[avincent52]

Something just occurred to me while reading another post.

From an evolutionary point of view, I can see why dogs are most definitely not finicky eaters. Being willing/able to eat anything is a huge advantage when you don't know where your next meal is coming from.

While I know there are exceptions, I can't remember a pet dog who would leave a single scrap of food in the dish, and wouldn't eat just about anything put in front of them at any hour of the day.

That said, how can cats get away with being finicky eaters?
I would think that in the wild, passing up a meal could come back to haunt you a few days or weeks down the line if, for some reason, the hunting isn't good.

So what's the evolutionary advantage of picky eating? Or is this something we've taught our house cats? But if that's the case, why haven't we taught our dogs the same thing?

allen

 

[BeauShel]

To me, I think it is easier for a cat to catch things then it is for dogs. So maybe in the wild they can be more picky. My cat George is a chowhound, he is always first in line to get the food and if you ignore him to feed him later he will stare at you till you get the food. And if you are not home at feeding time, he will be sitting on the edge of the counter staring at you like you are in big trouble. I do have a dog that is kind of picky. Bama is not a chowhound, there are some mornings he takes a couple of bites and walks away. He has been like that as a puppy and Hooch said his Mom and Grandma are the same way. They are nibblers. So it is a family trait.

 

[Willow52]

I think it's a stereotype, I've never had a finicky (4) cat, they've always eaten whatever is on sale/what I have a coupon for dry food.

 

[cubbysan]

I have never had a finicky cat, but I have had two finicky dogs.

When my husband moved in with his cat, his cat was supposedly finicky, only eats canned food, must mix the flavors, etc. When she found out it was only dry food at my house, she learned to eat it in three days! I think maybe we make our cats finicky.

As for my dogs, one when I was growing up a Shih Tzu, and we fed him canned food from the supermarket. We probably made him finicky.

My finicky GSD, took about two years before I found a food he liked.

 

[K9-Design]

Ah there is a very easy answer for your question!
Dogs are pack animals. Better eat it or someone else will.
With the lone exception of lions, cats are solitary hunters. Once they've caught it, no one else is breathing down their neck to eat it, so what's the hurry?
There ya go.

 

[K9-Design]

Oh, and there's a difference between "picky" and "slow." I don't really think cats are picky. I've never had a cat that would absolutely refuse some foods and then scarf down others. They just take their time and snack throughout the day rather than eating meals like a dog.

 

[AquaClaraCanines]

LOTS of dogs are picky eaters. Goldens are pigs, but not all breeds are. The majority of sighthounds I've ever had or fosters were picky, wouldn't eat kibble at all, once they had raw would definitely never eat kibble again without a few days of self fasting before they became desperate enough to eat "that stuff"

My German Shepherd won't eat kibble either, now that he's on raw.

 

[missmarstar]

Ah there is a very easy answer for your question!
Dogs are pack animals. Better eat it or someone else will.
With the lone exception of lions, cats are solitary hunters. Once they've caught it, no one else is breathing down their neck to eat it, so what's the hurry?
There ya go.

Great answer!

 

[avincent52]

Ah there is a very easy answer for your question!
Dogs are pack animals. Better eat it or someone else will.
With the lone exception of lions, cats are solitary hunters. Once they've caught it, no one else is breathing down their neck to eat it, so what's the hurry?
There ya go.

Sounds like there's something there, although they do have to worry about something beside a cat stealing dinner.

 

[Adriennelane]

Lucy is not a chowhound at all. She has always just eaten when she felt like it.

 

[hotel4dogs]

and why do cats love fish, when they evolved from the desert??

 

[avincent52]

Because they're really Aliens from Outer Space out to conquer our small, dog-o-centric planet. Da dum da dum da dum...

 

[hotel4dogs]

ah geez, spit my coffee on the computer screen again....

Because they're really Aliens from Outer Space out to conquer our small, dog-o-centric planet. Da dum da dum da dum...