There are a number of possible explanations for L.R.'s cat's preference for eating on the floor rather than from his bowl. Although the reader doesn't mention whether the cat is fed dry food, wet food, or both, it's fairly common for cats that eat dry food to remove crunchy morsels from the bowl and eat them on the floor. Some cats may prefer to remove food from the dish before eating because they don't like the texture of a mound of food and prefer eating selected tidbits from the solid floor surface. Moreover, if a feeding bowl has a small diameter, a cat's whiskers can brush against the bowl edges, causing whisker stimulation that may interfere with enjoyment of the meal. L.R.'s cat's messy eating habits may also stem from its group living situation.
Most cats are solitary hunters and typically prefer to eat alone.
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