8 Hidden Reasons Why Your Cat Covers Their Food (Some May Surprise You!)

Written by Anna Joseph
November 27, 2024

Ever caught your cat pawing around their food bowl, almost like they’re trying to bury a treasure?

While it’s amusing to watch, it’s also one of those quirks that make you wonder what’s going on in that little feline brain.

Are they tidying up? Hiding their leftovers? Sending some secret cat signal, we don’t understand?

The truth is that cats have deep instincts and specific reasons for their behavior.

Covering their food isn’t random—it’s rooted in survival, comfort, and sometimes even their mood.

Let’s uncover the reasons behind this curious habit by diving deep into their instincts, environment, and preferences. Some of these might surprise you!

Understanding Your Cat's Food-Covering Behavior

From primal instincts to modern-day habits, cats cover their food for various fascinating reasons.

Let’s dig into each one to better understand this common feline behavior

1. A Nod to Their Wild Side

No matter how domesticated they are, cats carry instincts passed down from their wild ancestors.

Felines are hunters and prey in the wild, so survival strategies are essential.

Covering or “burying” food served two primary purposes:

Hiding the Scent:
Leftover food can emit strong smells, attracting larger predators. Covering it helped conceal the scent, keeping wild cats safe.
Preserving Food for Later:
Cats would often stash prey they couldn’t finish, covering it with dirt or leaves to save it for another meal.
Even though your house cat lives a cushy life with food on demand, those instincts remain. By pawing around their food bowl, your cat might be instinctively attempting to “hide” what’s left for later, even if they don’t need to.

2. A Dislike for the Food

Sometimes, cats pawing around their food dish is their way of rejecting the meal.

Cats can be notoriously picky eaters, and if the smell, texture, or even temperature of their food doesn’t meet their standards, they may try to “bury” it as if saying, “No thanks, this doesn’t belong here.”

Signs your cat might not like their food include:

Turning their head away after sniffing it.
Eating very little and leaving most behind.
Scratching near the food bowl like they’re trying to get rid of it.

If this happens frequently, it might be worth trying a new type of food. Experiment with textures (wet vs. dry), flavors (chicken vs. fish), or brands to find one your cat loves.

3. Stress and Competition

Cats thrive in calm, predictable environments, and when something disrupts their sense of security, it can show up in their eating habits.

Covering food might be their way of coping with stress or competition.

Stress:
Changes in routine, a noisy environment, or new pets in the home can make a cat uneasy. Cats may try to “bury” their food to protect it or keep the area feeling secure.

Competition:
In multi-pet households, cats might feel the need to guard their resources. Even if the other pets aren’t interested in their food, the instinct to hide it kicks in.

Creating a calm eating space—preferably away from other pets—can help if your cat shows signs of stress or competition.

Separate feeding areas for each pet ensure everyone eats in peace.

4. Concealing the Scent

Cats have an extraordinary sense of smell, and what seems like a mild odor to us might be overpowering to them.

If the scent of their food is too strong—or lingers long after mealtime—they might try to “clean it up” by pawing around the bowl.

This behavior often ties back to their instinct to avoid attracting predators.

Even though they’re safe at home, the habit is hardwired into their DNA.

To minimize this, clean your cat’s feeding area regularly and avoid leaving food out for long periods, especially wet food that can spoil.

5. Hiding Food for Later

If your cat isn’t particularly hungry or is used to grazing throughout the day, it might try to “save” its food for later.

While it can’t physically move or store it, covering it mimics what its wild ancestors did when stashing prey for future meals.

This behavior is prevalent in free-fed cats (with food available all day) or given large portions. It’s their way of saying, “I’m full, but don’t throw this out—I might want it later.”

6. Over-Prepared Clean Freaks

Cats are meticulous creatures who love cleanliness, and this habit might be an extension of that.

By scratching around their food dish, they could be attempting to “clean up” the area, even if it’s spotless.

It’s an adorable, albeit ineffective, quirk highlighting how much cats value their environment.

If you notice this behavior frequently, consider:

Using a non-slip mat under their bowl to make cleanup easier.
Placing food dishes on an easy-to-clean surface like tile or hardwood instead of carpet.

7. Too Much Food, Not Enough Hunger

Another simple explanation is overfeeding.

If you offer more food than your cat can eat in one sitting, they might instinctively try to “hide” what’s left.

Cats are natural grazers—they eat small amounts throughout the day rather than finishing a large meal in one go.

To address this:

Offer smaller, more frequent meals instead of one large portion.
Remove leftover food after about 20–30 minutes to avoid waste and keep the area fresh.

8. They’re Marking Their Territory

Cats communicate in many ways, and scent marking is one of their go-to methods.

Pawing near their food bowl releases scent from the glands in their paws, marking the area as theirs.

This behavior is prevalent in households with multiple pets or if your cat feels the need to assert ownership over their resources.

Indoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats: Does the Behavior Differ?

The way cats cover their food can vary depending on whether they live indoors or outdoors, largely influenced by their environment and instincts.

• Indoor Cats:
Indoor cats may exhibit food-covering behavior more as a reflection of their instincts than necessity. They don’t face threats from predators or scavengers, but their wild ancestors’ habits remain intact.

For indoor cats, food-covering might occur when:

They’re overfed and want to “save” the food for later.
Their food area is too close to litter boxes or high-traffic zones, making them uneasy.
The food is unappealing in texture or smell.

Indoor cats also tend to use their paws to mimic burying, as they don’t have access to dirt or other materials to physically cover the food.

• Outdoor Cats:
For outdoor or semi-outdoor cats, food-covering is more practical and instinct-driven. They might physically bury their food using dirt, leaves, or other natural materials to:

Protect it from other animals or scavengers.
Hide the scent to avoid attracting predators.
Save it for later in case food becomes scarce.

Outdoor cats are more likely to engage in this behavior in environments where competition for resources is higher, or if they’re part of a feral colony.

Should You Worry?

In most cases, a cat covering their food is a quirky but harmless behavior. However, there are times when it could hint at underlying health issues.

Here are specific examples of when this behavior might warrant closer attention:

Loss of Appetite:
If your cat repeatedly paws at its food without eating much or anything at all, it might indicate a health problem, such as dental pain, gastrointestinal issues, or even kidney disease.
Weight Loss:
A sudden decrease in appetite and weight loss should never be ignored. Even if your cat tries to “bury” their food, this behavior, paired with physical changes, could signal a severe illness like hyperthyroidism or diabetes.
Lethargy or Weakness:
If your cat seems less energetic than usual or avoids their food while covering it, it might be a sign of illness or stress-related disorders.
Vomiting or Diarrhea:
When paired with food-covering behavior, these symptoms could indicate digestive issues or food allergies.
Signs of Anxiety or Stress:
Stress can cause cats to act out their instincts more aggressively. If your cat is excessively scratching around its food bowl or displaying other unusual behaviors, it might mean it’s feeling unsafe or overwhelmed.

If you notice any of these signs alongside food-covering, consult your veterinarian to rule out or address any medical or behavioral concerns.

How to Respond to This Behavior?

While it’s generally harmless, you can take steps to minimize or redirect the behavior if it becomes excessive or messy:

Feed in Smaller Portions:
Prevent leftovers by serving just enough for one meal.

Use Interactive Feeders: Puzzle feeders can make mealtime more engaging, distracting them from the urge to “bury” food.

Create a Calm Space: Ensure your cat eats in a quiet, stress-free area away from noise or other pets.

Conclusion: Instincts in Action

At its core, covering food is a mix of instinct, habit, and individual personality.

Whether they’re trying to hide their leftovers, avoid a strong smell, or deal with stress, this behavior connects your cat to their wild roots.

So, the next time your cat starts pawing around their food dish, you’ll know they’re not just being weird—they’re being their wonderfully instinct-driven selves.

And isn’t that one of the many reasons we love them?

If you are interested to learn more about weird cat behaviors, check out this post on “Weird Cat Behaviors Explained-Why Cats Do the Strangest Things?”

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