Cat Dropping Food When Eating (What To Do)

Jasmine Okechukwu
Cat Dropping Food When Eating

Cats are notorious for loving food. Whether it is their favorite human food or cat food, they always cherish it when it is mealtime. However, sometimes their enthusiasm can lead to messy situations as they may drop their food while enjoying it.

As a pet parent, I must admit that cleaning up after them can be frustrating, plus how much food they potentially waste while they eat.

In this article, we will discuss the possible reasons behind your cat’s messy eating and also provide tips to help you manage the situation and ensure that your cat is getting all the required nourishment.

Reasons Why Cats Drop Their Food

If you are wondering why your cat is always dropping food when eating, here are the possible reasons;

cat having a meal

1. Dental Problems

Cats with dental issues such as damaged or broken teeth, or gum infections may have trouble chewing and swallowing food properly, and this will cause them to drop their food while eating.

2. Bad Eating Habits

If your cat has bad “table manners” and eats too fast, it may not be chewing its food properly. Due to this some foods may not get to be chewed and will fall out of their mouth due to the speed at which they are eating.

3. Stress And Anxiety

When cats are feeling stressed or anxious, they tend to be distracted when they eat, and this will cause them to cause food to fall out of their mouth accidentally.

4. Vision Issues

If your cat has trouble seeing, it may accidentally knock out the food as it can hardly locate it.

5. Bowl Design

Some bowl types, whether too deep or narrow, can make it difficult to get access to the food and so they may resort to pushing the food over the edge, therefore making it spill over.

close up shot of a cat
Photo by Romina BM on Pexels.com

How To Stop Your Cat From Dropping Food When Eating

You will find the following tips on how to stop your cat from dropping food while eating very helpful;

1. Slow Down Their Eating

Consider using a puzzle feeder or spreading out their meal on a flat surface, probably a baking sheet. This will force the cat to eat more slowly and reduce the amount of food it will potentially drop.

2. Monitor Their Eating

Watch your cat closely and intervene when they eat fast or rush their food. You can also offer them food in smaller quantities frequently throughout the day to prevent rushing food or overeating.

3. Address The Stress Issue

If you notice that your cat is stressed or anxious, you might want to address the issue so that they will stop dropping food when they eat. Provide your cat with a calm and quiet eating area. You can also consider using pheromone sprays or diffusers to help relax your cat during mealtime.

4. Change Their Bowl

You should consider using a shallow and wide bowl to serve your cat food, or better still get a pet bowl specifically designed to prevent spilling or dropping of food. More preferably, use heavy, or non-skid bowls that will help keep the bowl in place while your cat eats.

5. Take the Cat To The Vet

Taking your cat to the vet is the best way to address any underlying health issues, such as sight issues and dental problems.

Conclusion

Before you can properly stop your cat from spilling or dropping food while they eat, you have to understand why it happens. It could be the feeding bowl, a health issue, stress, anxiety, or a bad eating habit.

Once the issue is identified then one of the solutions mentioned in this article will be suitable for you and your cat.



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