Cat won't eat unless I'm there

[mishadu]

At first I used to think this behavior was cute, but now it's getting to be a problem!

My cat won't eat unless I am sitting next to him.

I'll put fresh food for him and you can tell he's excited to eat it. But he'll just stand there and stare it and then stare at me. Then when I come sit next to him, he'll start devouring his food.

While he's eating, he kind of looks back to see if I'm still there. And when I leave, he'll follow me.

The cat is about 2 years old and I got him from an animal shelter about 2 years ago.

Can anyone explain why he does this?

 

[cinqchats]

Some cats like an audience. I've met dogs like that too. My Mr Squiggles likes to eat around people, so I feed him while I'm getting ready in the bathroom in the morning. 

 

[mishadu]

I wonder what the reason to that is!

 

[jcat]

There's a stray at the shelter that does exactly the same thing. We have no idea why and wonder how he survived out on the streets on his own, since he reportedly wandered around mooching food for almost a year before being turned in.

He eats best when a human is eating or at least drinking at the same time.