Cats are able to doing many issues that go away us feeling bewildered and scratching our heads. It’s usually difficult to determine if one thing that’s unusual to us is definitely regular for cats.
Relating to consuming cat litter, we will safely say that this isn’t regular conduct irrespective of how a lot your cat tries to make it appear regular. Consuming cat litter is usually related to an underlying well being problem that requires medical consideration. Listed below are a number of doable the explanation why your cat could also be consuming cat litter and what you are able to do to assist them cease this conduct.
The ten Causes That Cats Eat Cat Litter
1. Pica
Pica refers to a situation the place cats will chew or eat inedible supplies and objects. Cats with pica are recognized to eat objects like cardboard, crops, soil, and wooden. They might additionally develop a behavior of consuming cat litter.
Pica might be attributable to quite a lot of elements, it may be seen as an indication of an underlying medical situation or it may be a behavioral drawback. Some medical situations which have been linked to pica embody endocrine illnesses, gastrointestinal illnesses, and parasitic infections.
2. Dietary Deficiency
Generally, cats can begin to eat cat litter and different supplies attributable to a nutrient deficiency. They do that in an try to compensate for any important vitamins that they lack of their day by day weight loss plan. Subsequently, it’s essential to hunt recommendation out of your vet and guarantee your cat is consuming high-quality cat meals and consuming applicable parts. Making wholesome changes to their weight loss plan could put an finish to your cat’s litter-eating behavior.
3. Anemia
Anemia might be associated to nutrient deficiencies, specifically iron deficiency, so some anemic cats could begin to eat cat litter. Riboflavin, vitamin B12, and niacin deficiencies also can trigger anemia.
Different indicators of anemia embody low vitality, little stamina, pale gums, and lethargy. After a cat has been restored to well being and any nutrient deficiency has been addressed, the cat litter-eating conduct normally goes away.
4. Curiosity
Cats are curious animals, so they could simply be serious about enjoying with and tasting cat litter. Cat litter could really feel enjoyable or have a novel texture that cats wish to style. Typically of curiosity, your cat will normally style cat litter a few occasions earlier than they grow to be disinterested. So, in case your cat continues to eat cat litter on a number of events, it’s protected to say that it’s not as a result of they’re interested by it.
5. Taste
Generally, cats can benefit from the taste of their cat litter and develop a liking for it. This normally occurs when their cat litter is made with pure supplies like grass, wheat, or corn husks.
In case your cat likes the flavour of their cat litter, you possibly can strive switching to a different cat litter that’s made with a special materials. It’s also possible to strive offering them with cat grass as a protected various.
6. Coprophagia
Coprophagia refers to a situation that causes cats to eat their very own feces. Cats with coprophagia could appear to be they’re consuming cat litter, however they’re really consuming their very own poop.
Coprophagia is usually an indication of one other underlying well being situation, equivalent to malnutrition, colitis, or dementia. Subsequently, it’s essential to get your cat your veterinarian in the event that they begin to eat their very own poop.
7. Boredom
Cats who really feel bored or wired could resort to consuming cat litter. Consuming litter could also be a means for bored cats to really feel stimulated, or it could be a behavior that cats develop after they’re feeling wired or anxious.
Guaranteeing your cat will get sufficient train and playtime may also help alleviate boredom. Offering mentally stimulating actions like deal with dispenser toys also can forestall boredom. Assuaging boredom may cause your cat’s litter consuming behavior to go away by itself.
8. Hyperthyroidism
Generally, cats with hyperthyroidism could begin to eat cat litter. The excessive ranges of thyroid hormone can improve a cat’s urge for food and metabolism, which might cause them to consuming inedible objects like cat litter.
Hyperthyroidism is the most typical endocrine illness in cats, and it’s most prevalent in older cats. Different indicators of hyperthyroidism are weight reduction, ingesting greater than regular, poor physique situation, and an enlarged thyroid gland.
9. Mind Tumors
Mind tumors are a uncommon kind of most cancers and an unusual reason behind a cat consuming litter. Nonetheless, mind tumors can have an effect on a cat’s conduct relying on their location and it’s doable for them to extend starvation.
Older cats who’re over 10 years previous have a better threat of creating a mind tumor.
10. Intestinal Parasites
It’s not completely clear what the hyperlink between intestinal parasites and pica is, however some cats with intestinal parasites equivalent to worms can even develop pica. Cats could grow to be repeatedly hungry, which might trigger them to start out consuming inedible objects.
Remedy will fluctuate since there are several types of intestinal parasites. As soon as your cat is free from an intestinal parasite infestation, their pica additionally normally goes away.
Is It Protected for Cats to Eat Cat Litter?
It’s not protected for cats to eat cat litter, so it’s essential to search out efficient options to forestall them from consuming it. Some cat litter isn’t protected for consumption and may trigger intestinal blockages. Clumping clay litter and silica litter are each kinds of cat litter which are significantly unsafe for consumption. It’s normally okay if a small quantity will get in your cat’s mouth, however consuming massive quantities will trigger problems within the gastrointestinal system.
Consuming cat litter can be unsanitary. Ingesting parasites and micro organism from soiled cat litter can result in gastrointestinal issues.
The best way to Forestall Cats from Consuming Cat Litter
Step one to stopping your cat from consuming cat litter is to take your cat to your veterinarian. Since consuming cat litter is usually related to a medical problem, it’s essential to get your cat in for a bodily examination. Your veterinarian can also run diagnostic checks to search out the explanation behind your cat’s litter-eating conduct. In case your veterinarian finds a prognosis, they’ll have the ability to present a remedy plan to assist your cat return to good well being. In lots of instances, cats will cease consuming cat litter as soon as they’ve gotten higher.
In case your cat continues to eat cat litter, strive switching to a special model or kind of cat litter. This could make the cat litter much less palatable to your cat and discourage them from consuming it. Be sure to additionally play together with your cat frequently and distract them with one other exercise should you discover them going to their litter field to eat cat litter.
Conclusion
Cats can begin to eat cat litter for quite a lot of causes, however this conduct is usually tied to a well being problem. Subsequently, it’s greatest to get your cat to your veterinarian as quickly as doable should you discover that they’re beginning to eat cat litter. Your veterinarian may also help you perceive what’s inflicting this conduct and how one can forestall it from occurring.
Together with getting your cat medical assist, it’s essential to make sure they’re residing a wholesome way of life that consists of a nutritious weight loss plan, satisfactory quantities of train, and mentally stimulating actions. Prioritizing your cat’s wellness can forestall them from consuming cat litter and creating different unsafe or unhealthy habits.
Featured Picture Credit score: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock
