Have you also experienced that your pet scratches around their bowl after they have finished eating? Now you can find out what is behind the strange behaviour.

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Scratching around the food is instinctive, innate behaviour on the part of the cat. When your pet does this, it gives the impression as if they are trying to bury something, but in reality, there is nothing there. The cat may scratch around both their feeding and water bowl, which may last longer or shorter. This behaviour is not to be confused with kneading, and there can be many different reasons behind it, but generally, you don’t have to worry about it. Let’s see why the cat scratches around their bowl.

Scratching around the food is instinctive

This is what it means when the cat scratches around their bowl

One of the most common reasons why the cat scratches around their bowl is an ancient instinct, behind which stands a kind of defence mechanism. The cat hunts alone in the wild, and apart from the mating period (pawing), they try to avoid their kind. To this end, they also bury their leftover food.

By burying the food, they mask the smell, which makes it more difficult for other cats to find it.

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This instinct also manifests when the cat scratches around their bowl. In mother cats’ behaviour, it may also play a role that they want to protect their kittens. Other cats may pose a threat to the litter, so they try to do everything to keep them away.

It may also be related to the food

The cat’s intention with the scratching may also be that they are trying to store the food for later, so that they are not left without nourishment. This can be especially advantageous in areas where they have to compete for food sources. One must also not forget that the cat is sensitive about cleanliness, so if they cannot eat all their food, it may occur that with digging motions they want to cover it.

There is a defence mechanism behind the behaviour

It also cannot be ruled out that the cat does not like the given food. Scratching is more likely to occur when you introduce a new, unfamiliar flavour to them. To find out if this is truly the case, you can return to the well-proven food: if the scratching stops, you already know what the problem is. If their bowl and their bed are too close to each other, that can also be problematic, so it’s worth placing them further from one another.

Sometimes a health problem causes it

Basically, you don’t have to worry because of the scratching. However, if it appears suddenly and has no connection with a change in food, then it may arise that the cat’s behaviour is triggered by stress, which is worth addressing appropriately.

If the scratching is accompanied by loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting or diarrhoea, a health problem may lie in the background, so it is recommended to visit the veterinarian.

This is how to wean them off it

If your pet receives wet food, then start by putting away the leftovers (into the fridge, covered) after they have finished eating. It’s also advised to do this because if it stays in their bowl for a long time, it may easily spoil, and spoiled food can cause serious health problems. Don’t leave out the dry food either, or place it into a slow or automatic feeder. There are also play feeders arranged like a maze, in which cats can move the dry food with their paws, which may deter them from scratching.

It may also help if you distract them: if you play with them, they will not be occupied with scratching.

However, it is important not to punish the cat for scratching, since it is natural behaviour. This may lead to problematic behavioural patterns and affect the bond between you.