Cats are fascinating creatures, often displaying behaviors that leave their owners scratching their heads. One such behavior is when a cat tries to bury its food. If you’ve noticed your cat pawing at or attempting to cover their food with imaginary dirt, you’re not alone. Cat trying to bury food is a fairly common, yet puzzling behavior. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind this, how to interpret the behavior, and what you can do if your cat’s food-burying habits become a problem.

Overview

When a cat tries to bury its food, it can be puzzling for pet owners. You might find your cat digging around its food bowl, scratching at the floor, or trying to hide its meal as if preparing to bury it. This behavior is more common than you might think, and while it might seem odd, it is typically rooted in instinctual behavior and survival instincts that have been passed down through generations. This article will answer questions such as: Why does my cat try to bury everything? What does it mean when a cat tries to bury its food? and How can I stop my cat from burying food?

If you’re dealing with this behavior in your cat, don’t worry. There are solutions, and understanding the causes will help you address the issue effectively.

Why Does My Cat Try to Bury Everything?

Cats, even though domesticated, retain many instincts from their wild ancestors. One of these behaviors is the act of burying food. Wild cats, like leopards or tigers, would often bury their food to protect it from scavengers and predators. This natural instinct to “protect” their food is deeply ingrained in domestic cats as well, even if they have never been outside.

Instinctual Behavior

In the wild, burying food was essential for survival. By burying food, wild cats could preserve it for later, protect it from other animals, and prevent attracting attention. Though domestic cats don’t need to worry about predators or scavengers, this instinct remains.

Protection from Scavengers

One reason your cat might try to bury food is to hide the scent. In the wild, the smell of food can attract unwanted attention. By burying or covering their food, cats are instinctively trying to protect their meal from being noticed by other animals.

What Does It Mean When a Cat Tries to Bury His Food?

When a cat tries to bury its food, it’s not necessarily a sign that the cat dislikes the food. Rather, it’s typically an expression of their protective instincts. Cats bury food to ensure it remains hidden from other animals or threats. This behavior can be linked to:

• Protecting their food: Preventing other pets or animals from sniffing it out.

• Preserving freshness: Cats are sensitive to the smell of their food. Burying it may help preserve its aroma, which is pleasing to them.

• Avoiding attention: In multi-pet households, a cat may bury its food to prevent other pets from taking it.

Cat Not Eating, Trying to Bury Food

If your cat is not eating and keeps trying to bury her food, it could be a sign of stress, anxiety, or health issues. Cats are highly sensitive creatures, and changes in their environment or routine can cause them to feel anxious. Here are some possible reasons why your cat might be burying food and not eating it:

Health Issues or Lack of Appetite

If your cat is trying to bury her food and not eating it, she might be feeling unwell. Cats often cover food when they have a decreased appetite due to illness, nausea, or discomfort.

Anxiety or Stress

Stress and anxiety are common causes of food burying. If there are multiple cats in the household, your cat might feel threatened and try to hide food to protect it from other pets. Cats are also highly sensitive to changes in their environment, such as moving to a new home, which could trigger this behavior.

Spoiled Food

Sometimes, cats may try to bury food that has become spoiled. If you notice your cat leaving food behind and burying it, check to ensure the food is fresh. Cats have a strong sense of smell and can detect spoiled food quickly.

Cat Tries to Bury Food After Eating

If your cat tries to bury food after eating, this is often linked to their natural instincts. Even though your cat has already eaten, it may still feel the urge to hide any leftover food. This is a normal behavior for many cats and stems from their ancestors’ survival habits.

Why Cats Cover Leftover Food After Meals

Cats might bury leftover food to:

• Hide the scent: To prevent scavengers or other animals from being attracted to the smell.

• Preserve it: Even though they might not eat it again, they instinctively want to store it in case of future need.

• Cleanliness: Cats are very clean animals. Burying leftover food could be a way of tidying up their eating area.

Cat Tries to Bury Food After Pooping

Have you noticed your cat trying to bury food right after using the litter box? This behavior could be linked to the same instinctive desire to maintain cleanliness and avoid attention.

Why Does My Cat Bury Food After Using the Litter Box?

Cats instinctively bury their waste in the litter box to keep it hidden from predators and to maintain a clean environment. Similarly, your cat may try to bury food after pooping as part of this instinct. The act of burying both food and waste could be a way of ensuring that no scents or remnants attract attention from other animals.

How to Stop My Cat from Trying to Bury His Food

If your cat’s food burying behavior becomes a nuisance or you simply want to stop it, there are several strategies you can try:

1. Feed Smaller Portions

To prevent leftovers, consider offering your cat smaller portions at each meal. This reduces the amount of food that might trigger the burying instinct.

2. Remove Food Bowls After Eating

Once your cat finishes eating, take the food bowl away. This helps to discourage the urge to cover the food, as there won’t be any leftovers to hide.

3. Use Automatic Feeders

Automatic feeders can provide multiple small meals throughout the day. This can help prevent leftover food and reduce the need for your cat to bury food.

4. Distraction Techniques

Engage your cat with puzzle feeders or toys. These can distract your cat from focusing on food and help alleviate the urge to bury it.

5. Separate Feeding Areas

If you have multiple cats, consider feeding them in separate areas. This reduces competition and stress, which might be contributing to the burying behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why is my cat burying their food and not eating it?

This could be due to stress, illness, or a dislike of the food. Your cat might be anxious or feeling unwell, causing them to cover the food instead of eating it.

2. Why does my cat scratch the floor around their food?

Scratching or pawing around food is an instinctual behavior. Cats have retained this from their wild ancestors, who would bury food to protect it from scavengers and predators.

3. How can I stop my cat from trying to cover their food?

To stop this behavior, try feeding smaller portions, removing food after meals, or providing automatic feeders. If the behavior is linked to anxiety or stress, providing a calm environment can help.

Conclusion

Understanding why your cat tries to bury food can help you address any concerns or unwanted behaviors. Whether it’s instinct, stress, or health-related, there are steps you can take to manage and reduce this behavior. By offering smaller portions, using automatic feeders, or adjusting feeding schedules, you can help your cat feel more comfortable and reduce their need to bury food. If the behavior persists or you notice other signs of illness, it’s always a good idea to consult with a veterinarian.

Have you noticed any strange behaviors from your cat? Share your experiences in the comments below!