Mingming Has Food. Lylo Has FOMO.

There is a strange rule in our house.

Lylo can have food.

Lylo can have his own bowl.

Lylo can even have exactly what he was asking for five minutes ago.

But the moment Mingming starts eating something?

Suddenly, Lylo realizes he has been starving his entire life.

Apparently, food tastes better when it belongs to Mingming.

It Starts With a Look

Mingming begins eating.

Everything is peaceful.

Then somewhere nearby, Lylo notices.

He stops whatever he is doing.

His head turns.

His eyes lock onto the bowl.

And we can almost see the thought forming.

“Wait.”

“What does she have?”

Never mind that Lylo has already eaten.

Never mind that his own food may still be available.

Mingming is eating.

Therefore, something important is happening.

And Lylo needs to investigate.

Immediately.

Mingming's Food Is Apparently Premium

We have never been able to explain this.

Lylo's bowl?

Normal.

Mingming's bowl?

Five-star dining experience.

At least according to Lylo.

He approaches casually at first.

Very innocent.

Just walking past.

Nothing suspicious here.

Then somehow his route changes.

A little closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Until his face is dangerously near Mingming's meal.

Sometimes Mingming keeps eating.

Sometimes she notices.

And sometimes we have to intervene before Lylo decides to conduct a full taste test.

He doesn't seem to understand why this is a problem.

From his perspective, he is probably just checking quality control.

Treat Time Is Even Worse

Regular food already creates drama.

Treats are another level.

If Mingming gets a treat, Lylo instantly becomes aware of an enormous injustice occurring somewhere in the universe.

It does not matter what he was doing before.

Sleeping?

Not anymore.

Looking out the window?

Cancelled.

Relaxing peacefully on the other side of the room?

Emergency.

There has been a treat distribution event and Lylo has not yet received confirmation that his name is on the list.

Suddenly he appears.

Sometimes we don't even understand how he got there so quickly.

One second Mingming has a treat.

The next second there is a white fluffy face beside her.

“If She Gets One, I Get One.”

This seems to be Lylo's personal philosophy.

Mingming receives something.

Lylo wants something.

It is very straightforward.

He isn't necessarily interested because he was already asking for food.

He is interested because Mingming got something first.

That distinction is important.

Because sometimes Lylo can be completely uninterested in what we are doing.

Until Mingming becomes interested.

Then suddenly:

“Actually, I would also like to participate.”

It is pure FOMO.

Cat edition.

Mingming, Once Again, Did Not Ask for This

Mingming's relationship with food is considerably less theatrical.

She wants to eat.

She would ideally like to do so without a Ragdoll appearing over her shoulder.

Unfortunately, Lylo has other plans.

Mingming already has to deal with him wanting to play when she doesn't.

Now she also has to deal with someone inspecting her meals.

There are moments when her expression seems to say everything.

“Why are you here?”

Lylo's answer is probably:

“Food.”

The Funniest Part Is That Lylo Has His Own

This would make slightly more sense if Lylo had been forgotten.

But he hasn't.

He has his own food.

His own treats.

His own share.

That does not solve the problem.

Because his own food is simply food.

Mingming's food has mystery.

Maybe hers tastes better.

Maybe hers smells better.

Maybe the fact that she currently possesses it automatically increases its value.

Or maybe Lylo is just Lylo.

We suspect the last explanation.

Sometimes He Actually Tries to Steal It

Watching is one thing.

Lylo is not always satisfied with watching.

If the opportunity presents itself, he may try to move in and take a bite.

This is where the negotiations end.

We make sure Mingming gets to eat her own portion without Lylo turning dinner into a robbery.

Because Mingming is already patient enough with him.

She shouldn't also have to defend every meal.

Lylo, of course, usually looks deeply confused by this intervention.

As though we have misunderstood his intentions completely.

Maybe he wasn't stealing.

Maybe he was simply borrowing.

Permanently.

He Knows the Sound of Treats

There are certain sounds cats learn very quickly.

A food bag.

A container opening.

A familiar cupboard.

The tiny noise of a treat packet being touched.

Lylo can apparently hear these sounds from another dimension.

Especially if the treat was originally intended for Mingming.

It is almost impossible to give one cat something quietly.

You think:

“I'll just give Mingming a small treat.”

Somewhere else in the house:

Lylo has entered the chat.

There are paws approaching.

A face appears.

And now treat time has become a two-cat administrative process.

Fairness Is Very Important to Lylo

At least, fairness as defined by Lylo.

If Mingming gets a treat, he should get one too.

If Mingming gets attention, he may also become interested.

If Mingming is eating something, he should inspect it.

There is something almost sibling-like about it.

It doesn't necessarily matter what the other one has.

What matters is that the other one has something.

And therefore it must be valuable.

Human siblings understand this concept very well.

Apparently cats do too.

Mingming Is the Unintentional Influencer of the House

We joke that Mingming is basically Lylo's product reviewer.

If she is interested in something, Lylo becomes curious.

If she gets a treat, he wants one.

If she starts eating, he checks what she has.

Mingming never asked for this responsibility.

She is simply trying to live her life.

Meanwhile, Lylo monitors her like:

“Interesting choice. I'll have the same.”

Sometimes we wonder if Lylo actually wants the food.

Or if he simply wants to make sure Mingming isn't experiencing something without him.

It Is Another Example of How Different They Are

Their food behavior fits their personalities surprisingly well.

Mingming is more independent.

She knows what she wants.

She likes her space.

Lylo is much more interested in what everyone else is doing.

Especially Mingming.

If Mingming moves, he notices.

If Mingming plays, he notices.

If Mingming eats?

He definitely notices.

His curiosity seems almost social.

He doesn't want to miss the event.

Even when the event is simply Mingming quietly eating dinner.

We Have Become Food Security

Part of living with them now means making sure everyone actually eats what belongs to them.

Especially Mingming.

Because left unsupervised, Lylo's interpretation of shared resources might be a little too generous.

His resources are his.

Mingming's resources are potentially also his.

Mingming has never agreed to this economic system.

So we supervise.

Separate when needed.

Distract Lylo.

Make sure Mingming finishes her food.

And remind a certain fluffy gentleman that he has already been fed.

He remains unconvinced.

Treat Time Has Become a Ritual

At this point, we know what will happen.

Give Mingming something.

Wait.

Lylo appears.

There is almost something comforting about how predictable it is.

We already know the sequence.

Mingming gets treat.

Lylo detects treat.

Lylo approaches.

Lylo looks at us.

Then looks at Mingming.

Then looks back at us.

The message is clear.

“I noticed.”

Of course you did, Lylo.

Of course you did.

Maybe It Really Is Just FOMO

We could probably overanalyze it.

Maybe the smell is interesting.

Maybe seeing another cat eat increases curiosity.

Maybe Lylo has simply learned that Mingming receiving food means there is a good chance more food exists nearby.

Probably all of those things can play a part.

But in everyday life, we have a simpler explanation.

Lylo has FOMO.

Mingming cannot have a culinary experience without him wanting to participate.

And honestly, it fits him perfectly.

Life With Lylo Means Never Eating Alone

Poor Mingming.

She grew up with Pingping, a quiet rabbit companion.

Then Lylo arrived.

Now she has someone trying to play when she wants peace.

Someone following her around.

Someone occasionally getting hissed at.

And apparently someone who also wants to sample her menu.

Mingming's life became significantly more complicated when Lylo joined the family.

Lylo's life, meanwhile, seems fantastic.

He has a house.

He has food.

He has treats.

And he has Mingming.

Who, according to Lylo, is apparently responsible for finding all the best snacks.

At Lylo & Mingming, we have learned that having two cats means fairness becomes surprisingly important.

Because you can give both cats exactly the same thing...

and somehow one of them will still be more interested in what the other one has.

Especially if that cat is Lylo.

So whenever Mingming starts eating and a fluffy white face slowly appears nearby, we already know what's coming.

Lylo isn't starving.

He isn't forgotten.

He isn't being treated unfairly.

He just has one question:

“Why does Mingming have something that I don't?”

And until someone answers that to his satisfaction, he will continue investigating.