Why do cats bury food?
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Save for later
This reason for burying food is due to the origin of pets from wild cats. In nature, predatory animals cannot always get their own food, so they hide the caught prey or bury what is left of it for later. So they can know for sure that they will not remain hungry in case of an unsuccessful hunt.
Hiding from others
Another innate instinct is to hide prey from a stronger animal that can take it away. Since a very sensitive sense of smell is involved in the search for food, the task of the animal is to minimize the smell of prey. Thus, the cat buries food at home because he wants no one else to get to it.
Get rid of odor
Cats are very clean animals, and they do not like unpleasant odors. This applies not only to their toilet, but also to the place of feeding. If the bowl smells bad (before putting food, it was not washed or washed badly), it is likely that the cat will not eat from there. Instead, she will rather try to bury a bad-smelling container so as not to smell it.
Mark inedible
In the case when the cat is hungry, but does not eat, pay attention to the quality of the food and its freshness. One of the reasons why a cat burrows food in a bowl may be that the product is spoiled or unsuitable for your pet. He cannot throw out inedible contents, so he begins to bury.
Some cats are especially picky eaters and will not eat from a bowl if the food has been sitting there for a couple of hours. In this case, the owners will have to develop a special diet.
Compete for food
This is typical for those pets that live in the same area with relatives or dogs. If other members of the cat family live in the apartment with your cat, then be sure to separate their bowls – each individual should have their own containers with water and food. A cat buries a bowl of food so it won’t suddenly be found by another eater. It is a healthy instinct of every predator to protect its prey from the encroachments of other animals.
As for cats living in the private sector and feeding on the street, everything is also understandable here: they determine the presence of other animals nearby by smell and try to hide their prey from them as soon as possible.
Avoid fasting
Most often, a pet is started as a kitten, taking him into the custody of good friends. However, sometimes the owners take a kitten or an already adult cat from strangers, not knowing for sure whether their new fluffy family member had enough comfortable living conditions. Keep in mind: your cat may be burying the bowl of food because she’s had to undereat in the past by staying hungry. Out of habit, in order to avoid starvation, the animal begins to bury food for later.
Provide the ward with good living conditions, satiety, and then he will eventually stop “stocking up”.
Experiencing stress
A cat can be stressed due to a change of residence, the appearance of another pet or child in the family, as well as after visiting a veterinarian. Simple things such as a new bowl, tray or its filler can also have a negative impact on a pet. Anxiety in a cat, in turn, can be expressed in a lack of appetite. Even without eating, the cat digs in food, because instinct makes her take care of tomorrow’s dinner.
If you notice that your pet walks without appetite and digs in food, check his physical and emotional health.
Seeking change
Another option why a cat buries food: it is located in a place that is inconvenient for the pet (for example, close to noisy household appliances, strong-smelling objects, crevices from which it bleeds).
Move the cat utensil to a more comfortable place and see the effect. It is possible that the instillations will stop.
Show dissatisfaction
Sometimes a cat tries to bury food because it is uncomfortable for her to eat from the bowl in which it lies. It may not be suitable for the pet in terms of size, depth or material from which it is made. For example, plastic has an appropriate smell – even if you do not hear it, your pet will definitely learn.
Buy ceramic or metal bowls to feed your pets. Choose the size of dishes based on the individual data and preferences of your pet.
Are in sickness
In most cases, such feline behavior is due to instincts. However, sometimes it can become a wake-up call for the owner. If your kitten is burrowing food because he has no appetite and hasn’t eaten anything, take a closer look at him. A healthy cat is always willing to eat, which cannot be said about a sick individual. There is a possibility that the pet needs medical attention, and burying food is a way to protect your prey from being eaten by a stranger.
How to wean a cat to bury food in a bowl
First of all, you need to find out the reason why the cat is digging near a bowl of food or water. The main thing is to check the health of your pet and make sure that it is in order. Here are some helpful tips in case your cat burrows food while physically and mentally healthy.
Feed your pet so that he does not experience severe hunger and does not go without food for a long time. Sometimes cats rake in food because they want to “store” for the future.
Wash the dishes your pet eats regularly. Make sure that it is clean and does not exude an unpleasant odor. Remove spoiled or dried pieces of wet food in time, change the water more often.
Consider the wishes of your cat. If you see that she does not eat food or eats little and without much appetite, replace it with another one. It may not be enough vitamins or trace elements that your pet needs.
Place the bowl of food in a warm, bright and comfortable place for the cat, protecting it from loud noises during meals.
Remember that each pet is entitled to its own bowl. Follow this rule – and the pet will stop competing for food, and therefore bury the bowl of food.
Observe the animal: if the cat buries food because it is uncomfortable for her to eat from the bowl you bought, get another one.
Here are some videos showing how furry pets hide food by wielding their paws at the bowl. This kind of manifestation of instincts (thriftiness, the desire to hide food from other predators), as well as the expression of dissatisfaction with the portion or dissatisfaction with the food, is characteristic of cats of different breeds and ages.
Answers to frequently asked questions
22 September 2021
Updated: September 22, 2021
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