• Alamy
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    Cats may be curious about a lot of things, but people are also curious about cats. These adorable animals have some pretty strange habits, especially around their morning meal. Something about the potential for food mixed with sunlight seems to make cats act a little kooky. Since our furry friends refuse to answer our questions, PawNation enlisted an expert.

    Still looking for answers about your pussycat's 
    peculiar behavior? Send all your pet relationship questions to team.pawnation@aol.com.

  • PawNation
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    Each morning, after I wake up and feed my cat, she intentionally flips over the water dish at some point in the morning. Why does she do this?

    RELATED: Learn more about cat stress

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    ANSWER:

    “Your cat may be flipping the water bowl over because the bowl is too small and her whiskers are touching the sides of the bowl. Many cats do not like how dishes and bowls feel when touched by their whiskers,” says feline behaviorist Marilyn Krieger. 

    A cat’s whiskers have nerve endings and a blood supply. They are a feline’s built-in radar system that guides them, allowing them to measure small openings and feel their way around. They are also mood indicators.

    When whiskers touch a water (or food) bowl, it's uncomfortable for the cat and is known as "whisker stress." Krieger advises that the cat will kick the bowl-flipping habit if presented with a very wide bowl that allows the whiskers enough room not to touch the sides.

    Cats in the wild drink running water, and you can emulate this in the home setting by getting a pet fountain. These are impossible to flip. Again select a design that has a nice wide bowl area.

  • PawNation
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    Most mornings after I feed my cat, she will eat half her food and then take a nap. When she comes back to eat the other half, she just meows at her bowl like she wants more food. Why does she do this even though there is half a bowl left? 

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    ANSWER:

    It is possible that the food has lost its freshness. Instead of feeding her the one meal, divide it in two, feeding her half before she naps and half after she wakes up. Cats generally like to eat their food warm (room temperature) because that’s the equivalent of eating prey in the wild. If you are feeding kibble, try placing some of it in a puzzle feeder and allowing her to work for it. This offers mental and physical stimulation at the same time. Additionally, an automated feeder will help to keep food fresh longer.

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    I am leaving my cat at home alone for the first time while I go on vacation. I have a friend coming by to feed her every day, but it won't be on her normal morning schedule. Is there anything I can do to make my time away more comfortable for my cat, especially in the mornings?

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    ANSWER:

    “Before leaving for vacation, place articles of clothing, towels or pillow cases that you have worn or used, and that have your scent on them, in separate plastic bags and then seal the bags,” advises Krieger. “There should be one scented article for each day you will be away. Ask your friend to unseal one bag each day and place the articles in places where your cat loves to sleep.”

    If you have an answering machine, you can call home everyday so that your cat gets to hear your voice. There are also battery-operated toys that can be pre-set to initiate play at certain times of the day, which will keep her stimulated and amused. Set it for play mode for  first thing in the morning.

    Of course, if the caregiver is a cat lover, you can ask them to take a few minutes to initiate play with a wand. It’s also a good idea to get a battery-operated radio and leave it set to a station that offers both music and chat so that your cat never feels alone.

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    Every morning my cat meows for food, but when I feed him, he won't start eating it until about a half hour later. What's all the fuss about if he is not going to eat right away?

    RELATED: Read more from Sandy Robins

  • Alamy
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    ANSWER:

    Check the temperature of your cat’s food. Your cat might not be eating it immediately because the food is too cold. Cats prefer their food to be about body temperature for a couple of reasons. The warmer temperature helps enhance the smell, making the food more appealing. Additionally, since cats hunt, the prey they catch is body temperature. Even though your cat doesn’t have to hunt for a living, he still prefers to eat food that is warm. It’s natural feline instinct at work.

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    Why is my cat so insistent on meowing in the morning, often waking me up?

    RELATED: Lose weight with your pet.

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    Next: More Morning Cat Questions & Answers

    ANSWER:

    It’s important to remember that cats in the wild wake up at dawn to hunt for their first meal, and thus, cats replicate this in the home setting by insisting upon their first meal of the day. In fact, a recent survey of U.S. cat owners conducted on behalf of Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food revealed that more than 60 percent of respondents said their cats were most eager to get their attention in the morning so they could eat. From cats waking owners by meowing or pawing at them in bed, many cats and owners connect first thing in the morning and start the day together.

    You may be able to sleep in a little longer if you give your cat a late-night snack. Save some of his daily food allowance for late-night eating (but don’t overfeed).

    “Playing can also curtail such behavior,” advises Krieger. “Just before going to bed, play with your cat using a fishing pole toy. This will tire her out an encourage sleeping in. Immediately after playing with her, put out that late night snack.”