Why Do Cats Refuse to Eat When There's Still Food in the Bowl?

A frequent reason for a healthy cat to refuse to eat from a bowl with plenty of food left behind is that the cat may have whisker fatigue. Some cats experience whisker fatigue when their highly sensitive whiskers are constantly being brushed up or touched against a surface, such as the sides of a bowl. This is why cats generally eat from the center of the bowl. When the amount of food in the center gets depleted (and the base of the bowl becomes visible), the cat simply stops eating, as it realizes that eating from the sides of the bowl will hurt or cause stress. This is also why a really hungry cat will sometimes tip the bowl and eat their food off the floor; this way, its whiskers dont brush against the sides of the bowl, but they still get to finish their meal!