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Why do larger cats sometimes store uneaten prey?

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Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) with tufted ears and spotted fur walking through snow in a winter landscape. — feline The Eurasian lynx (*Lynx lynx*), a member of the family Felidae, can be found in forests that range from Scandinavia to far eastern Russia. It is the largest member of the genus *Lynx* and the third largest predator in Europe.

Larger cats, such as tigers, often store or hide their uneaten prey to protect the carcass from scavengers so that they can return to feed on it later.1

This behavior, known as food caching, is a common strategy among larger felines. Because these cats live on a feast-or-famine cycle—gorging themselves immediately after a successful hunt and then fasting for several days—they may drag a kill into a tree or conceal it under a bush after their initial meal to ensure the remaining meat is preserved for future consumption.2