Nobody freaks out quite like my cat when she thinks I'm not going to feed her even though that's clearly what I'm doing right now.
I once knew a cat who had to have his bowl full at all times or he would yell for hours. He didn't even always want to eat, he just wasn't okay with seeing the bottom of his bowl. All that was required was giving the bowl a little shake after he ate a hole into the middle. I miss Pat.