Our fluffy feline friends have a lot of quirky habits! From curling up in cardboard boxes to running around the house in a frenzy, their antics are entertaining and adorable. But there are also some behaviours that seem downright bizarre. And one of those is covering up their dinner bowl. So, in this post, we’re exploring the potential reasons you might spot your cat trying to bury food. Plus, we’ve got advice on how to prevent them from doing so if it’s causing a nuisance.
Why do cats try to bury their food?
The idea of a domestic cat burying food may sound strange – not least because there’s no soil inside for them to bury it in! However, the behaviour might exhibit itself in several ways. For example, your kitty could paw or scratch at the floor or their bowl like they’re in the litter tray. Other moggies cover their leftover dinner with paper, a tea towel, or anything else they can get their paws on.
The first point to note is that your cat trying to bury food is completely natural and normal. There are many explanations as to why they do it, and the majority are nothing to worry about. However, in rare cases, it could be a sign that something’s not quite right with your pet or their grub. So, why do cats cover their food or try to bury it? Here are four potential causes:
Instinct
While the kitties that share our homes are cute and cuddly, they’re descended from wild ancestors that hunted their food. And their genes haven’t changed all that much.(1) They still retain many of the evolutionary instincts that would have helped their survival in the wild. That’s why they ‘hunt’ their toys, sleep in high, enclosed spaces, and ambush you as you walk past! It’s also one explanation for your cat trying to bury food.
Meals weren’t guaranteed for wild cats who had to hunt for their dinner. Burying leftovers is a behaviour known as ‘caching’, and it’s a safe way to hoard some food for later. Storing your chow in a hole would additionally help to preserve it by keeping it out of the sun. So, if you see your cat trying to bury food, it could be that they aren’t hungry enough to eat the whole meal and are saving the rest for when they are. Don’t worry – this doesn't mean they feel insecure about where their next meal is coming from. It’s just instinct.
Scent
Smells are incredibly important to our feline friends. They use scent to mark their territory, gather information about their environment, and communicate with other cats. Their sense of smell is far superior to ours, which means they're more sensitive to food aromas than we are. And this could help explain why you spot your cat trying to bury food.
Covering or burying their grub can be an effective way to hide the smell of their meal. Why is that important? It goes back to what we said above about instinct. In the wild, the aroma of food is likely to attract predators and scavengers. Masking it could reduce the chances of a cat’s meal being stolen or a dangerous animal spotting their presence.
While your moggy may not have to worry about predators, the instinct to conceal themselves is still there. And if you have more than one pet, they might feel the need to hide their food from their siblings. That could be true even if they get along well!
Playfulness
There’s no denying that our kitties love to play. Whether it’s chasing pom-poms or pouncing on toy mice, it helps them burn off energy and avoid boredom. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for us to bond with them. And for some moggies, the answer to ‘why does my cat cover his food?’ could be that it’s a game. Alternatively, they’re bored, and this behaviour is a way to show or alleviate that feeling. This is a less common explanation for your cat trying to bury food than the others, but still a possibility.
Other signs your pet is bored include playing with the food itself, vocalising a lot, and pestering you for attention. You can tell they want to play if they follow you around, bring toys to you, or pounce on things. Try to make more time in the day for playing, and the days of your cat burying food might end!
Cleanliness
If you’re lucky enough to share your home with a cat, you’ll know how important cleanliness is to them. Studies show that they spend approximately 25-30% of their waking hours grooming their fur.(2) They also strongly prefer a clean litter tray to a dirty one.(3) All of which means it’s no surprise they can feel stressed in an untidy environment.
How does this relate to your cat trying to bury food? Well, if they have leftovers in their bowl, covering it could be their way of tidying them away. In the wild, this would be very sensible because mouldy or rotting food could attract bugs or cause health problems. Of course, with us around, our kitties don’t need to tidy up after themselves. However, their instinct still compels them to engage in this behaviour. Making sure you keep their bowls clean may help if this is why your cat covers their food.
Is it harmful or concerning if your cat tries to bury food?
In most cases, your cat trying to bury food is nothing to be concerned about. It’s a natural behaviour that’s largely driven by instinct. And the only thing it’s likely to harm is the floor if they're using their claws! However, sometimes the habit could be a symptom of a problem with their health or environment. If any of the following three explanations are to blame, you may need to take action.
An issue with the food
The first thing to check if you suddenly find yourself asking ‘why does my cat try to cover her food?’ is the meal itself. It could be that there’s something wrong with it, and that’s preventing your pet from tucking in. Perhaps there’s a rip in the kibble bag and the biscuits have gone soft or stale. Alternatively, the food may be mouldy or have expired. Covering it up could be an attempt to get rid of an unpleasant smell – a bit like how they bury their faeces. Examine their food to see if you can spot a problem, and if so, throw it away.
It's also possible that there’s nothing objectively wrong with the food, but your fluffy friend simply doesn't like it. Your cat burying food could be their way of telling you they’re not keen on the menu! Kitties can be quite particular about their grub, so this may happen when you switch to a new brand. Try swapping to a more familiar flavour or texture and see if it makes a difference.
Stress or anxiety
Another reason for your cat trying to bury food is that they’re feeling anxious or stressed. Lots of things can cause anxiety in our pets, from disruption to their routine to past trauma. It could also be something temporary, such as a stranger visiting your house or fireworks outside. If stress is to blame, you’ll probably notice other symptoms besides your cat covering their food. These include excessive grooming, aggression, trembling, urinating outside of the litter tray, hiding, and destructive behaviour like scratching the furniture. You might spot changes in your moggy’s sleep patterns or activity levels too.
If you think stress is behind your cat trying to bury food, there are steps you can take to help. For instance, create a peaceful place in the home – ideally high up – for them to retreat to. It’s also a good idea to ensure they have plenty of toys for stimulation, plus a consistent routine. And when introducing changes, try to do so gradually.
Medical problems
Finally, it could be that your cat trying to bury food is a sign of an underlying health condition. This is rare, however it’s important to be aware of the possibility. Depending on what’s wrong, you’ll almost certainly spot other symptoms as well. If you have any concern that your pet’s behaviour is due to a medical issue, take them to the vet. They’ll be able to examine them and give you personalised advice.
Should I stop my cat burying food?
In most cases, there’s no need to stop your cat trying to bury food. It’s a normal, natural behaviour, and won’t hurt them at all. However, if their actions are causing damage or you’re finding old bits of food everywhere, you might want to intervene. The key point to remember is to never punish your pet for doing it. They don’t understand punishment like we do, and it will only stress them out and harm the bond between you. Not to mention, it could make the unwanted behaviours worse. Instead, check out the advice below for how to prevent your cat trying to bury food.
Expert tips to manage or reduce the behaviour
Having answered the question ‘why does my cat try to bury her food?’, let’s move on to actionable solutions. The best approach will depend on the reasons behind your cat trying to bury food.
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If you think your kitty is caching grub away for later, feed them smaller meals more frequently. This should reduce the chance of them having leftovers they feel the need to hide. Likewise, remove the bowl as soon as they’ve finished eating.
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For a cat burying food out of boredom or for fun, distraction can be a useful technique. When they start digging around their bowl, try enticing them to play with a toy instead. Puzzle feeders could also help keep mealtimes interesting for your moggy.
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Always feed your cat in a quiet environment, away from people. This should reduce stress and anxiety at mealtimes. If you have more than one pet, serving up their meals in separate places could be useful.
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If your moggy covers their dinner, you could try removing the materials they’re using from the vicinity before feeding them.
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Placing your kitty’s food bowl on a hard, wipeable mat or similar surface can make cleaning up easier.
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Stick to a regular feeding schedule. This should mean your furry companion is less likely to worry about when their next meal will be.
None of these tips are guaranteed to stop your cat trying to bury food, but they’re a good place to start. And if you have any worries about your moggy’s health or behaviour, take them to the vet.
Boosie functional pet supplements for happy mealtimes
At Boosie, we offer a selection of functional foods that can help make your kitty’s meals more nutritious. We’ve specifically chosen each one for its ability to support animal wellbeing. For example, ashwagandha powder may ease symptoms of stress and anxiety in our feline friends.(4) This could be useful if that’s the reason for your cat trying to bury food. Toppings like fur-friendly chia seed oil could also reduce the chances of your moggy getting bored with their dinner.
We recommend checking with a vet before adding any functional foods to your pet’s diet. This is to make sure the ingredient is suitable for their individual needs.
Why is my cat trying to bury his food? Final thoughts
There are several potential reasons behind your cat trying to bury food. From saving it for later to hiding it from other animals, many of them come down to instinct. The behaviour is natural and normal, so in most cases there’s nothing for us pet parents to worry about. It’s simply a consequence of sharing our homes with a fur baby descended from wild cats! However, if you have any worries, take your kitty to the vet for a checkup. While there’s no need to stop cats from burying their dinner, hopefully the tips above will help if the habit is becoming a nuisance.
