There are a few things that could be causing your kitty’s chewing habits. The name pica comes from the Latin word for magpie – as these birds are renowned for their unusual ability and willingness to eat pretty much anything. Unlike eating grass, which some cats may be doing to help them with any stomach issues, pica sufferers will usually be drawn to chewing anything – even things that could cause them to get really sick. What this means is that an animal suffering from pica has the desire and drive to eat items that are not providing them with any nutritional or health benefits. Pica is categorized scientifically as “the compulsive eating of non-nutritive substances”. While a little playful chewing is normal, pica is potentially dangerous for our fur babies, specifically because what they end up eating really isn’t good for them! This is why it’s important to understand what drives our kitties to chew.īecause the more we know, the better we can care for our beloved fluff balls, right? So let’s get started! Pica in Cats – Symptoms And Treatment What Is Feline Pica? Medical treatments, stress management, environmental enrichment ideas & supplement suggestions.Including the common materials cats reach for.The possible genetic, behavioral and environmental causes.

So we’ve compiled here the latest research and findings, to help shed some light on this issue for worried fur parents. Whether you find your cat chewing your shoelaces, your shower curtains or even your electrical cords – it can be an unsettling and worrying experience for us pet parents.īut by far the biggest question we see floating around the cat community is why is my cat eating plastic? Tupperware, grocery bags, or any other plastic goodies…whatever they can get their paws on, our kitties seem totally fixated with the stuff.ĭescribed by researchers as “the ingestion of inedible items”, this condition can affect cows, birds, dogs and even humans too! But it’s estimated that around 40% of cats will be affected in their lifetime – which is a huge number of our beloved felines.Īs the saying goes, knowledge is power. If you’ve ever walked in to find your kitty munching on something bizarre, yet again, this question might have popped up for you.

Cat pica treatment