guy behaviourist Ingrid Johnson has a cat who used to love manducate on the clean pliant shower curtain in her john .
“ My one cat would sit on the side of the bathtub and turn her head to the side andcrunch , crunchlike she was cakehole punch the rain shower curtain with her teeth , ” says Johnson ofFundamentally Feline , a cat behavior consultation company . “ She did n’t even rip it — there are just little holes . For her , it was a sensation thing . ”
It might seem unknown for a cat to care chomp on plastic , but Johnson say this behaviour is surprisingly common . When cats chew on or lick plastic , she order it ’s often harmless . But if your cat-o'-nine-tails eats plastic , you have a rationality to be touch .
But what is it about charge card that attract cats ? And is it dangerous for cat to clamp their cuspid on this stuff ?
Why Do Cats Eat Plastic?
Here are a few potential understanding why your cat may be eating , chewing , or licking charge card .
It reminds them of hunting prey
Johnson say cats are mainly draw to credit card because it invoke to their hunting instincts .
“ They care the grain , they like the crunch , ” Johnson says . “ I call back the aesthesis and the tactile feel on the sass mimics some of what they ’re lacking in the inability to kill prey . You know , like bray through modest bone , form , and plumage . ”
For this reason , she says computerized tomography often attempt out plastic withcrunchappeal : crinkly credit card bags , guy kibble packaging , and even glossy photos .
Dr. Stephanie Sheen , a veterinarian at Fuzzy Pet Health , say cats may also be interested in plastic cords because they look like mouse tails . Or they might care plastic bags because of the way they move with the wind , resembling quarry .
They’re curious—or just plain bored
But there are many other reasons why khat chew , play with , or eat charge card , order Dr. Sheen . Cats of any age might grow to charge card out of curiosity or boredom .
“ When a cat does not receive enough mental stimulation through toy play , accession to the outdoors , or other environmental enrichment , they can look for fashion to interact with their environs to keep themselves entertained , ” says Dr. Sheen . “ If it extend habitually , manducate plastic can become a driven behavior and self - rewarding , acondition called pica . ”
They mistake it for food…maybe
Another surmisal as to why plastic entices cats is because of what it ’s made of . Some shopping cup of tea and other plastic products contain creature - derived ingredients , which might make them smell out like food , says Johnson .
“ This is all meditation , ” she says , “ but one of the theory is … that cats can still smell out and taste some degree of the animal fatty tissue or protein in the product , so they ’re actually attracted to it for both taste and aroma . ”
Your cat is a particular breed
Dr. Sheen tell some cat breeds might be more predisposed to eating things they should n’t , including charge plate .
“ Oriental breeds , such as Burmese andSiamesecats , are among those , suggesting some inherited part to the conduct , ” she order . “ However , these strain tend to prefer material items , such as wool , with charge plate being less ordinarily ingested . ”
A medical issue may be to blame
According to Dr. Sheen , some medical issue might also make cats more interested in charge plate .
“ sure medical conditions that importantly increase appetency , such asdiabetesand thyroid disease , can do cat to eat non - food items like charge card , ” she says . “ inveterate intestinal disorders that interpose with the absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract , such asinflammatory bowel diseaseor intestinal parasites , may also increase the likelihood of a cat take in plastic . Some cat with dental problems may chew charge card — as well as rummy kitty , specially if teething . ”
Dangers of Cats Eating Plastic
So your cat like to bite charge plate . Is this behavior harmless ? Or dangerous ? It calculate , says Johnson .
“ If you fuck that your cat does not eat credit card and they just manducate on it , and they have a history of being trust , then I ’ve allowed it , ” she says . “ But I ’ve grant it to happen based on the item . The grocery bags are too risky for me . Larger affair like chewing on a handbag of pet intellectual nourishment or the shower curtain do n’t bother me . ”
But if a kat does run through charge plate — either intentionally or accidentally — it can be a problem , says Johnson . She enunciate shopping bags are one of the most dangerous type of plastic , because they can easily shred and end up down your cat ’s pharynx .
“ Usually , it makes its room into the belly , ” say Johnson . “ The job becomes when it gets stuck in the stomach or the intestine , and then they can not feed and pass dejection because they have a foreign body in their GI tract that is affecting digestion and the power for thing to move through . ”
Dr. Sheen says it ’s also dangerous for cat to ingest pieces of hard plastic with shrill edges , which can deflate the flaccid tissues of your Caterpillar ’s stomach or intestine . In some cases , this can run to a severe contagion in the abdomen called infected peritonitis .
“ Swallowing plastic , peculiarly if it has keen edge , can cause punctures or occlusion in the stomach or intestinal pamphlet , which can require surgical process , ” say Dr. Sheen . “ Even if a opus of lowly charge card is capable to be eliminated , it can cause quite a bit of annoyance as it passes , leave indiarrheaor flaming stools . ”
Besides GI issues and contagion , plastic intake could harm your cat ’s health through chemic toxicity . Plastic is manufactured with all kinds of harmful chemicals — including endocrine disruptors like BPA — and these meaning are known to cause wellness issues in humans and creature . According to astudyconducted by the Environmental Working Group ( EWG ) , blackguard and cats contain high grade of chemical found in plastics , food for thought packaging , and other products . While the health risks of these chemicals have largely not been learn for our pets , we can not accept they are altogether harmless .
But it ’s not just ingesting plastic that can harm your cat . harmonize to Dr. Sheen , rigid plastic can damage cat ’ teeth or gum tree ; plugged in electric cord can cause severe backtalk burns or lung trauma through electrocution ; and plastic bags can suffocate your cat if they crawl entirely into them .
What to Do If Your Cat Eats Plastic
If you notice your cat eating charge plate , it ’s right to take him or her to a veterinary clinic for an in - somebody appointment , or to get advice through a veterinary telemedicine service , state Dr. Sheen .
“ It ’s helpful to know the case and sizing of the piece that has been eaten and the near meter it was consume , ” she says .
In many cases , you wo n’t see your Arabian tea use up charge card , but you might see sign that plastic uptake has pass . These include :
Johnson enounce you might also witness some bits of charge plate in your cat ’s stool . “ That would be a red iris that there might be more in there , ” she state .
After seeking medical advice and care for your CT , you should talk to your veterinarian or a cat-o'-nine-tails behaviorist to discover how to protect your khat from credit card in the future .
How to Prevent Cats from Eating Plastic
Johnson says an easy way of life to get your Caterpillar to stop eating credit card is to leave dry kibble , especially dental kibble that requires your cat to scranch .
“ If cats do n’t have anything to scraunch , they are going to see it , ” Johnson says . “ So I think it ’s authoritative for cats to have some degree of dry intellectual nourishment to mime the feathering , flesh , and bone of what they would be crunching through in the wilderness . That ’s why I in reality personally like dental kibble or any sort of oral concern type diet that are big kibbles designed to make them crunch and help mimic that sensation and satiate that demand . ”
Keep in mind that some dental diseases or a recent dental procedure may forestall your cat from being able to masticate severe food . If this is the display case , always observe your veterinarian ’s recommendations .
Johnson also suggestsgiving cats silver vinesticks , which creates a euphoric effect similar to catnip , but also allows them to jaw and compaction .
“ That ’s a very appropriate and great choice for cats that might be otherwise chewing on something inappropriate to give them a good outlet , ” say Johnson .
While rawhides can be dangerous for your cat to masticate on , especially if they swallow large pieces , you may try intersection like no - pelt chaw , some of which are made specifically for felines .
Dr. Sheen sound out it ’s also all important to see that your Arabian tea does n’t have access to charge plate that could harm their health if they are inclined to manducate or eat it .
“ You should keep plastic bags in closet and place William Henry Gates or wrapper around cord they have exhibit interestingness in , ” she says . “ Promptly throw away any used plastic cutter or plastic bottles and bottle hood . If removal or access confinement is not possible , products such as bitter apple nebulizer ( which can be found at your local pet shop ) spray on the items can be a balk but are not 100 percent effective . ” While bitter apple atomiser may be an option for many plastic , it should not be spray on electric cord .
You should also look at improve your cat ’s environment , especially if your cat only lives indoors . Dr. Sheen suggests varying your cat ’s plaything every few days to boost interaction , ply unlike form of scratching C. W. Post , using solid food dispensing toy dog , and insure they haveperchesthat allow them to look outside .
“ assay to comprise 15 - minute play sessions daily withinteractive toystostrengthen your bondand provide salmagundi , ” say Dr. Sheen . “ keep your bozo ’s mind occupied will make them less likely to look out destructive opportunities — and makes them happier cat in general ! ”
