My cats have always hidden toys, paper clips, etc. in their food bowls. Any ideas why? Anyone seen this?

Answer 1

My cat does that to. He is just playing. You know when you find that toy at the bottom of the cereal box? Its the same thing, at least to my cat. He will hide it, leave, come back and eat the food, find the toy and run around the house with it for hours.

Answer 2

I had a cat that always chewed on plastic bags. I read up on it from a few different sources on the internet. Sometimes when cats are taken from their mother too soon, they need that nurturing, nursing action, so they'll chew on blankets or bags. Other reasons that they may do that is for the noise or to get their teeth cleaner. In any case, it's not because she's hungry or thirsty!

Answer 3

My cat never put them in her food bowl but when we moved we found a hord of smaller toys, rubber band, hair elastics, pencils and other such goodies under our one living room chair. Cats just like to gather all their stuff together and what better place then where their food and water already is.

Answer 4

I am positive my kitten thinks she is drowning her prey. She sticks the mouse in the water bowl, then bites down with her teeth and hides it. It's pretty cute, but I have to change the water all the time. I think she'll outgrow it, though, the others have.

Answer 5

That's hysterical! We've had kittens that will put a toy in their food or water bowl, but they always seem to outgrow it. I like to think they're trying to feed and water their babies, but more than likely they're trying to keep their horde of goodies in one place.

Answer 6

I'm glad that I'm not the only one. My cat puts everything under the area rug, twist ties, hair ties, nail files, coins. ID's. You name it, it all ends up under the rug. A hint for you might be that when you remove them, try to do it when your cats are not watching. I know that sounds goofy but I used to lift up the rug to find the things and my cat would watch me and he would be so hurt that I removed his "treasures" that he would sulk for the rest of the day. I think it's just their way of keeping items for later. Sort of like when wild animals hunt for their food and then save it for later.

Answer 7

Oh yes. Nothing to worry about, as long as you keep potentially unsafe toys away from them -- that includes paper clips small enough for them to accidentally swallow.

Answer 8

They are basically saying "this is mine, please don't touch".

My cat still does it sometimes. It's kind of a pain when it is in the water bowl but completely harmless.