Oh hey Bazsmum - you know as well as I do (a) there are no such things as general rules, we only think there are, and (b) even we realize that the only purpose of rules is for them to be broken!
It all started with me when I used to be a dedicated Mother (years ago). Tried to give each cat their own bowl (or at least every 2 cats....) I have a small kitchen.. so the overflow ended up... Noticed that the overflow always liked theirs better - and that the kitchen cats wanted those bowls too. Almost all of that is the old "the other cat has something better than I do" thing... but.........
I also noticed way, way, way back in the long, long, ever-so long ago that Muff routinely picked up the food from her bowl and (growling all the way) took it to the livingroom. There to be mushed into the rug and then happily eaten. Doubtless a reflection of their 'hunting' heritage. Cats just aren't meant to eat straight from bowls!
The latest is, of course, Winston. When I almost lost him this Fall - I finally got him to eat by plopping bits of food on my bed (me in it (the bed, not the food !
) and him on it (same bed). When that didn't work, I plopped some of it on me - and then he ate. As I don't much enjoy being covered with cat food, I gradually moved it off me and onto the bed - and he continued to eat (and I did lots and lots of laundry). And ultimately we got back to eating... well, he still isn't much - though he'll eat in here (my study) and on the porch (picnic!). And now - well, we have all slowed our eating (likely because it is no longer needed as things are finally warming up!) but even so.... I just hate buying food and having it go to waste so when they go on strike down here, I simply take the same bowl upstairs and just like that it vanishes! (the food in the bowl. Not the bowl!
)
Sorry. Having a silly morning........... Spring, don't ya know.......