I think feeding cats titbits from the table is a very bad habit as it
encourages hanging around, scrounging and stealing food from any source
within reach. Cats don't know the difference between receiving small
reward titbits for obedience, to being given them or food left anywhere.
And I also think feeding cats at the table is definitely unhygienic. How do cats clean their
bottoms? With their tongues. What's licking your hand when you hand feed
them? The same tongue that's just been cleaning its arse. What are you
touching with those hands? Table, cutlery, plates, cups, chair. What do
the wait staff clear from the table? The same plates/cutlery/cups. This
is revolting and is why animals are banned from food premises in New Zealand.
Moreover, I do think it is also wrong to treat it as a part of the family. It is not human,
it is a cat, so it can never be
regarded as a child in a family. So cats should only feed from their own
bowl and though they are respected as family by being cared for, they
should never be treated as a child in the family.
