Eating Bad Things!

My cat is female, and 3 years old. We've had her since she was a kitten, and she's had no trauma that could lead to this strange behaviour.

What she's doing is she eats things she shouldn't be. Her favourite is anything plastic. This includes plastic bags (even those that have not touched food), elastic bands and more. She doesn't just chew these things but actually eats them.

She also eats magazines, photographs and negatives. I think that might have something to do with the chemicals on them. We are both photographers, so this is a big problem!

Does anyone else's cat do this? Any suggestions on how to break her of the habit? We are currently trying to keep these items away from her, but you know how cats are... they get into everything!

You're right, it is the ingredients in the items. Plastic bags and rubber bands contain fish oil. Photographs are treated with gelatin derived from (traditionally, anyway) the marrow of beef bones. Not sure about the paper - mine just like to shred any paper within reach.

I hope someone else has ideas on how to dissuade her from eating these things. The only thing I've found is to be super diligent about keeping the items mine like to lick (not eat, though) out of reach - in drawers or cloth bags.

When cats eat non-edible things its called "pica" and usually is an internal problem or lack of something in the diet. Talk to your vet about running some tests and what he/she suggests you do.

Photography chemicals are poisoneous to cats.

Thank you both for responding!

So if she is eating things that aren't food, this "pica" thing, but not seeming ill otherwise, I should still get her checked out? I know that cats usually hide illness well, so maybe this is a warning sign.

Is it possible that she does these things out of boredom? She is home alone for a few hours in the middle of the day, which is when she gets into trouble. I've applied to get a second cat so they can keep each other company, maybe a companion might help her pass the hours during the day.

What kind of cat food are you feeding her? How old is she? Is she a mutt-kitty or a pure-bred cat? Most times pica is indicative of something lacking in the diet. The age could help determine if it's boredom. And certain breeds are more prone to pica than others.

From what you've just said, and especially if she's mainly or only doing it when she's alone and possibly bored, it sounds like a behavioral issue. Like I said, 2 of the 3 things are made with animal renderings which can be very attractive to cats. The paper, though, I would think is more indicative of just being bored. Adding a friend would probably be the best solution if it is that she's just bored. And you're already in the process of doing that.

Just cause she hasn't gotten sick yet, doesn't mean she won't. Sooner or later something may wind up wrapped around her tongue/throat or intestines and you'll have major surgery.

I'd still speak to the vet about it.

Tak's 3 and a half now. She a mutt-cat. She's been eating dry cat food since she was a baby. Since she's still young, I'm inclined to think that this is probably boredom.

What will the vet do for me if I bring her in? I'm a starving student at the moment, and I don't want to tap into my savings if he's just going to tell me to keep her away from plastic!

How is "pica" usually diagnosed? I'll start a websearch now, but it seems like everyone here is pretty knowledgeable!

At least just go talk to the vet, tell him you're broke, and ask for advice. He may just suggest a diff. kind of food, or some inexpensive supplement.

Originally Posted by Malakaiii

Tak's 3 and a half now. She a mutt-cat. She's been eating dry cat food since she was a baby. Since she's still young, I'm inclined to think that this is probably boredom.

What will the vet do for me if I bring her in? I'm a starving student at the moment, and I don't want to tap into my savings if he's just going to tell me to keep her away from plastic!

How is "pica" usually diagnosed? I'll start a websearch now, but it seems like everyone here is pretty knowledgeable!

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IMO, I wouldn't worry too much. Both of my kitties (almost two years) do the same thing. Sunny likes to take revenge on any plastic grocery bag she can find, due to a trauma when she was a couple months old. Hobbes is just a pig, and will eat ANYTHING he can find. They both like to eat rubber bands and the plastic rings from milk cartons and the likes.

We just keep the house in such a way where such things that shouldn't be comsumed are either in drawers (make sure kitty doesn't SEE you put things in these places, by the way), in cabinets, other rooms with the door closed, etc. I would recommend just making the things unavailable.

If you still want to check with your vet, sure, go for it. But I've had MANY cats in my life, and they all want those things. It's just, like you said, either bordom, kitty recognizing the oils or such that are in those things, or that the texture is interesting to them, and they want to eat it. No big deal.

If you want to add something to your kitty's diet (that would be really good for her), you might consider giving her the juice out of tuna fish cans when you make tuna. (Make sure it's the tuna in water, not oil.) The natural fish oils are very good for kitty's coat and health in general.

Otherwise, I honestly wouldn't worry, but just make the things unobtainable for her.

As far as lacking things in her diet, I guess it would do good to ask...what brand/type of dry food does she eat?

I mean, it's a minute possibility that she needs more in her diet, but when you consider that most cats eat those things (or at least want to), that might not be the thing at all. Either she's bored, or the things smell good, or she's curious. If you're really concerned about her diet, you might try the tuna thing, or giving her wet food every now and then (maybe once a week), but it's not totally necessary if you have a good dry food.