Are you tired of walking into your kitchen and discovering your cat burying their food as if they were still in the wild? Dealing with this behavior can be annoying, especially when you’re trying to keep your home neat and tidy. But don’t worry, there are ways to put an end to your cat’s erroneous attempts to bury their food.
Let’s face it, our cats are creatures of habit, and they can be rather resistant to changing their routines. It’s almost as if they think they’re smarter than us humans. But don’t worry, with a few clever tricks, you can outwit your furry pal.
In this blog post, we’ll help you put an end to your cat’s mealtime burial rituals in only 7 easy steps. So, prepare to channel your inner cat whisperer and take command of your feline’s feeding frenzy!
Why Cats Bury Their Food
We should first comprehend the underlying causes of any problem before we can solve it. As a result, determining why your cat is burying its food is crucial. I used to be annoyed when I watched my cat hide its food, but as I realized why they do it, everything made sense. Let us explore why they do this.
We all know that cats are born hunters. As a result, their natural impulse is to hunt and store food. If a cat has more food than it needs, it may sometimes bury the leftovers for later. It’s a survival mechanism that’s been hardwired into cats’ DNA for thousands of years
This, however, is not the only reason cats bury their food. As cat owners, we’ve noticed that their sense of smell is acute, and they rely on it to navigate their surroundings. In other words, if they notice any other animals nearby who might eat their food, they bury it on a regular basis to keep it safe from those animals. They can easily locate the buried food again because cats have a very good memory, allowing them to recall long-ago events and quickly recognize their owner.
Step 1: Change Your Cat’s Feeding Routine
I’ve been feeding my cat constantly since the day I got him. I put a lot of food in a bowl and leave it out all day so the cat can eat whenever he wants. At the time, I thought this was the best option until my cat began burying the food on a regular basis and I realized there was a problem somewhere.
This is how I found that when cats are given extra food, their predatory instinct leads them to bury it. As a result, I decided that if I want to feed my cat, I should do so in small portions according to a certain routine.
The first thing I did was give my cat very small amounts of food at regular intervals. As a result, my cat didn’t get enough food to bury, and when he did, I knew the amount of food needed to be cut even more. His habit of burying his food has been greatly reduced, and I no longer have to clean it repeatedly.
Step 2: Choose the Right Bowl
We must remember that cats are quite sensitive to their environment, and thus the bowl you feed them in should also be suited to their preferences. because many cats are sensitive to the shape and material of their food bowls. So, for example, several cats avoid eating from plastic bowls since they contain a different odor and bacteria. Many cats become distressed when they see food in metal bowls because they are noisy and slippery.
That is why it is vital to choose a bowl that your cat will like. Some cats prefer shallow, wide bowls, while others prefer deep, narrow bowls. You can try out various bowls to find which one your cat favors. If your cat keeps burying their food, try using a flat plate instead of a bowl.
Step 3. Always Choose The Right Food Type
If your cat does not get the food they desire, they may begin burying it. As a result, knowing what your cat enjoys eating is essential. Some cats are extremely picky eaters, observing the texture or smell of their food as they eat it. So, if it’s a matter of taste, you can try a different brand of food or a different flavor of food.
I used to feed my cat dry food first, and every time he saw it, he would try to bury it. So you can try feeding your cat wet food instead of dry food. Wet food has a different aroma and flavor, which may be more appealing to cats. It also contains moisture, which can help prevent urinary tract infections and keep your cat hydrated.
Step 4: Distract Your Cats While They Eat
If you have tried all the previous steps and your cats still bury their food, it is time to distract them. Distraction is a useful strategy for dealing with your cat’s food burying problem.
One way to distract your cat is to give them something else to focus on during mealtime, usually a toy. For example, when I first tried to distract my cat, I would give him a toy while he was eating. At first, he was hesitant about it, and I didn’t notice any changes in his food-burying behaviors. But, as time passed, he came to associate his meal with playtime and happily ate it rather than burying it.
So try to distract your cats and take steps to make mealtime more fun for them.
Step 5. Entertain Their Hunting Instinct
Make sure your cat does not have easy access to his food. That means, keep their predatory instincts awake. For example, try getting them used to puzzle feeders and food dispenser toys. Not only will they stop burying food, but they will also receive mental and physical stimulation, both of which will benefit your cats.
I’ve also noticed that when cats are in discomfort or danger, they frequently choose activities like burying food to alleviate their distress. So place your cat’s food bowl in a quiet and peaceful area of the house where your cat can eat comfortably. This may also begin to lessen their habit of burying food.
Step 6: Cover the Food with Something
If all else fails, you can try covering your cat’s food with something to prevent them from burying it. This can be as simple as placing a plate or saucer over their food, or using a specialized feeding mat with raised edges to keep the food contained.
If all else fails, cover the cats’ food with something before serving it to them. You could try to cover the food with something like a plate or saucer so they don’t have a chance to bury it. To cover the food, it is best to use special feeding mats with raised edges. You might well be skeptical at first, but take a leap of faith and you’ll soon discover that your cats are eating without difficulty rather than burying food.
Covering your cat’s food is an extremely effective method. Don’t worry, you won’t have to do it for very long. When you notice that your cats are no longer burying their food, gradually remove the cover. Another concern is that the stuff you use to cover the food is safe for your cat and that they have easy access to the food while eating.
Step 7: Seek Specialist Expertise
If all of your efforts fail, your only option is to take your cat to a veterinarian or a behaviorist. We are often unaware of cats suffering from various underlying diseases that cause a wide range of behaviors in them. Then these behaviors, such as food burying, cannot be prevented by changing the eating routine or by providing preferred foods and providing mental or physical stimulation.
In such cases, you will need the assistance of a professional consultant who can identify the underlying issue and help you develop a treatment plan or behavioral guidelines for your cat.
Conclusion
It is our duty as cat owners to ensure that our pets are healthy, happy, and well-cared for. By addressing your cat’s food-burying behavior, you are supporting them in living a stress-free life and maintaining a balanced diet.
If you’re having trouble with your cat’s food-burying behavior, I recommend following the instructions suggested in this article. Don’t give up if you don’t see instant benefits; your cat may need time to adjust to a new routine.
Thank you for reading, and I hope this information was useful in preventing your cat from burying their food. Don’t forget to leave a comment and share our post.