Why does my 9 month old cat spread his food all over the floor.

[murbley40]

[radfringe]

1. looking for the toy surprise

and very upset when he can't find one

[BrklynLiberal]

2. My cats try to "hide" their food under toys....in their dishes...

[AZBlue]

3. He's saving it for later.

Cats are grazers - they don't eat everything all at once like dogs.

[Bluestar]

4. I have two 7 year old cats who both do this

Kibble is spread far and wide in their eating area, the wet food gets taken out of the bowl and smeared on the floor as they eat.

I can't figure this out either--my other cats didn't do this. I had to purchase a new floor sweeper to keep the area policed. Nothing seems to defer my critters from doing this.

[Island Blue]

5. I have a kitten who is also about 9 months old

who does the same thing. Actually, he likes to take it out of his bowl with his paw, and then bat it around on the linoleum floor in the kitchen. I figured he was trying to make it "come alive" or something so he could "kill" it before eating it. I'm sure its a fun game for him, but the food goes everywhere including under the fridge, under the stove, and under the washer & dryer in the laundry closet (which is also in the kitchen). To remedy the problem, I've put his food in a room with carpet on the floor and he doesn't take his food out of the bowl.

Likewise, I have to keep the water bowl in the kitchen because my older cat likes to play in that and splash it around and water is much easier to clean up on the kitchen floor than the carpeted floors. Mom is such a spoilsport. :)

[Eurobabe]

6. Because it's easier for you to slip on it that way

:rofl:

FWIW, my 7 y/o cat picks his food up in his mouth and drops it out on the floor to eat it too. :hi:

[badgerpup]

7. Sometimes they will carry their dry food out into the living room...

and eat it there...
Sorta like humans bringing a bag of chips or something for watching TV.

Usually when they've done this, there's been something going on in the living room...either humans talking, or a kitty wrestling match...entertainment of some sort.
:popcorn: maybe?

[riona]

8. My 4 (or 5) year old makes a mess with dry food

I found out after adopting her that she had 6 missing teeth plus a broken one. Maybe the food falls through the holes? At least she'll eat some wet food now - something she refused to do when I first brought her home.

[JeffR]

9. We lost a 14-year old cat last year

Who always had a healthy appetite, but she wouldn't swallow a bite until she's dragged it out of the bowl and smeared it around on the floor.

Hunting instinct, maybe?