Why do cats try to bury thie food bowl?

[KatyMac]

MacCat has started to do this - it annoys DH

Is there a reason? Should we ignore?

[NaviSprite]

If it’s pawing around the bowl usually moving towards it, it is usually the cat scenting their feeding area. They have scent glands in their front paws so maybe your Cat is making it known that this is their area. Has the bowl or anything nearby recently been moved or replaced? 😊

[NaviSprite]

This might be an interesting read for you and your DH

www.catbehaviorassociates.com/how-cats-use-scent-communication/

[BertieBotts]

Mine did this when they have had enough or they don't like the food. In the wild they are both hunter and hunted so they cover leftover food like they cover their poo, in case it makes a smell which would attract predators.

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

I think they are telling you the food you have provided is shit .
Mine do this sometimes- it's very irritating!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Mine did it if he didn’t like his food. Never did it with gourmet 😻

[HeatedDryer]

Mine spends ages scratching at the cupboard next to her food bowl once she's had enough. 'You can't bury food with a cupboard ' is often heard from my direction

[HeatedDryer]

Sorry didn't actually answer your question, mine does it because she is stupid

[RockinHippy]

Both of mine only do this if I give them something that they aren't so keen on, when they know there's something better in the food bin. Usually followed by stomping off in a huff & ignoring me.
Whether it's factual or not, I swear they are literally telling me "this food is shit, change it"

[KatyMac]

He is really not happy with his food choice right now - so I guess that makes sense

[CMOTDibbler]

Only one of mine does this, but she does it with great gusto and will drag anything she can into the bowl. However, if she doesn't approve of the current offering she just turns her back on it and walks away. The others deal with eating half the food by coming back and yelling for more, or dragging something in and eating half of it

[iklboodolphrednosedreindeer]

It's cat for 'What in the name of fuck is THIS SHIT?! How DARE you, hooman slave?'

Usually followed by vomit on the stairs where you're bound to tread in it or poo in your shoe.

[InfiniteCurve]

Our cat buries her food in case of bears.Or possibly other cats. She is worried she will come back and something will have stolen it,the fact that it is buried in invisible soil doesn't bother her...
Presumably she thinks bears/ other cats would also be fooled,no food here - nothing to see
If she doesn't like the food she flicks her paw at it and stalks away...
She has been known to hop up on the table and bury my sandwich for me,just in case,which I think shows a caring nature

[thecatneuterer]

I've known a lot of cats that do it when I give them food they don't like. They seem to be very clearly saying 'this is shit'.

[KatyMac]

The Cat like Gormet BeefCake

The Vet says Kidney food - the cat won't eat that

The Vet says applaws cat food is better than Gormet but he'll only eat the mousse

& now he has started burying it

[RockinHippy]

My Tomcat had kidney trouble & we had the same problem with the vet food. We switched to James Wellbeloved Turkey with Cranberry biscuits & he really loves that & he's been fine ever since. It would depend on how bad your cats kidneys are though.

[RockinHippy]

The Cat like Gormet BeefCake

I forgot to add. I swear they've changed the recipe on that one as mine used to love all of the flavours & now won't eat it

[KatyMac]

I'll have a look at those biscuits but generally dry food equals no poo! Which isn't ideal