Cat growling

[Pursestan]

My 5 month-old kitten is normally a pretty chilled out girl (other than when she's going crazy running around the house with my other kitten). However, I noticed that whenever I give her a raw treat she immediately grabs it and starts growling. She intermittently growls until she finishes the treat. She doesn't do this with any other type of treat..just raw (i.e. chicken livers, hearts, etc).

Does anyone else have a cat who does this? I find it bizarre.

[Carmel]

Sounds like it turns her a little wild. She must really like it. You're feeding raw which is great, so maybe if you feed it daily she'll chill out when it becomes a regular thing.

I've heard Bengals do this when eating, but it's probably linked to them being more wild than most other breeds.

I also know some cats do this if they've come from a place where they didn't get a chance to eat as much as they wanted/had to fight for their food. Sometimes it goes away as they get used to regular meals, so they become less food obsessed, other times cats are stuck with the trait.

So... it's not unheard of. I don't know if I'd feed food that encouraged that behavior... I haven't looked into it enough to say either way.

[Pursestan]

I've only fed it to my kittens a couple of times. She's done it every time. My other kitten just plays with it and leaves.

Holly was adopted from a rescue org. She's 5 months old now and was found by the rescue org when she was just barely weaned, so I don't think that she's ever lived a "street life."

Very weird because she's the sweetest cat otherwise. I might try something else, like chicken wing tips or something and see how she responds.

Meanwhile, my other kitten (14 weeks old) who was on a mixture of kibble, canned food and raw at the breeders refuses to do anything other than play with her raw treats.

Darned finicky cats! Gotta love 'em.

[spirite]

Is it really growling? Celia sometimes makes a sound that's somewhere between a loud purr and a growl when she eats.

[Pursestan]

Originally Posted by spirite

Is it really growling? Celia sometimes makes a sound that's somewhere between a loud purr and a growl when she eats.

It's definitely a growl. She even stops chewing to look at you while growling.
She goes right back to be sweet after she eats the treat.

[lovetimesfour]

It's just her way. She loves her raw treat and wants no one near her while she's eating it. It's a normal cat behavior.

[kittyglitter]

Sounds like me when I am eating some yummy ice-cream. I don't actually growl, but I give a look to hubby like, Don't even think about it!! ...LOL

[vonPruescnek]

All the cats I've had would do that when they caught a mouse or lizard that came in my house. Usually as they carried it around trying to not let the other cat get it.

[NiecieD]

My youngest Belle, does that when she eats and when she plays with a toy LOL I haven't really noticed her doing that with a toy much anymore, and its occasional when she eats, no one near her either that makes it even funnier

I think they grow out of it over time. I had to video it and share it with my vet friend...she loved it!

[Pursestan]

Thanks for the replies. So I guess that it's not out of the ordinary then.
Silly cats!