If your cat sits with you while you eat, this post will show you likely causes and what would make each of them more likely.
So, why does my cat sit with me when I eat? Likely reasons why your cat sits with you when you eat are that it wants your food, it is hungry, or that it feels safer around you.
The reason why your cat sits with you while you eat could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can do about it and there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause.
Reasons why your cat sits with you when you eat
Below are likely reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.
It wants your food
The most likely reason why your cat sits with you is that it wants some of your food especially if it has tried to take your food before, it only does it when you eat eating things it likes and it stares at your food. To prevent this, you could try getting it to sit somewhere else while you are eating or to give it something to be distracted with such as a toy.
It is hungry
It could also be the case that your cat is hungry itself. This would be more likely if it only sits with you when it does not have access to food itself and when it has not been fed in a while.
Rewarding the behavior
It might also be the case that your cat has learned that the behavior is rewarded. If you tend to give your cat some of your food when you are eating, it will likely do it more in order to get more food.
It just wants to be around you
It might also be the case that your cat just wants to be around you but you happen to notice it more while you are eating. This would be more likely if your cat tends to follow you around the house a lot and it sits with you even when you are not eating.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always sat with you when you eat
If your cat did not always sit with you while you eat, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as learning that the behavior is rewarded or because you started feeding it later than usual.
What is different when your cat does not sit with you when you eat
If your cat does not always sit with you when you eat, it would also help to consider what is different when your cat does not do it. For example, if it only does it when you are eating breakfast before you have fed your cat, the cause could be that it is hungry and waiting for you to feed it.
What to do about your cat sitting with you when you eat
Below are some things you can do about your cat sitting with you when you eat.
Feed it sooner
If you currently make your cat wait before it gets feed, it could help to feed it sooner, in the morning, instead so that it does not have to wait so long.
Redirect its focus
It would also help to redirect your cat’s focus. Ways to do so could include giving it a toy to play with or some treats that it can have while you eat.
Let it do it
If the behavior does not bother you much, another option would be to let your cat continue doing it but to move it to a different spot when it does annoy you.