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Encyclopedia on Pets

Archive article, written 2009–2016. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian. About our articles

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Why does my cat hide her food
Introducing a new cat to the household
Why does my cat hide her food?

When I leave out my cat's food on the floor, she likes to drag a cloth or a paper bag over it. She moves the cover when she wants to eat, then replaces it again when she leaves.

Why does she hide her food?

Answer
Actually, it's not unusual for pets to hide their food. They can do it for several reasons, the most common one being that they find the scent of it offensive. This happens sometimes when pets are ill and don't feel like eating or when their diet is suddenly changed. If you cat is eating well and keeps returning to her food, however, an offensive odor is probably not the problem.

Hiding food can be an instinctive behavior. If she were in the wild, your cat would eat what she needed and hide the rest of her food until she was hungry again. So this may be her way of hiding from predators and scavengers. Also, she could just be doing it to play. Cats are experts at finding endless ways to entertain themselves; this may be something she does to make eating more of an adventure, much like children who draw smiley faces in their mashed potatoes.

At any rate, your cat's food hiding is nothing to worry about. You can think of it as a cute little personality quirk--one that's probably a lot of fun to watch.

Why does my cat "knead" me?
Answer
Kneading is a cute behavior to watch cats flex and extend their paws against a bedspread, the carpet, or a person, usually while stretching and purring. It's a very common behavior for cats, but no one has determined exactly why they do it. All sorts of theories exist. Some say that "kneading" cats were weaned from their mothers too early; some say they were weaned too late.

Most likely it's just a habit some cats develop, like people that bite their nails or crack their knuckles. What theorists do know is that it's a sign that cats are comfortable, happy, and relaxed. So you can take it as a complement: it's your cat's way of saying that he's happy you're around!

Dealing with a Scared Cat

Question What's the best way to deal with a scared cat? She belonged to a neighbor and has always been afraid of strangers, but they were going to give her up to the shelter. I saved her, but now she hides in my basement. She growls at me and will not come upstairs. Help!

Answer Cats that have severe fears of human strangers can take some time to warm up. The most important thing is that you keep yourself from getting bitten or scratched while the two of you are getting to know each other.

If the cat is staying in the basement, you might want to make sure that you deliver small meals to her several times daily to get her used to you and your voice being associated with food. Keep a litter pan there for her, and clean it daily. A large bowl of water should also be available at all times. It may take months for her to trust you enough to approach you. Try not to pick her up or even touch her until you are sure she is comfortable with it.

For health reasons, get a list of vaccinations or worming treatments that have been done in the past and have your veterinarian review the medical history. There may be things that need to brought up to date to make your cat a safe and healthy member of your family. Live traps are sometimes necessary to confine cats that are not safe to handle. If the cat has not been vaccinated for rabies, it should be strictly confined with no physical exposure to anyone for 10 days.

With some time and attention, your new cat may very well warm up to you, but expect it to take some time.

My cat twitches in her sleep