Cat behaviour experts reveal why cats bury their food and what you can do about it

Cats can have some curious habits when it comes to food. If you’ve ever seen your cat pawing at the floor around their food bowl, as if trying to bury their leftovers, you might have wondered what’s going on. This behaviour is known as ‘food caching’ or ‘food covering’ and there are a few simple reasons for it. 

Registered Veterinary Nurse Helen Crofts explains why cats sometimes cover their food bowl. Read on for advice to discourage your cat’s food covering ways. 

Reasons why cats cover their food 

Covering their food is a natural instinct that cats have inherited from their wild ancestors. 

1. To protect themselves. In the wild, cats will often hide their food from potential predators. Leaving uneaten food out in the open could alert other animals to their location, which can leave them vulnerable to attack. Our pet cats may still cover their food, even if there is no real threat from predators.
2. To prevent others eating it. Hiding food prevents other animals from stealing it. If a cat wants to finish their meal later, they may cover it to keep it safe from other animals. If you have more than one cat at home, they may try to hide or guard their food from each other to prevent the other cat from eating it. New or strong-smelling food may increase a cat’s likelihood of displaying this behaviour. The smellier or more tempting the food is, the more likely another animal will want to steal it. 
3. To keep it fresh. In the wild, burying uneaten food can help to keep it cool and fresh for longer. If a cat doesn’t want to eat their meal all at once, they may try to cover it to preserve it for later. 

How you can stop your cat covering their food

If your cat starts trying to cover their food, there’s usually nothing to worry about. Food covering is harmless and purely instinctual. But if your cat suddenly starts covering their food excessively or stops eating altogether, there may be an underlying issue. Speak to your vet if you notice any changes in your cat’s health or behaviour. 

If you want to discourage your cat from covering their food, here are a few things you can try. 

1. Feed them smaller, more regular portions. If your cat is trying to cover their leftovers, feed them smaller portions of food so there is none left to cover. Cats usually prefer eating little and often throughout the day. Try spacing their daily food allowance over smaller, more regular meals.
2. Remove uneaten food. When your cat has finished eating, clear away the leftovers as soon as possible. This will remove their need to bury what’s left. 
3. Provide a safe feeding area. Your cat is more likely to try to cover their food if they are feeling stressed or threatened. Make sure their food bowl is in a quiet area of the house so they can eat without being disturbed. Put their food bowl somewhere where they can’t be watched by any humans, other cats in the home, or cats outside. 
4. Feed cats separately. If you have more than one cat, reduce the risk of competition for food. Feed each cat in a separate part of the house so they won’t be tempted to steal from each other.  
5. Try a microchip pet feeder. Cat food bowls that are sealed and open only for a cat’s microchip can help prevent food covering. These bowls stop cats from being able to steal each other’s food. They also keep wet food fresher for longer. Get 10% off SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeders from Sure Petcare. 

Find more advice about feeding your cat.