Cat Behavior

Here we will cover common and popular issues that some cats have and tips on how to deal with them.

If you have a cat who has behavior problems such as peeing outside the litter box, eating non-food items or constant howling at night, you can submit your questions to our Q & A page.

Please remember for all cat behavior issues, you must consult with your cat’s veteriarian first.

Why do cats eat plastic or any other non-food items?

Do you have a cat who is interested in eating plastic? Some cats may just lick the plastic and some try to chew or even eat them. But why?

Pica

Pica is a psychological disorder and it is having an appetite for eating non-food items for example hair, plastic, paper, feces, litter, etc.

Feline pica is a mystery to many cat owners as well as veterinarians.

There are speculations as to why a cat is interested in non-food items:

• Pica could be stress-related.
• Pica could be due to boredom, lack of toys or playtime.
• Pica is due to lack of a certain nutrient in the cat’s food.
• Pica is due to genetics.
• Pica is a compulsive disorder.

In order to understand what your cat is going through, consider the following points:

• Stress or anxiety in the cat’s environment?
• New home, did you recently move?
• Construction or noise outside or inside the cat’s residence? Are you renovating your home?
• New pet added to the household (another cat, dog, bird, etc.) Did you recently adopt or buy a pet? are they getting along?
• Boredom, lack of interaction, little or no mental stimulation. Is it possible that you are not engaging your cat enough? Does your cat have toys to play with?

I suggest, if your vet has not found any health-related issues with your cat, it would be best to consult a cat behaviorist or animal behavior consultant.

Join the Conversation

Do you like this article? Do you have a cat who has Pica? Let us know what you think!