Why is my cat hiding and stashing her dry food in odd places?

Many cats will exhibit this behavior. It's instinctual to cover up any left over food. This 'hides' it from other creatures who may eat it so that the cat can come back later to eat the remainder of the food. Even though Ricco is domesticated, he still has those instincts. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for your question. Many dogs like to hide things, including treats and food. This is probably a remnant from their ancestors who may have had to hide some of their food items to protect it from other members of their pack or predators. We would not consider this a problem behavior unless he is becoming aggressive around his buried food/toys.

It sounds like something is making your cat nervous or scared. When we have a change in behavior, we have to ask is it only behavior, or is there a medical reason. A trip to your veterinarian for an exam and possible lab work would help to make sure there are no other concerns. If it is determined to be a behavior problem, I would start with a pheromone such as Feliway that can help with anxiety. It is available as a plug-in room diffuser for large areas, and as a spray for small areas like a mat or bed. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8906 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 Another product I like is Composure, which is available as a little treat. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetri-science-composure-feline-bite-sized-chews If these do not help, you might consider discussing prescription medication for anxiety with your veterinarian. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Some cats tend to do that. Mine do it when they do not like their food. So you may want to try some other brand of canned kitten food. Or canned kitten food if you have been feeding dry food. You should also put the water fountain/bowl a few feet away from the food as cats do not like to drink water that is near their food.

Some dogs always do this and some do it because they don't want it or they have some anxiety. Does she eventually eat it? If so then she likely just saving it for later. Does she only do it when it is storming or other times when she is anxious? If so this is likely anxiety. Does she never go back to eat it and she won't eat it out of her bowl either, then she may not like that food and is wanting something different. I hope this helps!

Every animal is different and this can be the case for Annie. I would try to see where the items were originally to try to stop her from getting to those locations. I would also try to get toys she can "hoard" that are more appropriate for her. My concern is one day she eats one of these objects and it becomes surgical. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Many cats like to hide in the closet, usually to sleep there, as long as she is otherwise eating normally and behaving normally it is not considered to be a problem. if this is new and she is hiding in the closet all day then she is probably hiding a health condition and you should take her to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked.