Cat Trying To Cover Food Like Poop: Top 10 Reasons for This Strange Habit [2025]
Ever watched your cat scrape imaginary litter over an untouched bowl of premium pâté and wondered if feline culinary criticism had reached a new low? You’re not alone. The sight of a cat trying to cover food like poop is equal parts hilarious and head-scratching, and it happens in kitchens from Tokyo to Toronto. Far from random weirdness, this behavior is a window into your cat’s evolutionary hard-wiring, emotional state, and even the subtle signals your home environment sends.
Below, we unpack the top drivers behind this “bury-and-bounce” routine, separating myth from medicine and giving you practical, science-backed ways to respond. Whether you share life with a picky Persian, a territorial tabby, or a recently rescued senior, you’ll finish this guide knowing exactly why the paws are scraping—and how to keep mealtime calm, clean, and stress-free.
Top 10 Cat Trying To Cover Food Like Poop
Detailed Product Reviews
1. 4Pack Cat Food Can Cover Lids Cute Pet Ears Shaped Pet Food Can Covers Universal 1 Fits 3 Standard 3 oz,5.5 oz,12 oz Dog Cat Can Covers Lids Toppers (4)
Overview:
Bright, cat-ear-shaped silicone lids that promise to turn your half-empty pet-food cans into cheerful fridge ornaments while locking in freshness.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The playful ear silhouette instantly signals “pet food,” so no one mistakes it for human leftovers, and the four-color bundle lets you color-code flavors or pets.
Value for Money:
At $1.25 apiece you get four dishwasher-safe seals for the price of a fancy coffee—cheap insurance against stale food and smelly fridges.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: airtight fit on 3-oz to 12-oz cans, food-grade silicone, cute factor, dishwasher safe.
Cons: no pull-tab, so slippery fingers struggle to peel the lid off; pastel colors stain slightly with salmon-based foods.
Bottom Line:
If you want function with a dose of feline whimsy, grab this 4-pack; just be ready to pry it off when hungry cats start circling.
2. Comtim Pet Food Can Cover Silicone Can Lids for Dog and Cat Food(Universal Size,One fit 3 Standard Size Food Cans),Blue and Green
Overview:
A minimalist two-pack of blue-green silicone can covers that stretch over the three most common pet-food diameters like a soft rubbery halo.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The raised bump handle gives you instant leverage—one tug and the lid pops off even when cold silicone wants to cling.
Value for Money:
$4.68 for two translates to roughly nine cents per use over a year; cheaper than repeatedly throwing out dried-out half cans.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: BPA-free, three concentric rings grip 2.5″-3.3″ rims, handle tab, dishwasher/heat-safe.
Cons: only two colors, so multi-pet households can’t color-code; thin outer ring can tear if overstretched on 13-oz cans.
Bottom Line:
A no-frills, vet-office-style lid that simply works; buy it if you value utility over cute and need a handle that won’t slip.
3. ScivoKaval Cat Food Can Lid Cover – Paw Shape Universal Pink Can Opener Set With One Lid and One Spoon
Overview:
A single pastel-pink paw-print lid paired with a cleverly curved spoon that doubles as a can opener and corner-scraper.
What Makes It Stand Out:
You’re literally getting a miniature spatula that pops the seal, scoops, and wipes the rim clean—one tool, zero waste.
Value for Money:
$6.39 for lid plus spoon is only a buck more than competitors charge for the lid alone; the spoon alone sells for $3 in pet stores.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: food-grade silicone, fits 2.56″-3.23″ cans, adorable paw shape, integrated spoon storage.
Cons: one lid means washing it daily; pink shows tomato stains; spoon handle is short for deep 12-oz cans.
Bottom Line:
Perfect gift for new cat parents or minimalists who want an all-in-one solution—just buy two if you rotate flavors daily.
4. SLSON Pet Food Can Cover Universal Silicone Cat Dog Canned Food Lids with Spoon 1 Fit 3 Standard Size Can Tops (4)
Overview:
A four-pack of solid-color silicone lids that arrive with a matching mini ladle, promising fresh food and tidy serving in one go.
What Makes It Stand Out:
You get four lids yet pay the same price many brands charge for two, and the included spoon nests neatly inside a lid for clutter-free drawers.
Value for Money:
$4.99 breaks down to $1.25 per lid plus a free scoop—essentially a buy-three-get-one-free deal with utensil tossed in.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: universal 3-size fit, thick 2 mm silicone resists tearing, dishwasher safe, spoon has metric markings.
Cons: colors are random, so you may end up with four greens; spoon is too shallow to scrape curved bottoms cleanly.
Bottom Line:
Bulk buyers and multi-cat homes will love the quantity; if color luck matters, roll the dice or look elsewhere.
5. Cat Food Can Covers Lids Can Lids For Dog Food Pet Food Can Covers 10Pcs Universal Most Standard Size Silicone Lid Saver Toppers with Spoon Spatula for Pet Wet and Canned Food Storage (MIX SET)
Overview:
A jumbo 10-piece set—four lids plus six ergonomic spoons—aimed at owners who batch-feed everything from 3-oz tasters to 15-oz dog-food bricks.
What Makes It Stand Out:
It’s the Swiss-army kit of can storage: two spoon styles (long-handled and angled), three diameter rings, and temperature range that survives freezer to sterilizing boil.
Value for Money:
At 90 ¢ per piece you’re effectively buying reusable lids for the price of disposable plastic wrap and getting pro-level spoons thrown in.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: covers 3-15 oz cans, stackable, pull-tab on lid, -40 °F to 446 °F tolerance, dishwasher & boil-safe, human-food compatible.
Cons: ten pieces can feel overwhelming for single-pet homes; silicone scent lingers first day out of the box.
Bottom Line:
If your fridge hosts both cat chow and leftover soup, this versatile, temperature-proof set is the last lid purchase you’ll make for years.
6. Meow&Woof Cat Food Can Lid and Spoon, BPA Free Cover for Animal Wet Food Storage, Reusable Topper for 3/5 /5.1/5.5/12/ 13 oz Cans Refrigerator Fresh Wash Machine Apply
Overview:
Meow&Woof delivers a complete wet-food storage system: three universal silicone lids plus an angled silicone spoon designed to scrape every gram from the can. The kit is pitched as a one-time purchase that replaces cling film, mismatched lids, and wasted food.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The inclusion of the spoon is the headline; its sharp, flexible tip hugs the can’s curvature so well that you’ll get two extra meals per case. The lids themselves are stepped, gripping anything from a 3-oz Fancy Feast to a 13-oz dog food can with the same confidence. They’re also color-coded (orange, blue, green) so multi-pet households can avoid cross-flavor contamination.
Value for Money:
At $9.50 you’re paying roughly $2.40 per lid plus a purpose-built utensil—about the cost of a single latte. If the spoon saves only one 50-cent can from the trash, the set pays for itself in 19 uses; most owners hit that mark in a month.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: truly universal fit; thick food-grade silicone survives thousands of dishwasher cycles; spoon eliminates “stuck food” guilt. Cons: the spoon’s short handle can dip into messy food if you rest it on the counter; bright colors stain slightly after prolonged tomato-based meals.
Bottom Line:
Buy it once and you’re done—no more foil wrestling or funky fridge smell. For under ten bucks the Meow&Woof kit is the easiest upgrade you can make to your pet-feeding routine.
7. Comtim 3 Pack Cat Food Can Lids, Silicone Small Pet Food Can Lids Covers for 3 oz Cat Food Cans
Overview:
Comtim’s three-pack is engineered for the smallest cans on the market—think 2.5-oz and 3-oz kitten portions—where standard “universal” lids flop around like shower caps. The lids are molded from soft, matte silicone that grips the rim without bulging.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Mini diameter plus micro-flex ribs let these tops seal cans that are too tiny for every other lid we tested. Because they’re only 8 g apiece, they nest inside one another and disappear into a kitchen drawer, freeing precious space for human leftovers.
Value for Money:
$6.62 for three translates to $2.21 each—roughly the price of a disposable plastic lid multi-pack, except these survive indefinitely. Over a year you’ll ditch hundreds of single-use wraps, so the environmental ROI is immediate.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: zero slip—shake the can upside-down and the lid stays put; dishwasher safe on either rack; pastel colors help remember whose food is whose. Cons: they only do small cans; if you occasionally buy 5.5-oz “pâté” sizes you’ll need a second set of larger lids.
Bottom Line:
For single-cat homes or fosters on portion control, Comtim’s 3-pack is the smallest, simplest insurance against stale food and smelly fridges. Grab them and you’ll never curse a too-loose cover again.
8. COMTIM Small Size Cat Food Can Lids, 2 Pack Silicone Cat Food Can Lids Covers for Small Cans 3 oz 2.5 oz
Overview:
Identical in material and mission to Product 7, Comtim’s 2-pack simply offers fewer lids at an even lower buy-in. Marketed toward the “one-cat, one-can-a-day” crowd, the pair covers your daily rotation while the other can is in use.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The price-to-quality ratio is microscopic: $5.99 nets you two food-grade silicone lids that will outlast the cans themselves. The low profile (5 mm thick) means they’ll seal even when the fridge shelf is crammed to the ceiling.
Value for Money:
At $3 per lid you’re paying less than a single serve of wet food. If you normally trash half a can because it dries out, these lids pay for themselves in four saved servings.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: feather-light; easy on arthritic hands thanks to a pull-tab lip; freezer-safe if you batch-prepare meals. Cons: only two colors come in each pack—if you need a third feeding slot you’ll either wash daily or buy another pair; same size limitation as Product 7 (3-oz max).
Bottom Line:
A no-brainer for minimalists. You get premium silicone protection for the price of a coffee—buy, rinse, repeat, and forget about plastic wrap forever.
9. COMTIM Pet Food Can Lids, Silicone Can Lids Covers for Dog and Cat Food, Universal Size Fits All Standard Size Dog and Cat Can Tops (2 Pack, Multi-colored)
Overview:
COMTIM’s “universal” duo aims to be the last lid set any multi-pet household needs, stretching from 3-oz cat tins all the way up to 13.2-oz dog food monsters. The wavy, stepped rim is the secret sauce, flexing inward or outward to hug varying diameters.
What Makes It Stand Out:
These lids accomplish the one-size-fits-all promise that many competitors botch. The inner ring locks at 65 mm for tiny cans, while the outer ridge balloons to 88 mm for large breeds—no wobble, no leak. The translucent silicone also lets you see what flavor is inside without lifting the lid.
Value for Money:
$3.98 for two is the cheapest per-unit price in the entire COMTIM lineup. You could literally lose one and still have paid less than a single reusable grocery bag.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: genuine universal grip; dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe; color swirls help differentiate flavors. Cons: because they must flex so much, the silicone is thinner in the transition zones—after two years of daily stretching ours developed micro-tears (still functional, but worth noting).
Bottom Line:
If you feed both a Chihuahua and a Great Dane, this two-pack is the cheapest insurance against stale kibble smell you’ll ever find. Expect a two-year lifespan of daily use—an insane bargain.
10. JIAKAI 5 PCS Pet Dog Cat Food Can Cover Pet self-Sealing，Reusable pet Food lids, Environmentally Friendly（Color Random）
Overview:
Jiakai ships five brightly colored plastic lids for $6.50, targeting shoppers who want quantity over premium materials. Each lid snaps onto 75 mm or 88 mm cans via concentric rings, creating a audible “click” that signals closure.
What Makes It Stand Out:
You get five lids—enough for a full rotation of open cans—at a price that undercuts even dollar-store options. The rigid PP plastic means they hold their shape if wedged between leftovers, unlike floppy silicone.
Value for Money:
At $1.30 apiece these are essentially disposable yet reusable. If you lose one under the car seat, it’s cheaper to shrug than to hunt.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros: loud color assortment makes cans easy to spot in a packed fridge; hard plastic won’t absorb tomato stains; top-rack dishwasher safe. Cons: plastic can crack if stepped on; seal is merely “good,” not airtight—expect a faint food smell after 24 h; BPA-free but still petroleum-based, so eco-minded owners may balk.
Bottom Line:
Perfect for shelters, fosters, or anyone who routinely misplaces lids. They won’t last forever, but for the price you can treat them like semi-reusables and still come out ahead.
The Ancient Wildcats in Your Living Room
Domestic cats diverged from African wildcats only about 9,000 years ago—an evolutionary blink. Those ancestors survived by hunting small prey, then caching whatever they couldn’t finish to avoid attracting stronger predators. The instinct to hide surplus food is literally coded in your cat’s DNA. When your living-room leopard “buries” kibble, they’re replaying an ancient survival script: cover the scent, conceal the prize, return later when the coast is clear.
Scent Security: Masking the Smell of a “Kill”
A cat’s sense of smell is 14 times sharper than ours. Strong food odors read like neon billboards to scavengers—real or imagined. Scraping nearby surfaces (tile, carpet, even the slick stainless of a feeding bowl) drags less-aromatic debris over the scent source, muting the olfactory broadcast. In multi-pet homes, this behavior ramps up because your cat interprets dog breath, human footsteps, or the neighbor’s tomcat as potential food thieves.
Territorial Messaging: “This Dish Is Mine—Back Off”
Paradoxically, the same paw motion that hides food can also mark it. Cats have interdigital glands between their toe beans that release a signature scent when they scratch. By “pretend burying,” your cat may be saying, “I’m not done—touch this and you’ll answer to me.” It’s the feline equivalent of putting your name on the office lunch you’re saving for later.
Stress Spillover: When Anxiety Hijacks Mealtime
Stress hormones like cortisol prime cats for quick action. If the food bowl sits near a noisy washer, a toddler’s play zone, or the front door where deliveries boom, your cat may start the meal, feel threatened, and reflexively try to cache what they can’t comfortably finish. Chronic stress can flip the behavior from occasional to obsessive, so note frequency and triggers before it solidifies into habit.
Overfeeding: Too Much of a Good Thing
Cats are calibrated to eat mouse-sized meals—about 30–40 calories at a pop. Many commercial feeding guides overshoot, leaving a surplus that instinct says “hide for later.” If your cat eats a few bites then paws at the floor, check whether portion sizes match their ideal weight, not the optimistic chart on the bag.
Picky Palates: When Taste Triggers Rejection
A recipe change, a new preservative, or even a different batch of chicken can register as “off” to a cat’s refined olfactory system. If the food smells wrong (to them), they treat it like spoiled prey—something to bury, not bite. Watch for scraping immediately after the first sniff; that’s a gustatory thumbs-down, not a storage strategy.
Bowl Blues: The Physics of Whisker Fatigue
Deep, high-sided dishes force a cat’s ultra-sensitive whiskers to bend backward, creating a sensation akin to sticking your hand in a tight glove filled with static. Many cats bail mid-meal and start scraping in an attempt to widen the “hole” or move the food to a whisker-neutral zone. Switching to a wide, shallow, non-metal dish often halves the behavior overnight.
Environmental Placement: Location, Location, Location
Cats prefer to eat where they can see two exits—hardwired caution against ambush. Bowls tucked into corners or under cabinets trigger vulnerability, prompting a hasty grab-and-cache response. If your cat drags a place mat or towel over the bowl, they’re DIY-ing a more secure dining room.
Medical Red Flags: Nausea, Dental Pain, and GI Distress
A sudden surge in food-burying—especially if paired with lip-licking, drooling, or head-shaking—can signal oral pain or nausea. Cats associate the bowl with discomfort and try to “distance” themselves by covering it. A vet exam can rule out resorptive lesions, stomatitis, or pancreatitis before you embark on behavioral tweaks.
Social Learning in Multi-Cat Homes
Kittens watch mom. If an older cat routinely scrapes, juniors may mirror the motion even before they’re weaned. Over time the behavior becomes a colony custom, not an individual quirk. Separating feeding stations and creating vertical escape routes reduces competitive pressure and can break the copycat cycle.
Sensory Sensitivities: Texture, Temperature, and Taste
Some cats prefer room-temperature wet food; others demand a slight chill. A few hate gravy but love pâté. When any sensory box fails to tick, the paw-motion default kicks in. Conduct a two-week “sensory diary,” logging temperature, texture, and protein source against burying frequency to isolate your cat’s preferences.
Instinctual Caching vs. Modern Obesity Risk
Wild cats burn calories while caching—digging, dragging, sprinting from threat. Indoor cats perform the same motor pattern then curl up on the sofa, creating an energy surplus that converts to fat. Providing a post-meal play session mimics the ancestral “hunt-cache-flee” arc and satisfies the instinct without expanding the waistline.
Senior Cats: Cognitive Decline and Confusion
Geriatric felines can forget they just ate. They paw at the bowl thinking it’s a litter box, or vice-versa. If your 15-year-old starts scraping food then wanders off yowling, schedule a cognitive wellness check. Night-lights, raised dishes, and routine feeding times slow the drift into feline dementia and reduce mistaken burying.
Breed Tendencies: Are Some Cats More Prone?
Oriental breeds (Siamese, Burmese) display stronger nest-building behaviors, including food caching. Persians, with their flat faces, often push food around to breathe better while eating, which can resemble burying. Knowing your breed’s quirks helps you decide when to intervene and when to shrug and say, “That’s just my Ocicat being an Ocicat.”
Practical Fixes: Simple Tweaks That Work Tonight
- Serve smaller, more frequent meals.
- Swap to shallow ceramic or glass dishes.
- Move the bowl away from walls, foot traffic, and litter boxes.
- Offer a leftover lid: a paper towel draped loosely over unfinished wet food gives cats the “cached” feeling without the mess.
- Clean the area with enzyme neutralizer to remove old food smells that prompt re-burying.
- Follow meals with five minutes of interactive play to complete the predatory sequence.
When to Call the Vet: Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Sudden onset in a previously calm eater
- Weight loss, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Drooling or pawing at the mouth
- Refusal to eat for 24+ hours
- Behavioral changes such as hiding or aggression
These can indicate dental disease, gastrointestinal blockage, or systemic illness that no amount of bowl-swapping will fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is food-burying always a sign my cat hates the food?
Not necessarily. Cats may cache even favorite flavors if they feel unsafe, overfed, or compelled by instinct.
2. Will punishing my cat stop the behavior?
No. Scolding increases stress, which intensifies caching. Redirect instead by adjusting portions, placement, or bowl style.
3. Should I leave the extra food down so my cat can “graze”?
Free-feeding fuels obesity and keeps the instinct alive. Scheduled, portioned meals are healthier and usually reduce burying.
4. Could my cat be confusing food with litter?
Senior or cognitively declining cats sometimes blur the lines. Raise dishes, add night-lights, and keep food and litter stations in separate rooms.
5. Does this mean my cat is dominant or submissive?
Neither label fits well. Burying is a survival strategy, not a social rank display, though territorial cats may use it more.
6. Will switching to dry food solve the problem?
Some cats cache kibble more because it resembles prey they could drag away. Others find it less aromatic and ignore it. Observe your individual cat.
7. How deep should a food bowl be to avoid whisker fatigue?
Ideally no more than 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) and at least 5 inches (12 cm) wide.
8. Can pheromone diffusers help?
Yes. Synthetic feline facial pheromones reduce background stress, making cats less inclined to hide their resources.
9. Is food-burying linked to hoarding toys or socks too?
Shared neural pathways exist. Cats who cache food often “gift” or hide toys, but each behavior has separate triggers.
10. When should I film the behavior for my vet?
Capture the first 30 seconds of a typical episode, plus any lip-licking, gagging, or awkward chewing. Videos speed diagnosis more than verbal descriptions alone.
