Izzy gets a broiled chicken thigh daily, and in the last year he has started to eat a bit of kibble. I only buy the newer brands of kibble that incorporate meat and veggies, mainly because Izzy just wouldn't eat the brands that were full of wheat, rice, or other fillers. Of course I run into people all of the time, that insist that people food is bad for dogs or cats. My furbabies have always lived well past the time frame that is expected. So I ask those people what they thought dogs and cats ate before canned, (At first it was horse meat.), or dry pet food was introduced in the 1930's. I've never seen a dog eat wheat, rice, or those other fillers while outside.
Growing up, our cats were barn cats, although I snuck them into the house often. They weren't regularly fed since they hunted for most of their meals, but we did feed them sometimes, particularly in the winter. I guess there are only so many mice that can live in a barn full of cats. Then, we'd call "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty... real fast and they'd all come running. That has worked for my cats but since they are free-fed kibble, they're not all that anxious for meal times. When they are, they'll hear the can snap as it pops open or, even before that, they'll hear me cleaning their bowls out for them. Except for Cutie of course, since she's deaf. I often to looking for her, and carry her over to the bowl. Ella is a grazer. I have rarely seen her eat more than one or two bites at a time. They know their names. The problem with cats is that they don't feel obligated to respond. Before Cutie went deaf, I tried it several times. All the cats would be lying in the living room floor or couch. Whenever I whispered, very quietly, the name of one of them, her ear would twitch. Cutie was the only one who would actually look at me, mostly, but they knew I was calling their name. So, I can say, "Lydia, are you hungry? There's food." If she's hungry, she'll come. Otherwise, she'll ignore me, whether she understood me or not. Interestingly, yesterday one of the pop-up tabs broke on a cat food can so I used the electric can opener. Although it's been years since I have used an electric can opener to open a can of cat food, Lydia came running from wherever she was, remembering back twenty years ago, or so, before cat food cans came with pop tops. She's not that anxious for food anymore so I'm thinking her head had stored the idea that this was a good sound, and not necessarily that it meant food.
Every morning when we get up Radar gets up sits in door way of kitchen waiting for his treat...a tiny baby carrot.
My dog always has an eye on whatever I am doing so I don't have to call her; she knows and just waits for me to set her bowl down for her.