The minute she is distracted, get her attention with a treat or toy, and lure her away from the object of her desire. If your cat starts to chew or suck on something inappropriate, startle her with a sound, such as a loud tap on a tabletop. If you choose the latter, make sure that the dry food used is part of your cat’s calculated daily caloric intake so you don’t cause obesity.īe aware of what kitty is doing. Offer cat-safe rubber toys scented with fish oil and additional dry cat food. Remove all the items your cat likes to suck on, such as afghans, wool sweaters, scarves, and heavy socks. Potted cat grass or catnip can help, too. Some cats do better with high-fiber kibble in a separate bowl that they can eat at will. Gastrointestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies), infectious diseases (feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus), kidney disease, pancreatitis, thyroid disorders, and diabetes can all cause pica. Of course, you should rule out medical reasons for any pica. In some anxious cats, chewing behaviors serve as coping mechanisms, with the resulting endorphin rush becoming addictive and developing into an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Chewing or sucking on objects is believed to release endorphins, which are pain-relieving hormones that lead to warm feelings of well-being and comfort (this is also a reason why some children suck their thumbs). Stress, anxiety, and boredom can lead to a resurgence. Many cats show wool-sucking behavior as young as 6 months of age, and most cats that develop it are noted to express the problem by 18 months of age. Unfortunately, no definitive cause has been found for pica, but early weaning of kittens may be a contributing factor (see sidebar). In cats, a study from the United Kingdom showed that the most common material cats sucked or chewed on was wool (93%), followed by cotton, man-made fabrics, rubber, plastic, paper, and cardboard. People, dogs, and other animals can also demonstrate pica. Pica is the medieval Latin name for the magpie, a bird known for eating anything. “Pica” is the proper term for the ingestion of abnormal substances. While choking is rare, ingesting fabric, string, plastic, or any other non-food item can lead to gastrointestinal tract obstructions, requiring emergency life-saving surgery. Consuming any non-nutritive object is a cause for alarm. Your cat didn’t become a freaky eater overnight, so don’t give up if you don’t see results right away.Cats often use seemingly odd ways to cope with stress, such as sucking on fabric (wool is a kitty favorite) or eating bizarre items, like a bread-bag twist tie. If your cat’s feline pica is behavioral in origin, it will take time to get her out of the habit of chewing nonfood items. A short course of anti-anxiety medication can jump-start the process, but that’s best left to the discretion of your vet or the behaviorist you choose to work with. Check the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants websites to find one in your area. Be sure to put Venetian-blind cords safely out of your cat’s reach, too.Ī cat behaviorist might be able to work with you and your cat. If there are places where you can’t hide wires, a nontoxic deterrent spray such as bitter apple might make exposed cords taste gross enough to stop your cat from chewing. Keep your cell phone charger, headphones, USB cords, and the like in a plastic storage container with a tight-closing lid. Use cord guards to keep electrical wires away from your cat’s teeth. When you’re done, put the teaser toy away where your cat can’t reach it. Teaser toys are great for exercise and mental stimulation, and a tired cat is a nondestructive cat. When you’re home, give him lots of interactive play time. Give him puzzle toys including things such as rolling treat balls to keep him busy while you’re away at work. You can ease a cat’s boredom by providing environmental enrichment.
Pica in cats how to#
Begin by addressing the cause of the stress (do a web search for "stressed cat" and you’ll find lots of advice on how to do that) and spending time with your cat to help her adapt.įeline pica is also pretty common in bored or lonely cats. If there has been a change in your life recently - moving to a different house, a new schedule, new roommate, outdoor construction - your cat might be acting out because of anxiety. Highly stressed or anxious cats might use chewing behavior as a self-soothing technique. Your vet might also be able to give you some advice on how to manage the behavior. Make sure your cat isn’t eating non-food items in an effort to get nutrients she needs or because an illness is triggering the disorder. Any behavior issues should be addressed with your veterinarian, because behavior changes can indicate a health problem.
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