Kitten scratches around his food bowl like its the litter box...?

Question

I have two four and a half month old kittens. Almost as long as I have had them, one of them (always the same one) always scratches the floor/rug around his bowl after he finishes eating. He scratches it with his paw the same way that cats paw in the litterbox. He does this regardless of where I put the bowl- kitchen, bedroom, on the floor or on the rug and the floor is not dirty. His brother has never ever done this. Any ideas why he does this and how I can get him to stop? I always offer him other scratching options which he uses, but after eating he ALWAYS wants to scratch/paw the floor around the bowl.

Answer 1

Don't be afraid, there is nothing wrong with your cat. My cats do this all the time and i think i just means they want me food.

Answer 2

our vet always told us they do this because even though they eat the food it repulses them, and in some cases they are trying to cover it to save for later.. I guess only a cat really knows

Answer 3

It's an instinctual habit... out in the wild, the big cats bury their food for later.  Most of my cats do that at one time or another...some more than others.  It's no big deal, and no... you can't really make him stop something that's instinctual........

Answer 4

he's "burying" it for later. my cat does this anywhere, litterbox, food bowl, water bowl.

Answer 5

its instinct built into them like covering there poo. the reason for both is not because it is dirty its a natural thing built into there genetics from their wild ancestors. they cover their food because they want to save it for later but have had enough for now. i often find a sock or cat toy in the food bowl where they have tried to hide the food.

its a natural thing so don't try to stop it, its not doing any harm and if you are bothered by it, cover his bowl with a peice of paper for him, im sure that will make him stop until the next time you feed him....

i think its cute, i just let my kitties get on with it!

Answer 6

Yay!!! My cats are not freaks!!! I have 4 of my 6 cats of various ages that do this. The oldest is 3 1/2, youngest 3 months.

Beats me, I have asked around and no one can answer me. I too keep the area clean, moved the litter tray to the toilet (ours), away from the food, scratch poles etc....I just sum it up as them saying....."I am done with this s..t.."

just like they do when they are in the litter tray.

It's funny and visitors get a laugh & hey at least there are no bikkies left to walk on.