The Original Post
Three years ago I adopted a stray cat from a shelter. It started off as a joke in the beginning. Whenever I served her food I said “Bone Apple Tiddies” as a little quip to make myself laugh. (It’s a bastardisation of the french “bon appetite”)
But my autistic ass loves routines so before I even noticed it, I’ve been saying it now twice daily for 3 years, giggling every time.
I finally got tired of saying it last week but then I noticed she doesn’t finish her food anymore.
She starts eating it as always but when I walk off she keeps looking back at me as if she’s waiting to hear it. She stops eating it halfway through and I couldn’t figured out why.
Today I tried saying it again and she ate all of her food.
I guess I am now doomed to say it for eternity.
Edit for cat tax:
https://imgur.com/a/J8KYhSp
https://imgur.com/a/1bP4KQG
Her name is Kiwi. She’s turning 6 soon and she has a perma-mlem (Vet doesn’t know why. She doesn’t seem hurt. Just a little weirdo lol)
TL;DR: Taught my cat to finish her food when I say “Bone Apple Tiddies”.
What Reddit Said
Redditors found this situation absolutely hilarious and relatable. Many explained that this behavior is completely normal for cats. The top comment pointed out that domesticated cats still see their owners as parental figures, which explains why the cat waits for the “dinner blessing.”
However, some users playfully turned the tables on OP. They argued that the cat actually has excellent manners and culture. Meanwhile, OP was the rude one for not properly “serving” dinner anymore. Others suggested creative solutions like recording the phrase or making a button the cat could press.
The Verdict
The consensus was clear: OP created this adorable prison for themselves and must now embrace it forever. This cat learned dinner routine phrase perfectly demonstrates how pets can condition their humans just as much as we condition them. It’s a heartwarming example of pet bonding that shows the quirky relationships we develop with our animal companions.
Original post from r/tifu (3,622 upvotes, 109 comments)