I offended the cat

@5thHouse (1678)
Sheffield, England
October 16, 2016 6:36am CST
I ought to know by now that it's false economy to buy cheap cat food. Charlie loves his food and will habitually growl and defend his food it if I go anywhere near to him while he's eating. Yesterday I purchased some own brand cat meat and thought I'd see how things went. To say Charlie was not impressed is something of an understatement. He sniffed it and looked at me in disgust. I tapped the bowl a couple of times with my foot to see if he would do his usual growling ritual, but far from wanting to defend it, instead he just gave me this imploring look, as if to say, "You can have it. Take it away!" He made a half-hearted attempt to eat it when he knew it was that or nothing, but it must've been bad because he actually spat some pieces out. I know people say that when they get hungry enough they'll eat anything, but it's in the stubborn nature of the cat to starve and make you worry yourself sick, rather than to give in and eat something so beneath its expectations. Being an old softy I've aready given in and bought him some more expensive 'Felix.' Here's a pic of Charlie's first attempt to climb a tree last summer. It took him a long, long time to get down again.
10 people like this
13 responses
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Oct 16
They can be very particular about what food they will deign to eat.
2 people like this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
16 Oct 16
Strange as my other cat has been down and eaten the cheap stuff without question.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
16 Oct 16
@5thHouse They are quite individualistic.
@moffittjc (121482)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Oct 16
The cat I had when I was a child was very spoiled, as he was used to eating scraps from the dinner table. It got to the point where he wouldn't even eat cat food anymore, so my mom always made him a plate of whatever it was we were having for a meal. We used to joke with her that she should've have just made a place for him at the table so he could sit and join us for meals..
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121482)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Oct 16
@5thHouse Growing up, we lived in a house that had a big lake out back, and we used to fish a lot in that lake. Whenever I'd catch a fish, my cat would pounce on it as soon as I pulled it out of the water. He would hold the fish for us until we could remove the hook and throw it in the cooler. I think my cat knew that he was going to get some delicious cooked fish for dinner!
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
19 Oct 16
@moffittjc That must've been quite a treat for him. Charlie came home absolutely soaking one morning and I wondered if he had been 'fishing' in a neighbour's pond.
1 person likes this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
18 Oct 16
When Charlie was a kitten he used to try and eat anything we were eating - porridge, cakes, toast etc. As he's got older he's started to understand the difference between human food and cat foods, though if we're eating meat or fish, he'll still try and steal that of our plates.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
18 Oct 16
I notice some dogs seem to eat just about anything unlike our friends from the cat world. Like how you wrote this from a human perspective.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
18 Oct 16
@5thHouse I like the nature of animals. I suppose dogs have hard tummies but cats well as you said "so beneath her expectations".
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
19 Oct 16
I remember hearing about a friend's dog that stole some fish & chips and he was scoffing the lot - even the paper they were wrapped in. They were absolutely piping hot and he was whimpering as they burnt his mouth, yet he couldn't stop eating them!
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
18 Oct 16
I've noticed that about dogs, they are much less fussy.
• Preston, England
18 Oct 16
cats are very fussy eaters while dogs don't care as long as it is food - great photo
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
18 Oct 16
they do find their way eventually @5thHouse
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
18 Oct 16
I like how he is looking at me taking the photo, as if to say, "How do I get down from here? Put down the camera, woman, and help me."
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
19 Oct 16
I heard that cats always get what they want .. and Charlie has proven it .. What a cute photo! ..
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
23 Oct 16
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
19 Oct 16
He gets away with a lot by being so cute
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
17 Oct 16
I have two cats. My father cat will eat anything you give him. He waits to eat.lol The other cat is very fussy. If i give him something he doesn't like he will sniff it, give me a nasty look and walk away. He will not even try it. He will just simply go without eating no matter how hungry he is.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
18 Oct 16
@5thHouse lol it dont take long to spoil them!
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
18 Oct 16
Many years ago we adopted a stray cat and to begin with he would eat anything. He must've got so used to being hungry and living off scraps. In time though, as he settled in, he became as fussy as the rest of the cats and would turn his nose up at certain foods.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
17 Oct 16
I love that picture, it's great. It sounds like he has you where he wants you, that seems to be a habit with cats.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50069)
• United States
16 Oct 16
Our cat is also a picky eater
1 person likes this
@AutumnSnow (4583)
16 Oct 16
AWE!! He is a so cute. My Garfield is like that with his food. He will only eat meow mix or kit n kaboddle try and change and he ain't having it,lol.
1 person likes this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
16 Oct 16
Some cats have been known to move on and get their food elsewhere if they don't like what you're serving up. I didn't want to risk that happening.
1 person likes this
@bwjsdems (496)
• New Zealand
10 Nov 16
Mine will run away from the bowl if the food truly offends their sensibilities. that is the signal for the dog to move in and clean up.
1 person likes this
@ms1864 (6885)
• Bangalore, India
16 Oct 16
Cat's are like royalty.
1 person likes this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
16 Oct 16
Indeed, there is truth in the saying - "dogs have owners. Cats have staff."
1 person likes this
@RitzzView (2999)
• India
19 Oct 16
Your first paragraph about cats and food is so true. They even seem to be the most happiest when they have food. I do not think that they'll starve or something purposely.. They are more natural..even when it comes to their appetite... I'm curious.. he liked Felix??
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
19 Oct 16
Charlie's a cutie and that story is funny, instead of trying to scare you away from his food he was all like - no, please take it...