Why do cats/dogs do this?

Question

Why is it that whenever cats/dogs see people eating they just sit in front of them and stare at them? I know they're expecting to be fed, but I don't understand how they are able to tell that people are eating.

I know it seems a stupid question, but I'm expecting serious answers. I mean to what extent do animals understand human behaviour?

Yeah, Suzy, its obvious for US, but how do THEY know? How do they understand? Thats what Im asking.

Answer 1

They do this cause wat eva u stick in ur mouth is obiviously food or edable

Answer 2

A cat and dog and most of the animals in the world have a brain. When a cat can recognize a person, when a dog can identify with smell, its natural for them to understand which material is food and which is not. They also know where a man has his mouth and when he is using it and for what. They watch man eating but they are not interested when a man is smoking.

And lastly if are kept one day without food you are also expected to do that same behavior.

Answer 3

Your asking 2 questions.. They can smell very well.. Dogs do not have good taste buds though. So when they eat lets say some cheese, and a hamburger, they have no idea the difference in taste.

But they can also go by texture, one of mine hates olives.. Not the taste, the texture and she can pick it out from a handful of other things eaten together.

Dogs understand our behavior because we are predictable, we do the same things over and over and they learn those behaviors and depend on them.. Like going to work and coming home, ever notice how your dog knows when it's 5:00 and dads supposed to be home from work, they will start watching for him..

Dad comes home 2 hours late, but that dog will wait.. Mine will bark at every stinking noise when my husband or son are not home and they are expecting them.

This is how they learn to potty train, same thing over and over, change it and you start having accidents in the house..

Answer 4

There are a few things that can tip a cat off to the fact that you're eating (dogs too). They smell the food (as everyone else has mentioned) in many cases, but can also tell what is going on by watching you. Chewing action can tip them off, putting things in your mouth, and even sound can tip them off. My cat loves potato chips and responds to the sound of the bag being opened immediately. He can tell the difference between a chip bag and another bag as well. In many cases animals are pretty good at telling time (internal clock), and if you eat at regular times they catch on to that as well. All of these "clues" tip them off. Animals can be very in tune with human beaviour. Much of what they do depends on us and our reactions. Ever seen a dog or a cat look up at you from a sleeping position on the floor? You staring back at them may elicit one reaction, winking another, and making a noise at them another reaction. One might prompt the animal to get up and come to you. Another might prompt them to put their head back down and continue their nap. The third may prompt a tail to wag or some other reaction. You'd be surprised at how "in-tune" animals can be with an owner. They are often even good at reading moods or emotions of their owners and may come over to "cheer you up" if they even think you are unhappy. Some may even misinterpret certain human actions/reactions. Ever been woken up by an animal when you're napping? They may be checking to see if you're OK if you're napping on the couch as it's not your 'usual' place to sleep (bed). Make sense?

Answer 5

They are pack animals and in packs animals have a pecking order for feeding. In the cat and dog world. If you notice with the animals one is a little more dominate than the others when it comes to eating. or other things. The animals (cats & dogs) see you as part of the pack. You bring it home and eat first, they are waiting for the left overs. to be cast aside.

Answer 6

We dont give animals credit for a lot of things,i agree that some aspects of this may involve conditioning however many animals just out of curiosity will sit and stare until you feed them or show them what you have.they realize that something is occupying your time and if they are not in range they will depend on u to show them whats going on. in most cases its not the animal that is conditioned its u. They've learned your patterns,whether its what time u get up,when ur leaving or even when its around lunch time.

Answer 7

LOL. Did you know that the African Gray Parrott can have a human vocabulary of up to 2000 words and actually knows the meaning of words and can construct simple sentences to get it's needs meet? Some of them can even tell jokes. It's no great feat for an animal to know that your eating food.

Answer 8

Animals understand people are eating because they can see and smell the food that we are consuming. Watching humans eat (any animal for that matter) is a predatory instinct.

In many cases the animals are watching us because they want some of our food.

They are also unable to conceptualize why we use objects to shovel food into our mouths.

Answer 9

Oh my dear seems you underestimate your fuzzy friends' skills ;)

They smell your food even before you sit on your table!! When you took it out of the fridge they have already smelled it from the other room!! Even they know exactly the timing of your eating habit! And they know who will give them food by staring at them and who will not!

Although it might be cute to share your food with your pet but I don't recommend that, for two reasons: first you encourage their begging habit. And when they jump on your guest's lap to beg food it's not cute anymore! and also many of our foods or ingredients in them are dangerous for pet which we may not be aware of, for example onions is toxic for cats and most of our foods, hamburgers or even gravies on our steak have onion in them.

Here are some amazing facts about cats and dogs which is interesting to know:

- Their sense of smell is 30 times stronger than humans!

- They can hear sound frequency in diapason from 50 to 60 kHz. A man is only able to catch the sound with frequency 20 kHz!

- Acuity of eyesight of the cat is 6 times higher than the man! They can see the tiny ant, creeping in the distance of 3 meters which is not distinguished by the man’s eye. It is proved that in the distance of one hundred meters cats can recognize their owner only by his shape!

- Cats instinctively know the precise moment their owners will awaken, (if they get up at the same time everyday), then they awaken them ten minutes sooner!

- It's still a matter of mysterious common knowledge that cats possess a terrific ability to find their home! They can find their home even from the distance of 90 miles away!! Our advanced science still has not found out how they really do that!.....

Answer 10

They smell the food....

But mostly because.. well see I feed my cat when I sit down at the table to eat.. so when she sees me sitting at the table.. she thinks I'm eating and sits there waiting for me to feed her.

or they may just be wondering whats going on

Answer 11

They can smell the food, and they've learned to associate certain actions (like the can opener or opening the fridge) with eating.