Why do cats try to cover their food? If you’ve ever wondered why your cat makes such a mess when they eat, the answer is simple and has to do with a natural instinct. Covering their food is called ‘tameness,’ and it plays a big part in the hunting process.
When a wild cat catches prey, it can be sure that every other animal will have a go at stealing it soon after. In order to fend off other predators and protect his food, he has to try and make it impossible for them to get the food by covering it or taking it somewhere inaccessible.
What is important here is that despite cats having a tidy and organized appearance, they tend to bury or cover their food to protect it.
To do this, he will use the litter box, which the cat sees as a secure place for protecting his food. Even though you may use your litter box for other reasons, such as disposing of feces and urine, your cat will always consider it an ideal place to protect his share of food from predators.
Table of Contents
Why do cats try to cover their food? 5 Theory
There are many theories on this behavior in cats. Some suggest that the covering of their food is a way to keep the scent of food in the area and avoid theft. Others have proposed that it is simply a way of marking territory so that other animals know not to come near it.
Here are the best 5 theories Why do cats try to cover their food:
Theory 1: The Covering of food is to avoid theft:
By covering their food, the cat is making the area smell like a safe and secure place. And this makes it very hard for other predators to snatch their food without getting hurt. This method will also enable them to identify the hiding places and spots where they have successfully stolen and stored their prey. Therefore as long as the hiding place for their prey is covered, they will go there immediately if another predator gets near.
Theory 2: The Covering of food is to mark their territory:
By covering their food, cats are doing a very similar thing to other animals like wolves. From this, it can be concluded that the covering of their food is a way for them to keep their territory safe from predators.
Theory 3: The Covering of food is to keep its scent in the area:
Many experts suggest that cats do the covering of food for their own benefit. For their prey to keep its smell in their territory, the cat needs a way of keeping its scent in the area so that other predators can know where it is.
By covering their food with their scent, the cats are showing their presence in the area, and all other predators will be able to know that they have been there and have taken care of the prey. No one will dare come near it and try to steal it.
Theory 4: The Covering of food is a way of keeping warm at night:
Cats are known to be territorial creatures and will do anything to protect their territory from invaders. They will also do anything to protect their food, whether it is their own or someone else’s. Cats are wild animals and prefer to take care of their own food, so the covering of the food is seen by them as a way of keeping the prey in place.
Theory 5: Covering food is a way of decreasing their fear of the dark:
Cats tend to cover the smell of their prey from other predators so that they may be able to protect it easily. As they don’t want other animals to know where they have stored or hidden the prey, it is logical that they will try to cover this smell by covering their food with their scent.
This can be seen as decreasing the cats’ fear of being alone in the dark as nothing backs them up here.
Why do cats try to cover their food after eating?
Catching food is called “catch,” and wild cats do it. Caching is a way to save leftovers for later. It is a feature of hunger and cats from the wild. They bury their catch to keep it from being stolen by other animals, hide food, protect it from dirt, keep the meat cool and fresh, and keep it warm in the ground and away from scavengers.
It is most likely that your cat covers his food after eating because he needs to cover it to protect it and keep his food source safe.
How to get my cat not to cover his food?
Your cat may be covering his food after eating to protect it, so you can simply stop covering or hiding the food and then see that your cat will stop doing this. It would be best if you also tried to feed him outside so that he won’t need to bury his food before eating.
Why does my cat cover her food with clothes?
This is how cats hunt and is also why they cover their food to protect it. They do this to keep the scent of the food in the area, to avoid other predators from stealing it, to mark their territory, and so that they may be able to find the food later on.
Your cat will still be doing this even if you are not feeding her outside, as it is your cat’s instinct.
However, if you are giving your cat food inside the house and he is covering it up with his clothes or anything else, try to train him by giving him food that you have hidden so that he gets used to keeping his food in sight and out of the way so as not to cover it up.
If a pattern of your cat suddenly covering his food is something unusual, then there may be another reason behind this, such as stress or sickness.
How to stop your cat from Covering Food?
To stop your cat from covering his food, you should be able to figure out why he is doing it in the first place. This way, you can tell if your cat is hiding his food after eating to protect it or if he is doing this for another reason.
The best way to stop your cat from covering his food after eating is to make sure that there are no other animals that can come and take it away from him. You can do this by feeding your cat outside and providing a way to keep his food safe after eating.
Here are the best 5 ways to stop your cat from Covering Food:
1. Move their food dish:
One of the most effective ways to stop your cat from covering his food is by moving the food dish. The best thing to do is to move it to an area where you know there will be no other predators who can take his food. If you put it somewhere else, your cat will soon realize that he has no other options and will stop doing this altogether.
2. Feed your cat more:
If you are having problems with your cat covering his food, you should ensure that he is not feeling hungry. Before doing anything else, you should be sure that there is nothing wrong with him and that he has enough food to feed himself.
However, if you find that he has no need to cover the food by protecting it simply because of hunger, then you can do the following things to stop him from covering his food.
3. Make use of the food puzzle feeder:
There are a lot of toys that can be used to keep your cat busy and entertained. You can stop your cat from covering his food by simply getting a food puzzle feeder or any toy with holes inside where you can place the food. This way, it will no longer be necessary for your cat to hide his food, and he will soon stop doing this because of the boredom that it is causing him.
4. Veterinarian Checkup:
If you have any questions regarding any health issues that your cat may be having, then go ahead and take him to the veterinarian so that they can fix the problem. If you find out that there is something wrong with your cat and he has been covering his food to protect it, then you will need to consult a vet before doing anything else to get him fixed.
5. Play with your cat:
The best way to prevent your cat from covering his food is by making sure that he feels hungry, and the best way to do this is by ensuring that he has enough play time to feel satisfied. If you see that he has enough food after playing with him, you will find that there will be no need for him to protect his food as there will no longer be any reason for him to do so.
However, suppose there is a pattern, and your cat continues to cover his food even though you give him the freedom of doing it outside. In that case, you should try training him and making sure that he understands that it is no longer necessary for him to cover his food after eating.
Why Cats Cover Up Their Uneaten Food?
Like us, cats are also born with instinctive urges, which come from their natural instincts. These instinctive urges are the strongest ones your cat has, and because of this, some of these instincts are natural and good for them.
Cats cover up their food because they feel a need to do so. It is instinctive, and although there is no specific reason behind it, it is natural for your cat to feel the need to cover his food after eating.
Your cat will not be doing this if he is feeling full or if he does not feel hungry; instead, he will do this because he feels a need to preserve his food sources by covering them for them to last longer.
Why do cats try to cover their poop?
Cats tend to cover up their poop because they feel a need to protect it. This is their way of marking their territory, and it is an instinct for them to do so, just like how we feel the need to cover or hide our poop because of shame.
As your cat will have poop spread in a few different areas where he goes, it is natural for him to cover up his poop so that other animals, such as dogs, do not take it away from him. This way, he will be able to find his food again and also know that no other animal has taken it away from him.
Why does my cat scratch the floor around her food?
There are many different reasons why your cat may be scratching the floor around their food. Some of these reasons include a natural instinct to keep their food safe and a way of learning how to hunt and hunt for their food.
However, if you find that there is a pattern and your cat continues to scratch the floor after every meal, or he does not stop scratching until he finds what he wants, then the chances are that there may be another problem.
Final Thoughts
Although the number of cats that cover up their food depends on the type of cat, some cover up their food after every meal. This is due to an instinct your cat has, and it is because of these instincts that he feels a need to protect his food sources.
It is important for you to understand these instincts so you can train your cat and make him understand that it is no longer necessary for him to cover his food after eating or hide his food from other animals such as dogs.
I hope you have found this article helpful, and I look forward to reading your thoughts regarding this matter. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me using the comment section below.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article, and I would appreciate it if you shared it with your friends and loved ones on social media. 🙂
FAQs
Is your cat’s food covering behavior neurotic?
No, cats do not have neurotic behaviors. They are only acting out of their instincts, and it is because of these instincts that they feel a need to protect their food sources.
How do I get my cat to stop covering his food?
The best way to stop your cat from covering his food is to make him feel hungry, and this can be done by ensuring that he is getting enough playtime. You can also train him to understand that it is no longer necessary for you to cover his food after eating or hide his food from other animals such as dogs.
Why does my cat scratch around her food bowl?
There are many different reasons why your cat may be scratching around their food bowl. The main reason behind this is to protect their food sources, but they can also do this to learn how to hunt or because they are in great pain.
Why do cats try to burry their food?
Cats do not bury their food because they want to play with you. They bury their food to protect it from other animals, such as dogs, so they can later return for it when they feel hungry.
Hi there! My name is Koushik; I am a cat lover. I specialize in writing about pet care & food. I have a wealth of knowledge on cat food niches and related subjects. I have worked in the pet industry for over 5 years and am passionate about helping cat owners provide the best care for their furry friends. With knowledge of cat food and nutrition, I aim to share their insights and help cat owners navigate the world of cat food niches. I enjoy playing with my two cats, reading, and exploring new cat food brands in my free time.
