It is not unusual for cats to play with their food.

Hiding food can be an instinctive behavior. In the wild, your cat would eat what he needed and hide the rest of his food from predators and scavengers until he was hungry again. In your home, covering up his food dish might be her way of carrying on this instinctive behavior.

Or, he might just be playing with her food. Cats are experts at finding ways to entertain themselves. Playing peek-a-boo may be something your cat does to make eating more fun, like children who finger paint smiley faces in cake frosting or adults who make mini-sculptures out of their mashed potatoes.

Your accredited veterinarian is a good resource for explaining your cat’s behavior – don’t be afraid to ask why your cat exhibits a certain behavior at your next preventive care appointment.

Source: https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/cat_care/behavior/playing_with_food.aspx