Study explains why cats walk away from food when they are still hungry

Why cats stop at the bowl

A new study from Iwate University in Japan says cats usually do not abandon their food because they are full. They stop because the smell of the same food becomes too familiar, which appears to blunt their appetite for a while.

That is inconvenient news for anyone who has watched a cat take a few bites, wander off, and return hours later as if nothing happened. Dogs and cats already have a strong talent for changing their minds about food brands every few months. Cats just seem to do it with more confidence and less explanation.

According to the findings, translated by NHK, a change in scent can restart a cat’s interest in eating.

What the researchers tested

The university studied 12 cats and fed them the same food at 10-minute intervals. On the sixth feeding, researchers added a new scent to the meal. The cats started eating again, which suggested they had not simply become full.

In other words, the issue was not quantity. It was repetition, at least as far as the nose was concerned. Cats, it turns out, can be just as selective about smell as they are about everything else.

Professor Masao Miyazaki of Iwate University’s Faculty of Agriculture said the result could have practical uses in pet food design.

"When developing pet food, even if the taste and nutrients are the same, developing something like a ‘scent topping’ could create variety in a cat’s diet," he said.

He also said the idea could help sick cats that are limited to prescribed food but need encouragement to eat more.

"It could also be used to get sick cats that can only eat prescribed food to eat more."

What this could mean for cat owners

The study suggests that a cat walking away from its bowl may not be rejecting dinner in any deep emotional sense. It may simply want a fresh smell before it commits to another round.

That is not exactly a breakthrough in the human-cat relationship. It is, however, a useful reminder that cats remain dedicated to making simple tasks slightly mysterious.

For the record, the report also notes that cats can eat In-N-Out Burger’s secret Pup Patty, which is just a burger with no salt added. An unexpected footnote, but apparently one the internet was willing to file.