The Daily Cat

My two newly adopted kittens, Barney and Cassie, make quite a mess when they eat. Both pick up food with their paws and then place it on the floor before eating it. Any idea why they do this, and, more important, how can I change their untidy habit?

Congratulations on the adoption of Barney and Cassie! The behavior you're describing is nothing to worry about. In fact, many cats exhibit that style of eating.

Sometimes a cat will use its paw to spoon out the food onto the floor if the food bowl is not the right size for them. Make sure the bowl isn't too deep, large or small. You may want to try using a shallow bowl, which applies to the water bowl as well. Also, don't use a double bowl because some cats don't like having their food and water so close together.

If the bowl is the correct size, then your kitty may just not like putting its face into the bowl. With some cats, though, the behavior is simply play-related. Sometimes they grow out of it and sometimes it becomes a habit.

Occasionally some cats -- particularly kittens -- will also poke at their food with their paws. This likely originates when they first learn to eat from a bowl. If a cat isn't sure about something, it may "test" the food first in this way with a paw.

To control the mess, you can buy a pet placemat that has a raised edge all around. This will also help to contain any liquid spills.