Over the past month I've been hand-feeding my pets but keep running into responses that are starting to make me question why I have that pet. Such phrases such as "...are you trying to poison me?", "feed that to me again and I might bite you hand off," and another one I can't remember. Is this due to happiness being low, the pets being picky eaters, or both?

Answers are much appreciated. (And maybe I won't have to abandon my seemingly rude pets.)

I think they're new responses based on people wanting their pets to say more. And you'll get the same responses from every pet, so don't abandon for that! My pet Pythonn has been saying that stuff to me and I've had him years so this is new.

the responses your pets give are random from the whole set of possible responses, and do not relate in any way to what you're feeding them. Recently a number of sayings were added to the feeding function, and most of these were suggested by users in Suggestions. It was easier for them to come up with mean and funny ones?

Anyhow, when more responses are added there will be some nicer ones as staff has asked for those and there are already some pretty nifty ones in that thread. If you'd like to add some of your own, the thread is in Suggestions-Pets.

Until they're implemented, maybe put your pet into the Lakeside Resort in Veta. It is inexpensive enough you can take them out early if you want to start feeding them. Stash your trick-or-treat goodies in your Vault or make a new shop and stuff them in there so they are ready to be fed when you start up again.

Yeah I'm going to have to agree with Tobiko. I've never heard of a pet's happiness affecting their opinion of food items. Our pets just have very strong opinions about their food I guess :p

It's good to know my pet's not the only one responding this way. I was starting to wonder why he was being such a picky eater. xD