Why does a cat try to bury food?

The ancestors of our domestic cats come from Africa. Centuries have passed since our furry pets lost touch with the wild. But breed is a very important thing that still plays a role in just about everything our cats do every day.

Why does a cat bury food and scratch its paw next to its bowl?

The cat goes to the bowl, sniffs and. starts burying food with her paw next to it. It's like she's trying to bury the bowl and its contents. Sound familiar?

Cats love a good meal and generally look forward to mealtime. However, the sight of the perfect cat, busily "scratching" next to a bowl full of treats, causes many people to worry. The first thoughts arise: maybe she does not like the food, maybe she should switch to another one? And then: maybe there is something wrong with the cat?

Why does the cat bury food?

As it turns out, scratching near the food bowl is a fairly common occurrence. We once conducted a survey in which we asked users to give their interpretation of this behavior. The results of the survey are as follows:

It is important to note, however, that a cat buries food primarily because instinct tells it to do so. The wild ancestors of domestic cats usually buried their leftover food in leaves, soil or branches. There were several reasons for this behavior – first, to save some food "for later". The second was to hide the smell that might attract other predators.

Domestic cats inherited this habit, adapting it somewhat to domestic conditions. In addition to the aforementioned motives, a cat that buries food may try to get its owner to give it other food in this way. Following the principle: it worked once, it may work again. If in the past you have unwittingly set a precedent and replaced the contents of the cat's bowl after she scratched it, you must take into account that the cat has remembered it.

Don't go down that road. If your cat buries food, don't immediately replace the contents of the bowl. It's an instinctive behavior that usually has nothing to do with lack of appetite at all – just ignore it. If it happens repeatedly and becomes unpleasant (for example, scratching causes the cat to tip the bowl over and spill the food), you can try giving her smaller portions. If she eats everything every time, she will have no reason to "hide" anything for later.

Remember: burying food, scratching the scratching post and chair, and rubbing your feet are all natural actions that serve the same purpose: the cat tags the environment with its scent in order to feel comfortable and safe.

Why a cat buries its food bowl and won't eat

If you notice that the cat scratches the floor next to the bowl, making the same movements as after going to the toilet, you should not film and laugh at the animal. Cats' behavior is determined by nature, everything they do is rational from their point of view.

The animal plays because it is a training of hunting instincts, it sleeps a lot because it needs to save energy to hunt and find prey. Burying food also happens for a reason.

Let's break down the reasons for the strange behavior of the pet. They can be divided into 3 groups:

5 mistakes of the owner

Cats are some of the cleanest animals. During the day they can "wash" up to 15 times, and are intolerant of violations of their hygiene, unpleasant odors and food spoilage. The place of food consumption is also important for them. Therefore, if the cat buries a bowl of food, it is worth analyzing the conditions you have created for him.

Unpleasant odor

Cats have a very sensitive sense of smell, so they are much more sensitive to smells. Any unpalatable or pungent smell causes the animal to reject it. The cat will immediately sense if the food offered by the owner is spoiled or cured and will not eat it.

A cat expresses its dissatisfaction like a child – by demonstrative behavior. He may meow unhappily or dig his paw diligently around the bowl as if he were going to the bathroom, and won't touch the food.

If you feed him dry food, follow the rules for storage and feeding. Do not leave uneaten food in a bowl, because it gets stale and oxidized, loses its nutritional value and does not attract the cat with its delicious smell. Keep your cat on a feeding schedule so that he gets his fill and doesn't leave half-eaten food in the bowl.

Unpalatable food

If you offer the cat new food and it refuses to eat it, it means that it does not like it. In this case the cat will bury the food, wanting to show you its dislike. Remember that cats are free-loving animals with their own personality and food preferences. They are quite conservative, though: they prefer to eat tried-and-true foods that they consider safe, and they don't like drastic dietary changes.

If you're transitioning your pet to a new diet, do it gradually, adding the new food to the old and slowly increasing the ratio. We explained the rules for switching in this article. The same rules should be followed when switching from natural food to dry food.

If the cat continues to refuse food and actively "digs" at the bowl, do not force her to eat something she does not like.

Reason #2. What's that smell?

Pay attention to your pet's behavior when burying food. If he snorts or shakes his paw squeamishly as he wipes it on the floor, there may be something strong or foul smelling nearby that interrupts the smell of food. Perhaps there is a trash can near the food bowl, or bags of laundry detergent nearby. All these smells are very distracting and prevent the cat from eating.

Perhaps, just maybe, there is nothing wrong with the food. The pet has just decided to make a small stockpile. Who knows, what if there is a hungry year ahead? In that case, the cat scrapes the floor, trying to bury its food for the future. This is especially characteristic of cats that have been picked up off the street, or have not lived in the best of conditions as children. Such cats may seek to bury their food whenever they eat.

Reason #4. Won't share!

It's a similar story if you have more than one pet living in your home. In that case, the cat, by burying food, simply doesn't want to leave food for a competitor. Be sure to put personal bowls for each pet so there is no conflict and these attempts to "stock up for the winter."

The most interesting thing is that the cat can dig near the bowl, wanting to. dig up the food that he seems to have buried here yesterday. This behavior is exhibited by a pet who has not had enough to eat. In nature, it is common for cats to bury and then dig up food. Perhaps the cat has a false memory.

Why a cat buries food and doesn't eat: possible problems

The unpredictable behavior of a cat when he begins to bury his bowl of food may indicate a particular problem. The caring owner should be attentive and try to recognize the cause of such atypical actions.

Let us tell you why a cat may bury food at home, even if this process takes place on the flooring, where there is no sand, earth or other suitable resources.

Not liking the food

It's very common for cats to bury food they don't like. For example, the owner decided to change the brand of food, but the cat did not like it. By doing this, the cat will hide the food that disgusts them or is associated with something that they do not like. She does this just as she hides her excrement in the litter box.

The owner of the pet should be attentive, and if his furry friend began to bury unfamiliar food, it means that it was not to his taste. The food should be changed and in the future not to give what disgusts the animal.

Uncomfortable place to feed

Cats cannot tell us what they want, but if you observe their behavior, you can guess what information they want to convey. For example, some cats defiantly dig their paws in front of the bowl if it is inconvenient for him.

Even if he wants to have dinner, a cat can't easily get food out of a bowl. Raking the floor near the bowl with his paw, he gives a signal. You only need to change its position, and the animal will gladly pounce on the food and stop making incomprehensible digging for the owner.

The bowl is dirty.

Some house cats are real cleaners. They may not like food that is poured into a dirty bowl. The owner should not be lazy, it is necessary to wash the pet's plate after each feeding and, accordingly, to serve him food in a clean bowl.

The animal is stressed

Sometimes animals bury food when they are stressed. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors – the cat has spent a lot of time alone, the place of residence has changed, he is not allowed outdoors, the bowl was changed to a new one or another pet appeared in the house. In the face of any changes that occur, cats can show anxiety.

Cat buries the bowl when he eats – it's a matter of instincts

According to experts, pets bury under-eaten food on an instinctive level, which is due to their descent from wild cats.

Save the food for later

In the wild, this is how predatory animals behave, interested in stashing their prey or what's left of it uneaten for later. This is how they make a reserve so that they won't go hungry in case the hunt is unsuccessful.

Pets have no such problems, because a caring owner always gives out a portion of your favorite treat in time. But cats don't understand this, so they instinctively try to bury the rest of the food or the entire portion given out to protect themselves just in case.

Hide from competitors

Another innate instinct of domestic cats is to hide tasty food from competitors. Animals have a very well-developed sense of smell, and it is by smell that they look for their prey. If after a tasty snack the cat buries the remains of food, it is possible that in this way he is trying to minimize its fragrant smell, so that other pets do not get to his supply.

Keep it clean

Cats are very tidy animals. Many of them bury their food to clean up the very spot where the pleasant process of eating takes place. If the cat does this all the time, it is likely that cleanliness is the reason for these actions. How to wean a cat from burying food: ways and tips In conclusion of the article, we will give some useful tips for owners, thanks to which it is possible to wean an animal from digging the floor near the food bowl.

• Do not give the cat food that she does not like. Be sensitive to her likes and dislikes.
• Determine the right portion. Do not overfeed your cat or give him too much food to eat in one sitting so that he won't have to throw it in the trash.
• Feed regularly, so that he doesn't starve, which can cause him to stockpile for later.
• Control the situation when the cat is eating. If she begins to behave atypically, try to determine the reason for this behavior.
• If the cat starts digging after replacing the bowl with a new one, remove it and change it for another. Observe the situation. If the cat stops burrowing, then the unrecognized bowl was the cause. ⦁ Pour the food into a clean bowl.
• Provide a comfortable place for the cat to feed and always keep it clean.

Malnutrition

There are several points to be made here about why a cat doesn't finish its food and buries it, leaving it for later.

The cat may not have been with you since childhood and may have lived in poor conditions for some time. Cats that are used to starvation will intentionally leave some food behind and try to bury it so that when times are tough, they have a supply to find and eat. The habit is eliminated over the years if the cat lives in satiety and affluence.

If the cat really liked the food or the owner decided to treat him to something unusual, he may try to hide some of the treat so that he can return to the delicacy again later. This sneakiness is harder to deal with – it's usually part of the pet's personality.

Stress

Like many people, cats are very stressed by external factors. When an animal is anxious, its appetite decreases and its well-being deteriorates. The cat may try to save food for when it feels better and wants a snack. Stress factors can be a move, a new pet or a small child in the house, as well as a change of litter box, litter box or bowl.

If a cat buries food for no apparent reason, the owner needs to determine what this means as soon as possible – so as not to miss out on a stressful or painful condition for their pet.

Why a cat digs at a food bowl

When a cat buries its food bowl, it is primarily driven by its instincts. But this behavior can have different reasons.

1. Poor quality or unpalatable food. If the cat smells the food in the bowl and doesn't even touch it, he begins to bury it immediately, it means that there is something wrong with the food. Perhaps it is spoiled or simply not to the cat's liking. Many people think this is the only reason that makes our pets bury the bowl. But this is more like one of the myths about cats.
2. Too much food. If there is more food in the bowl than the cat needs, he will decide to save the rest for a rainy day. This is where instinct kicks in, and the animal starts covering the bowl with invisible earth.
3. The problem is in the bowl. If your pet refuses to eat any food, it may just not be the right bowl. It may be too low or, conversely, too high. Narrow bowls with high edges are unlikely to please your cat: she will touch the edges of the bowl with her vibrissae and feel uncomfortable about it.
4. Clutter around the eating area. Cats are extremely neat and have an excellent sense of smell. Stale food, dirty floor near the bowl – all this may not please the graceful beauty, and she will show it by arranging "excavations". A similar problem, by the way, may be one of the reasons why the cat won't want to drink water from the bowl.
5. Not enough food. If a cat systematically fails to get enough to eat, it will try to save food for hungry times and leave it on purpose.
6. Stress condition. Stress can prevent the cat from eating normally, so it will hide food for later.
7. Competition. If there are several animals living in the house, even friendly ones, the instinct can make the cat hide food from the "rivals".

How to break the cat's habit of burying food

To help the cat get rid of this habit, you need to understand and eliminate the cause of burying:

• Give only quality food that is suitable for the cat;
• Choose a bowl that suits the cat;
• Keep the bowl and its surroundings clean;
• Try to give her food in time and in the right quantity;
• Eliminate the causes of stress;
• arrange feeding areas for other pets separate from the cat.

Understanding this behavior will help establish the pet's life. And then unnecessary digging can be forgotten.

Read also:

Why does a cat bury its food bowl

The reasons why a cat buries a bowl of food, are a few more. Sometimes they are related to genetics and can be the same as in the case of burying food, and sometimes everything can be explained by the personality of the animal.

Lack of hunger

A cat may not be hungry because of a successful hunt, feeding by neighbors, or because of weather conditions (hot, for example). The smell of food will distract the cat from its daily activitiesso it may try to eliminate the source of trouble.

Unwillingness to share

The reason why the cat buries the bowl after eating may lie in its unwillingness to share the food that it considers its own with the household.

In addition to the bowl, the cat can hide his favorite toys, small household items that he is allowed to play with.

Marking the territory

There are some cats that are very jealous of their territoryWhich they think is theirs and all the objects that are in it. Therefore, a bowl of food will try hard to hide it if the owner shows interest in the object from the cat's point of view.

These cats often mark their boundaries and may become aggressive if they try to take an object within the reach of the animal. In this situation you need The help of a zoopsychologist and behavioral adjustments.

Dietary changes

Cats have a hard time with change. Therefore, a change in food or a change in diet may be perceived by the cat with the deepest resentment and an attempt to hide the outrage.

Uncomfortable bowl

A cat may start burying the bowl if it's Uncomfortable to use, has a strange odor. Plastic utensils must be used with caution, sometimes they can cause an allergic reaction in the pet: sneezing, itching, diarrhea. The animal will associate food and unpleasant consequences, due to which it will try to eliminate the object of discomfort.

Not enough time to eat.

They don't have enough time to eat. Cats usually take a little longer to eat because they don't absorb food as quickly and furiously as dogs do. You may worry that the cat won't have time to eat its food before it is picked up.

This problem is common with cats that have set meal times and does not apply to cats that are out grazing all day. It may seem like your cat is skipping meals, but if you give her a little more time to finish her meal, you'll both be happy.

Too much food

If you overfeed your cat, she will probably be forced to bury what's left over. This can be a problem for shelter cats who are underfed, and especially for feral and stray cats. They realize that their food can be stolen by other animals and want to protect it. This may be a sign that you are giving the cat too much food. It could also be a sign that your cat is getting food from somewhere else.

Cats by nature are very clean animals. They will hide poop when they use the toilet, and food that falls on the floor or is left at the bottom of the bowl may also be perceived as "dirty" by cats. When cats perceive food, especially dry food, as dirty, they may try to clean it up.

How to wean a cat from burying food

Since one of the reasons for paws digging up the floor near the food bowl is the cat's attempt to get rid of unloved food, analyze this issue. So, instead of constantly asking the question "why is my cat trying to bury his food," try to pay attention to whether this behavior is regular or only occurs when you give your feline a certain food.

For example, you can read our guide to choosing cat food and choose a great combination of quality and price. But what if your cat isn't thrilled with your choices? What if he or she prefers wet food? In that case, never force-feed your cat. With a huge selection of high quality cat foods, you can easily find good alternatives. The quality of the food will be the same, but it may be more palatable to your cat. Never ignore your pet.

Step 2: Regulate your cat's portions

Cats are always very playful, so even food can be a toy for them. If you see that your cat regularly leaves food behind, control the portion size. Don't put too much food in the cat's bowl. It is always better to give a little less food than to throw the leftovers in the trash.

Step 3: Separate food and playtime

If your cat doesn't eat all the food you give her in one meal, she is likely to forget about it and not eat it again. If you see some leftover food in your cat's bowl, take the bowl of food and get your feline interested in some kind of game. Your cat needs to understand that it can't play or interact with the food in any way. The food is for eating only and should not be buried.

You should also take a break for 20-30 minutes after playing with the cats toys. This will help the kitten calm down and prepare for eating.

Step 4: Stay close to the cat when he eats

There is never a better way than to be in control of the situation. Remove the bowl as soon as your kitty is finished eating. Your furry pet should have no visual attraction for scratching, burying, and hiding. Better yet, use treats while playing with your kitty.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Why does my cat bury her food and not eat?

The most common reason may be that your cat is not currently hungry. Also, cats are the kind of animals that are not accustomed to finishing their scraps afterwards. As part of their former feral instinct, they simply try to hide food so they don't give their enemies even the slightest hint of the cat's whereabouts. The second reason is that your cat doesn't like the food offered.

Why does my cat eat some of the food and bury the rest?

Perhaps your cat needs a smaller portion and you are giving her much larger portions. Some cats are extremely obsessed with neatness, so any food left over may seem like a waste of time. Trying to bury and forget leftovers may be the right answer to this question. Try to give your furry baby less food at a time.