It's very common and we all should know about this:
Whisker stress, also known as whisker fatigue, is caused when a cat’s whiskers brush against the sides of her dish while eating.
If you’ve noticed your cat pulling food out of the bowl, throwing it next to the bowl and then proceeding to eat, or if she uses her paw to “fish” food out of her food bowl, if she might be reluctant to eat, or may be you need to fill the bowl in a special way or really fill it, she is probably experiencing whisker stress.
Those long classy whiskers have a very important role in the life of a cat: The proprioceptors at the end of each whisker send signals to the brain and nervous system to help the cat detect and interpret changes to their surroundings. Whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect even the slightest change in an air current.
So... what to do: Get shallow bowls or plates that are wide enough so the cat’s whiskers don’t touch the sides. Look for ceramic, metal or glass dishes. Plastic bowls become porous over time and can trap bacteria. When using ceramic, make sure the glaze is lead-free.
Check out your cat's eating habits, they are just as important as playing and cuddling!
Love,
Andrea
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