If you perceive pica symptoms on your cat, make sure you bring it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.Įating litter may be a symptom that your cat is ill, and anemia is one of the disorders that can make it display this symptom. In most cases, pica comes off as part of either physiological or behavioural problems. It causes your cat to eat items like wood, plastic, metal, and litter. ![]() It is an eating disorder that affects numerous animals. Pica is a traditional habit in animals, especially in cats and dogs. Here are a few possible causes of your cat keeping them eating their litter. But if your cat is an adult and it is eating litter, it might be a sign of nutritional deficiency or medical issue. The most common reason is that your cats like the taste of litter. ![]() Why is my cat eating litter?Įating cat litter seems like eccentric behaviour, but it is common in cats. Eating litter is a common habit in cats which is called pica. If you feel any health issues in your cat, you should need to take it to a veterinarian. If your cat eats litter, it could be a behaviour issue or health problem. For example, some cats eat litter, and some lie in litter boxes. She finds that high-fiber diets can be helpful, too.Cats sometimes do mysterious things, and sometimes they show strange behaviour when it comes to litter boxes. These prescriptions may be necessary for life, as pica can persist. If those strategies don’t do enough on their own, the doctor will prescribe either an SSRI like fluoxetine (Prozac) or a tricyclic antidepressant such as clomipramine. Borns-Weil emphasizes the importance of preventing access to a cat’s preferred material to chew or lick. “I also address all the possible causes of social anxiety and other stresses in the home,” she says. Cats need an outlet for their predatory instincts, which interactive play provides.” For instance, play time with toys attached to wands provide cats with a powerful “hunting” experience. Borns-Weil, “my treatment plan generally consists of increasing environmental enrichment and mental stimulation. ![]() If the pica has resulted from an underlying medical condition, your veterinarian will first explore the possibility of gastrointestinal disease or infection. Borns-Weil says, “insufficient intellectual and physical stimulation may be instrumental in causing this behavior.” Treatment Plan “Since cats are curious and highly intelligent,” Dr. Some of the preferred materials include wood, cloth, paper products, cellophane, plastic, and cardboard.īoredom, stress, anxiety, lack of adequate attention. Borns-Weil says.Īvailability of the preferred substrate (material). “Once the behavior starts, it becomes self-rewarding,” Dr. Cats weaned too early may be prone to suckling-like behavior when they are older. Just as any number of medical problems can cause pica, a number of environmental reasons can cause the Feline Compulsive Disorder that manifests as pica: And she would diagnose that behavioral problem as Feline Compulsive Disorder, since pica in cats is an overwhelming and repetitive impulse. The Head of the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic, Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, agrees, saying that “only when medical problems have been thoroughly ruled out” would she label a case of pica a behavioral problem. “Behavioral disorders are accurately diagnosed by the absence of any underlying medical disorder,” the doctor explains. If a medical cause is found and treated, the pica should cease.Īnd if an underlying medical disorder cannot be found? It is at that point that a behavioral rather than a medical cause should be considered. If a cat displays pica behavior, “it is imperative that he be thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian,” Dr. ![]() In addition to observing the pica itself, “owners should look for subtle signs of gastrointestinal upset such as flatulence, stomach gurgling, lip licking, and repetitive swallowing or drooling,” says Dr. Some medical causes of pica include inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, and giardia. That’s not just because pica can lead to obstructions in the gastrointestinal tract but also because it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. “Pica symptoms should be taken seriously,” says Tufts veterinary internist Michael Stone, DVM. If indigestible items are swallowed, they can become lodged in a cat’s intestine, creating a potentially life-threatening blockage requiring a surgical fix. The word comes from the Latin picave, which means magpie - a bird that has notorious, indiscriminate dietary customs.Įating non-food materials is not just weird it’s dangerous. The medical term for this bizarre behavior is pica. Does your cat lick or devour non-food items while displaying passionate interest in those objects? Is he eating nylon stockings or chomping down on paper towels?
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