Give your cat some safe, chewable cat toys with treats inside or puzzle toys that will keep them busy. Substances with a strong smell or bad taste may also work, like citrus sprays or hot sauces. There are nontoxic cat deterrent sprays that can safely repel your cat from electrical cords or other objects that you can’t put away all the time. If you have houseplants, it may be time to find an outdoor space for them or put them in a room that stays closed during the day. Wrap up any electrical cords and put them away when you’re not using them. Lock up cabinets that your kitty can open. Keep dirty laundry in a hamper that can close tightly. If your cat is chewing on items like clothing or blankets, put them in drawers or closets that will stay closed while you’re out. This will help your cat adjust to environmental changes. Provide your cat with lots of safe spaces, including enclosed areas like boxes, elevated perches so your kitty can keep an eye on their environment, and a secure litter box area. If you’ve moved recently and changed the cat’s environment, if you’ve added a new pet to the family, or if there is stress at home that your cat is picking up on, this may be the cause of your kitty’s anxiety.
Too much or too little fat and fiber in the diet can lead to a host of other conditions, including gastrointestinal problems. It is important that you do not change your cat’s diet without consulting your vet. Your vet may suggest that you alter the amount of fiber or fat in your cat’s diet. Here are some possible ways to reduce pica that you might want to discuss:
Find out what your vet recommends to curb the chewing and eating. You’ll need to work with your vet to rule out any medical causes that need to be addressed. Certain brain disorders like brain tumors may also cause this behavior, and pica can be the result of compulsive disorders.īefore you try anything to stop pica, take your cat to the veterinarian. Leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are associated with eating nonfood items, as well as diabetes. Medical issues can result in a cat developing pica.
If a cat is bored and not getting enough mental or physical stimulation, they may just chew on stuff because it’s something to do. Chewing and eating may also be a comforting thing to do that reduces stress. It can be an attention-seeking behavior, especially if your cat notices that you are reacting strongly to it.
Anxiety or boredom can also cause a cat to eat nonfood items.Some cats might nibble grass, and that’s a fairly normal behavior, but cats who start eating too much plant matter or chewing on houseplants may also be trying to compensate for a lack of nutrients in their diet. Inadequate amounts of fat or fiber in the diet may also lead to cats seeking nutrients from unusual sources. Cats might start to eat their own kitty litter if they are anemic. Deficiencies in the diet can cause cats to start eating strange things.There are, however, many possible reasons a cat might start to eat things that aren’t food, such as the following: Pica is still a bit of a mystery to most veterinarians, and it doesn’t exactly have one specific cause.