What does it mean when a cat buries food: it turns out many didn't know

27.10.2024 06:50

The behavior of domestic cats often puzzles owners with unusual manifestations of ancient instincts.

The habit of burying food is one of the most interesting examples of the legacy of wild ancestors that has been preserved in domestic animals to this day.

Natural instincts

The desire to hide food remains is genetically determined.

Wild cats bury their prey to hide traces of their presence from other predators and to preserve food for later consumption.

Domestic pets retain this instinct despite regular feeding.

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Photo: © Belnovosti

Territorial behavior

Burying food is associated with marking territory. Cats try to mask the smell of food that could attract strangers to their territory.

The instinct to protect one's space remains strong even in domestic animals living in safe conditions.

Feed quality indicator

Attempts to bury food may indicate dissatisfaction with the quality of the food.

The pet thus expresses its attitude to the offered food. It is important to pay attention to the animal's preferences and possible problems with nutrition.

Social aspect of behavior

Cats in apartment buildings often exhibit this behavior due to the presence of other animals.

The desire to hide food increases when there is competition for resources. The animal tries to protect its reserves from potential competitors.

The Impact of Stress

Stressful situations can increase instinctive behavior. Moving, new family members, renovations make the pet feel insecure.

Burying food becomes a way to cope with anxiety.

The owners' reaction

Owners should take this behavior calmly. Trying to wean a cat off its natural instinct can cause stress.

A reasonable solution would be to organize feeding taking into account the animal’s behavioral characteristics.

Proper organization of feeding

Regular scheduled feeding helps reduce the manifestation of the instinct.

Portions should correspond to the animal's needs. The absence of excess food reduces the need to hide it.

Author: Sergey Tumanov Internet resource editor

Content
  1. Natural instincts
  2. Territorial behavior
  3. Feed quality indicator
  4. Social aspect of behavior
  5. The Impact of Stress
  6. The owners' reaction
  7. Proper organization of feeding