If your pet’s behavior puzzles you, we’re here to help you resolve it.
Cats Burrow In The Ground may manifest in a variety of ways. They may chew on the soil, mark your home with an odor, or behave abnormally.
Perhaps they’re simply just being playful. So, do cats burrow in the ground?
Yes! Cats do burrow in the ground!
Digging isn’t just a fun pastime for felines. In fact, it’s a behavior that serves a purpose.
As prey animals, cats have evolved to hide from predators and survive in the wild. Burrowing in the ground gives your cat a safe place to hide and gives them a water source for drinking and bathing.
Cats also dig as a way to exercise their muscles and relieve stress. Some cats even create their own private shelters using dirt!
Let’s dive into this problem.
Do Cats Burrow In The Ground?
Cats burrow in the ground for a variety of reasons.
It is also used to groom themself If the cat is pregnant, the kitten will be sheltered if the mother dug a hole for it.
In rare circumstances, cats may dig as a way to escape certain scenarios or to prepare to fight off threats.
Why Do Cats Burrow In The Ground?
They’re Taking a Bath in Dust
Dust baths are used by certain animals, such as cats and dogs, as a method of grooming and self-grooming.
They actually roll about in the mud, rubbing the fur with their paws and scratching at the dirt with their sharp teeth.
Cats do not roll about in dirt to bathe themselves.
They do, however, roll about in dirt to leave scent marks for other cats or as a means of marking their territory as their own.
Bug Hunting
Cats like hunting and eating insects.
If you’ve ever played with your cat with a toy mouse or bug, then you may have noticed that your cat will come to investigate and chase after the toy whatever noise is coming from it.
Outside, some cats like to hunt and eat insects or worms from the ground or from leaves.
If they observe one tunneling into the dirt, they may also try to dig into the dirt and succumb to the desire to hunt it.
They Like the Sensation of Burrowing
Cats are fascinating animals because they are mysterious creatures with enigmatic behavior patterns.
We do know that if your cat digs into the dirt or burrows into the sand on the beach, then they will enjoy it because it feels good on their paws and feet.
This might include kneading a rug or blanket, napping in a certain spot or sleeping in the crook of your arm.
Some cats dig tunnels and burrow into the ground.
Safe Storage Spot For Resources
Cats dig to construct underground shelters that are designed to protect them from the elements at night or during severe weather.
When the cat has nothing to store in the soil, then they are going to dig to find a way to hide food that they have found.
Digging holes in the earth and hiding food in the ground is a behavior that goes back to ancient times when cats hunted for food in the wild or for their ancestors that lived in cave systems.
It’s a simple method to keep their food hidden from predators that will kill them or eat their food if they did not hide it properly.
They can walk outside, investigate, and even go hunting for prey or they will just retreat to the comfort of their shelter or den for the night.
Poop Burying
Whether you own cats or live in a neighborhood with them, there is something to be said for cat poop removal.
When it comes to hiding their feces, they will do everything they can to deter you from discovering their waste.
For others, this results in a hole being dug and a pile of dirt being mounded over the waste.
Good Place to Rest
When a cat needs to rest, it will go to a place that it knows is safe and sheltered from the elements.
Cats in the wild are predators and they will choose places to rest that are hidden away from predators or are designed to keep predators at bay.
They do not want to lie down somewhere and be exposed to the weather or predators.
Because they rest and relax at exactly the same time, the cats will seek out places to rest that are comfortable and safe places for them to sleep or nap.
When a cat digs in or burrows underground it tends to choose a place that is already comfortable and safe.
Making Hideouts
Cats like having places to hide from predators and places that they feel safe.
Indoors, you’ll notice this behavior when a cat wants to have its morning nap or at night when it is ready to sleep.
Outside, some cats may dig a small trench in which to curl into, while other cats prefer to dig holes or burrows to create their dens.
Do Stray Cats Dig Holes?
Yes, stray cats dig holes (excavation) to bury their feces and urine, build nests or caves and dens.
Some cats like hunting in groups and in packs and they may form this habits especially when they are in chasing prey.
If they spot one tunneling into the grass, they will follow and dig their own holes.
Some animals, such as chickens and small rodents, may nest in the cat’s hole.
They accomplish this by rolling in the mud and dirt that clings to their fur, coating their paws with a thin layer of slime that helps protect their feet from sharp objects.
Do Cats Dig Holes Under Fences?
Cats aren’t renowned for digging holes under fences and in gardens, but it can happen.
So, if you’ve spotted holes in your yard or garden, don’t panic.
Hedgehogs or small rodents are the most likely culprits and digging a hole in the soil is not their only talent.
Also Read: Why Does My Cat Burrow Into Me?
Conclusion
Cats, technically, do dig into the ground but they usually do it for aesthetic reasons and to look cool.
They do, however, dig and burrow into dirt to seek shelter or to protect themselves from predators and to make their den.
Cats dig for a variety of purposes, the most usual being to find food, kill prey or for shelter.
If you’ve seen damage to your grass, whether your cat dug holes in your garden or not, you should quickly get rid of the cats to prevent further damage.
If you suspect it’s your small cat that has dug holes in your lawn or garden, you have to take action immediately and limit the damage before it gets out of control.