My cat started covering his food after eating - why?

Question

My cat has been trying to cover his food after eating for the past few months. We've had him for over 8 years and he never did that before so I'm wondering what might be the cause. I looked around the site and ppl are saying that it might be a sign that the cat doesn't like the food, but that's not the case with mine. I feed him Wiskas and it's his absolute favorite. I tried giving him other things but he would refuse to eat or just take a few bites until I give him Wiskas.

He's been eating this food for a few months before he started to try covering it, and there have been no major changes that might have caused him to suddenly act this way.

Does anyone know what might be the cause? I just want to know if there's something I should do about it, like change his food or something.

Answer 1

There are many theories on this actually:-

1) Your cat is not hungry and would like to save the food for later

2) Your cat find the food to his dislike

3) Your cat wants to bury the food that he likes and wants to come back and enjoy it later

4) Your cat is trying to hide his scent after a meal, afraid that it might lead a predator to his location

It's hard to know for sure what the actual reason is but cats have many quirky behaviors that we can't really understand anyway. But rest assured that if he is eating and his appetite remains the same, there is no need to panic. :)

Answer 2

It's nothing to worry about.

But you should not be feeding your cat wiskas, it's terrible food.

Try 'now grain free'

Might take him a while to warm up to it, but he'll thank you in the end.

Answer 3

If he's eating and healthy, just call it a quirk.  I have 4 cats and one of them always does that and another does it from time to time.  But then the one who tries to cover her food also sticks her paw in the water dish and licks the water off to get a drink.  

In the wild some cats do cover their food to "hide" it for later.  He might be thinking this is pretty good stuff and I want some later too!

Answer 4

It's standard cat behavior, the more my kitty likes her food the more likely she is to "bury" it. In the wild, when they are done with a meal, they bury it to hide it from poachers so that they can have some later :-)