsby · July 2013

I have had this issue before as well. Stuffing my bra with catnip seems to do the trick.

Be careful though, they might get a little riled up. If they do, just sit down and have a talk with them about your concerns. If they can't comply after the talk, you should definitely break up.