Oh, I have a similar story from my (unfortunately late) void:
Had a big chunk of pork, which I trimmed for the BBQ. All the cuttings (mostly fat) I put in a pad to render (?) the delicious lard. Somehow I forgot to put a lid on the pan while it cooled down, and the whole thing got forgotten in the mess the kitchen was after a nice Barbie and beers with friends.
Next morning I woke up, thought "oh crap, the lard". Went downstairs, first susicious thing: cat nowhere to be seen. Pan on the stove was completely clean. As in straight from the dishwasher clean. The I saw the cat lolling around on the sofa, barely awake, and almost unresponsive. Even shaking his morning treats did not prompt him to come into the kitchen (which usually was the ritual). And then it dawned on me: the little rascal slurped about a whole pound of pork lard during the night from the pan. Did not eat for two days straight, but seemed happy as a clam.
Wherever he is now, I hope he gets all the lard he wants.
Cats give slow blinks and closed eye looks to indicate love and trust. Or when they know they've done something wrong and are trying to get away with it in my experience. So he could be thanking his owner for a delicious meal that he knew wasn't for him.
Yea but do you leave it in the pan? As soon as my bacon is done it goes on a plate covered in paper towels to soak up excess grease and after I’m done eating the meal whatever bacon might be left goes in the fridge. I normally only cook enough to eat for that meal though not a whole pack at once