Though you may never have noticed your cat trying to bury food before, this instinctive behavior is more common than you might think.
Burying is a behavior cats use to protect their food from predators, scavengers, and other cats. It also serves to preserve the smell of their meals so it will be easier for them to locate later on.
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1. They’re hungry
Are you the parent of a cat and have noticed your feline friend pawing around her food bowl or trying to hide leftovers? While these behaviors can be frustrating, they often indicate that your feline companion is hungry.
Your cat’s instinctual pawing and digging behavior is a natural response from their wild ancestors.
Cats often burry food not only to protect it from other cats and predators, but also to shield themselves from an unpleasant odour. Their sensitive noses allow them to detect foul or rotting smells which could make them ill.
2. They’re bored
If your cat seems to spend a lot of time sleeping, it could be because they’re feeling bored. Keep them active by engaging them in enjoyable activities like playing, climbing and hunting for some entertainment.
Without proper stimulation, they may become bored and begin showing signs of depression or apathy.
If you notice your cat trying to bury food or water, it could be due to boredom. Try providing them with new experiences so they can burn off some energy by providing them with activities, toys, and kitty hammocks with a view of the outdoors.
3. They’re trying to hide food
Cats in the wild often burry their prey to protect it from predators and save leftover food for later consumption.
When your cat is trying to hide their food, they may paw and scratch at the bowl itself or act like they are digging in dirt.
These behaviors are normal and usually indicate your cat is feeling uncomfortable or fearful. But if the behavior becomes an obsession, then it’s time to intervene.
4. They’re trying to protect their food
If your cat is clawing at the floor around their food bowl or scratching up your floors, they could be trying to burry their food. Burying food is an instinct they learned from their wild ancestors and it’s natural for them to want to protect it when hungry.
Cats also burrow leftover food to hide their scent from predators, similar to food caching practiced by wild cats and cheetahs when they capture prey.
5. They’re trying to hide it from other cats
Cats in the wild often burry their food to protect it from predators and scavengers. This pheromone-filled activity serves to shield their prized prey from curious animals such as squirrels or rodents.
Some cats in their domesticated lives may slap together paper or drag in carpeting to cover their food. This behavior could be an indication of instinct as much as cunning. If you notice that your feline friend is doing more damage than expected, it may be time to reevaluate their feeding schedule or it could indicate that they have a neurological disorder.
6. They’re trying to hide it from you
Cats often bury their prey to avoid being noticed by predators in the wild, so you won’t typically observe your pet acting this way without a reason. This instinctive behavior is hard-wired into their DNA, so you won’t find cats acting this way without an apparent reason.
This behavior could indicate they’re feeling unwell and therefore trying to conceal it from you. Additionally, it could suggest they had something in their stomach which didn’t agree with them.
