There are several reasons why our feline friends may behave differently than how we’d expect them to when it comes time for eating. In this article we share 4 of the most common reasons why your cat may drag food away from its bowl to eat and suggestions on how to remedy the behavior.
Why Does My Cat Drag Food Away From Its Bowl to Eat?
Natural Instinct
Cats drag their food away to eat alone because cats are not social by nature. They hunt, kill, and eat alone in the wild. Because of this natural instinct, domesticated cats may still drag their food away to “protect their kill” even though it’s usually unnecessary. Offering a quiet place to dine will definitely be appreciated by your feline friend, and may help to prevent the behavior.
Protecting a Water Source
Sometimes the behavior could also be in an effort to put distance between their food and their water. In nature, cats won’t eat their kill near a water source because they don’t know if the water could be contaminated. For this reason, best practice is to have plenty of space between food and water bowls and to avoid feeding stations where both bowls are right next to one another.
Food Insecurity
Sometimes cats will drag their food away because they feel insecure about another animal taking their food. They may want to bring it somewhere safer to eat, or they may even bring it closer to their human to feel protected while eating. If your kitten or cat shares space with another furry friend and is displaying this behavior, you can try feeding each pet in a different space or at different times altogether. If they are the only pet, they may be trying to tell you they are aren’t getting enough to eat. Assuming they are not at risk for obesity, you could always try giving them smaller portions more often throughout the day, offering a little more food at their regular feeding time, or adding an additional feeding time to their schedule.
Whisker Fatigue
Another reason cats may pull food away from their bowl and eat it elsewhere is the bowl they are eating from is too narrow or too deep and is causing whisker fatigue. If you are using a bowl where your cat’s whiskers are touching the edges as they eat, you could try switching things up and using a wide, shallow dish or plate instead to see if this corrects the behavior.
Summary
A cat’s basic, natural instinct will cause them to want to eat alone, away from their water source, and preferably on an open, flat surface. If you notice your cat is dragging their food away from it’s bowl to eat, you may have to do a little detective work to discover what’s contributing to the behavior, but often times, switching things up with these pointers in mind is all that’s needed to eventually correct the undesired behavior.
