Why does my cat cover her food with clothes

Not all cats do this, but if yours does, the behavior may have been puzzling to you. It’s a relatively common behavior and not one you need to worry about.

The behavior typically looks the same as if the cat is trying to bury waste. You may notice him scraping his front paw on the floor around the bowl. In some cases, cats get so involved in attempting to cover that they actually start pushing the bowl around.

Is Your Cat Sending You a Message?

Many people think that when their cats display this behavior they are saying they dislike the food but this isn’t true. You will see cats performing this covering ritual even with food they have previously eaten and liked.

It All Comes Down to a Cat’s Survival

In the wild, a cat may attempt to bury or cover any uneaten food in order to avoid attracting any predators to the area. It also is an attempt to not alert any other potential prey that a feline hunter is in the vicinity. Cats aren’t scavengers so they don’t bury the food to consume later – it’s strictly for protection purposes. Even an indoor cat who has never set foot outside retains this survival instinct; it’s just a matter of how much it concerns them and that determines to what degree the behavior is displayed.

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Tips for Stopping the Behavior

It really is a harmless behavior but if it bothers you or if your cat seems to become obsessed with attempting to bury the leftover food in his food bowl, here are some tips:

• Consider giving him smaller portions. Watch the amount he typically eats in a meal and don’t overdo what you’re offering him.
• Don’t leave food bowls down when the cat has given the signal that he’s finished. Take the food bowl up, clean any spills on the floor and leave fresh water available.
• If you leave food out for free-choice eating, try placing food in puzzle feeders so your cat has to “hunt” for his meal.
• When you notice your cat displaying the behavior, distract him with some playtime or another activity.

Want More Information?

For more specifics on mealtime behavior and other training tips, refer to best-selling books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Her books are available in bookstores everywhere, through your favorite online book retail site and also right here on our website.

Cats love scratching. They scratch to sharpen their nails, cover their toileting, mark their territory, and sometimes just for the heck of it! But when your kitty starts to scratch around her bowl in an attempt to bury their food, that serves a different purpose. It means she’s trying to bury her food. But why?

A few possible reasons

Rest assured, it is relatively common and usually nothing to worry about. There are several theories as to why cats scratch around their bowl. In the wild, cats are both predators and prey. One theory is that cats would bury any leftover food to avoid attracting predators to the smell of flesh – a safety mechanism to try to avoid attracting any unwanted attention.

They will also bury leftovers to avoid scaring off potential meals (since half-eaten carcasses could alert their prey to the fact that something is hunting in the area). If a cat takes a dislike to the smell of the food, it may try to bury it to cover the offending odor.

If you offer your cat more food than they can manage, then they may scratch around the food bowl trying to bury the rest for the later. Cats are naturally very clean creatures, so they are clearing up after themselves.

Another theory is that they are trying to bury any leftover food so that they can come back to it later, keeping it safe and cool. This is less likely, since cats aren’t naturally scavengers. This may be a possibility in the wild if food were in short supply.

Should I be worried?

In most cases, no. This is a natural behavior and is relatively common. However, if your cat is trying to bury her food and is not eating her usual amount, or is not well in herself, then this may signal a problem. Your cat may be trying to bury their food because they are feeling nauseous, so they want to cover the smell of the food.

If the behavior is new, or your cat has a reduced appetite or seems unwell in themselves, then call your veterinarian for advice.

How can I stop this behaviour?

Most of the time, you don’t need to! Scratching around the food bowl is normal and natural behavior. However, if it is bothering you or damaging your floor, then you may want to try to prevent the behavior. Here are some tips that can help stop your cat from scratching around their food bowl:

• Try feeding your cat smaller, more frequent meals
• Take any leftover food away as soon as they finish
• Cats may be less likely to try to bury leftover dry food, so consider dry food if your cat likes to graze
• Try distracting them with a toy or game if they start scratching
• Use a puzzle feeder to encourage natural hunting behavior and avoid leftovers
• Feed your cat on a surface that can’t be damaged by scratching, such as hard flooring or an old piece of rug

If you have any concerns about your cat’s appetite, seek advice from your veterinarian. Otherwise, there is no need for alarm if your cat scratches around their food bowl. Now the next time your cat looks like she’s trying to bury her leftovers, you won’t be baffled!