Has your cat been doing a little “dance” around their food bowl—scratching the floor before or after meals? Maybe they’re pawing at the floor like they’re trying to dig? Don’t worry! This is actually very normal cat behavior, and we’ll explain why your cat does this. Read 9 Reasons Why Do Cats Hate Water?
The Simple Answer
Your cat isn’t being weird or silly—they’re following natural instincts! In the wild, cats hide traces of their meals and cover their leftover food to hide it from other animals, save it for later, keep their presence secret from predators, and to keep their eating area clean. Think of it like when we clean up after dinner—cats have their own way of doing this too!
Read Can Cats Eat Kale? Is Kale Safe for Cats?
Common Scratching Behaviors Around Food
Scratching Before Eating
When your cat scratches the floor before eating, they might be “setting up” their eating spot, checking if the area is safe, marking their territory, or looking for a clean spot to eat. It’s like they’re saying, “This is my dining room, and I’m getting it ready for my meal!”
Scratching After Eating
After-meal scratching usually means they’re trying to “bury” leftover food, hide their food scent, clean their eating area, or mark the spot as their feeding place. It’s their way of saying, “Thanks for the meal—now let me clean up!”
Why Do They Scratch Around the Food Bowl?
Your cat might scratch around their bowl because they’re following their wild instincts, just like their ancestors did, and they’re being careful with their food source. Cats have scent glands in their paws, and scratching leaves their scent as a way of marking “this is my food spot.” Sometimes, they’re even trying to “save” extra food by hiding it from others, as if planning for later. Occasionally, scratching might mean the bowl isn’t comfortable, they don’t like where it’s placed, the food area isn’t clean enough, or they want fresh food or water.
When Should You Worry?
Most of the time, scratching around food is totally normal. However, you might want to call your vet if they suddenly start doing it much more than usual, if they seem stressed while eating, if they’re not eating their food, or if they show other unusual behaviors. Read Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?
Easy Ways to Handle Food Scratching
If the scratching bothers you, try putting a large mat under the food bowl, using a feeding tray with raised edges, or getting a non-slip, waterproof mat to protect your floor. You can also try changing the feeding spot by moving the bowl to a quieter place, testing different locations, or giving them more space around their bowl. Adjusting the bowl itself can help too—use a wider, more stable bowl, keep it clean, and separate food and water bowls if that seems to make your cat more comfortable. Adjusting their feeding schedule may also help; try feeding smaller portions, cleaning up any leftovers, keeping regular feeding times, or using a timed feeder.
Fun Facts About This Behavior
This behavior often starts when cats are kittens, and many house cats do it even though they don’t need to. It’s also more common in female cats, and some cats do it more carefully than others. Read How to Punish a cat for Pooping Outside the Litter Box
Quick Tips to Remember
Don’t punish this behavior—it’s natural! Keep their eating area clean, use easy-to-clean mats or surfaces, be patient with your cat, ensure they have enough food, and keep fresh water available. Read How Many Litter Boxes Per Cat?
Making Peace with the Scratching
Remember, it’s normal cat behavior; they’re following their instincts, which shows they feel at home and are being careful with their food. Your cat isn’t trying to make a mess—they’re just being a cat! As long as they’re eating well and seem happy, a little scratching around mealtimes is nothing to worry about.
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