![]() In some cats who have compulsive eating disorders or anxiety, medical intervention may be necessary with psychoactive medications which include: A supply of interactive cat toys, cat trees and shelves and access to windows so the cat can watch the world. Most pet shops stock games and puzzles that make the cat work for a treat. Cats are creatures of habit and don’t like change.Įnvironmental enrichment: Hide cat-friendly treats around the home for your cat to discover. Keep routines the same and avoid changes where possible. Pica often occurs in adolescence and can also begin when a cat moves into a new home or if there are inter-cat issues in the home. Reduce stress: Stress can sometimes trigger pica. Wand toys are a great choice, which allows the cat to stalk, run and jump at the toy, after some time, allow the cat to catch and kill it (within reason, you don’t want the wand destroyed), and then offer a meal.Īpply a bittering agent: If the targeted item is something, you can’t put away easily, such as electrical cords it may be necessary to paint them with something to deter the cat. Hunt, kill and eat is a common method that mimics the cat’s natural hunt cycle in the wild. Schedule play: Cats can only provide so much entertainment pet owners need to take the time to play with their cats too. Offer chewy foods such as softened dog chews (soaked in water), raw chunks of steak or chicken necks. Teething kittens can benefit from teething toys which can offer relief. Offer a suitable replacement: Provide the cat with interactive toys cat chew toys and food puzzles and balls. Put clothes away in cupboards or drawers or keep the cat confined to an area the target objects aren’t located. Remove target items: If your cat is chewing clothing, remove it. Obesity can lead to several medical disorders. A constant supply of dry food may be of help, but only if the cat is not prone to over-eating. Speak to your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat’s diet. If your cat has been chewing on the houseplants, the simplest solution is to remove them from your cat’s reach and replace them with cat-friendly plants such as catnip or cat grass.įeed a well-balanced and good quality diet: A high fibre diet can eliminate this behaviour in some cats. There is no concrete explanation as to why cats chew plants, but some suggestions include that plants contain certain nutrients which are not available in the cat’s regular food, ingestion of plants assists in bringing up hairballs. Grow cat-safe plants: It is normal for cats to chew on plants however, it can be fatal if the cat eats a poisonous one. ![]() Related content: Five pillars of a healthy feline environment. If a medical cause cannot be determined, then behavioural modification will be necessary and in some cases, drug therapy. TreatmentĪ cat with pica or wool sucking should be evaluated by a veterinarian for a thorough physical examination to rule out a medical problem.īaseline tests which include biochemical profile, complete blood count and urinalysis can help to evaluate the overall health of the cat. If your cat stops eating, vomits, has diarrhea or becomes lethargic contact your veterinarian immediately. Examples include poisonous plants or cleaning products. ![]() Poisoning can occur if the target is toxic to cats. Peristalsis (wave-like contractions) propel the free end along the GI tract but because the object is anchored and cannot move the GI tract creeps up the trailing part and becomes plicated (folded). Linear objects such as string or wool can cause a plication or folding of the intestines when one end becomes lodged at the base of the tongue or the pylorus (the exit from the stomach into the small intestine). Ingestion of non-digestible objects can lead to a gastrointestinal blockage that prevents food from passing through the digestive tract and can lead to necrosis (death) of the intestines. Genetics as pica and wool sucking is seen most often in Siamese cats.Attention seeking behaviour, the cat, steals or chews on an object and the caregiver reacts.Boredom and lack of environmental enrichment.Kittens are separated from their mother too early. ![]() Stress and anxiety can cause the cat to redirect their stress onto unusual eating behaviours.There are several underlying causes of why a cat develops an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Once an underlying cause has been ruled out, a diagnosis of pica can be made. Senility and central nervous system disorders.Polyphagia is the medical term for disorders that cause an increased appetite, which includes hyperthyroidism, anemia, acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome and diabetes.Dietary insufficiency, and possibly needing more fibre, minerals or vitamins in their diet.
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