Cats have a remarkable affinity with their human owners. And yet as we have seen, cats will endanger themselves to help out a beloved family, or will put themselves through great hardship to be reunited once more with those they hold dear. Cats earned their respect. It's probably because the tap water smells less of chemicals when it's moving, than it's still. Kittens that are bottle fed by humans often knead their clothes as they suck, as they would knead their mothers tummy, then, as adults, they will suck at clothes.
Cats are expert manipulators.
Experience teaches them that if they refuse their food, doting owners will produce something tastier. Start with a high quality commercial food. If it is tinned, warm it up slightly, and never serve it straight from the fridge. Offer smaller portions. It may he the result of little human contact during its first few weeks.