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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.
When it involves consuming cat litter, we will safely say that this isn’t regular habits regardless of how a lot your cat tries to make it appear regular. Eating cat litter is usually related to an underlying well being difficulty that requires medical consideration. Here are a couple of doable explanation why your cat could also be consuming cat litter and what you are able to do to assist them cease this habits.
The 10 Reasons 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 identified to eat objects like cardboard, crops, soil, and wooden. They might also develop a behavior of consuming cat litter.
Pica will 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 downside. Some medical circumstances which have been linked to pica embrace endocrine illnesses, gastrointestinal illnesses, and parasitic infections.
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2. Dietary Deficiency
Sometimes, cats can begin to eat cat litter and different supplies resulting from a nutrient deficiency. They do that in an try and compensate for any important vitamins that they lack of their each day weight loss program. Therefore, it’s necessary 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 program might put an finish to your cat’s litter-eating behavior.
3. Anemia
Anemia will be associated to nutrient deficiencies, specifically iron deficiency, so some anemic cats might begin to eat cat litter. Riboflavin, vitamin B12, and niacin deficiencies also can trigger anemia.
Other indicators of anemia embrace low power, 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 habits often goes away.
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4. Curiosity
Cats are curious animals, so they may simply be excited by enjoying with and tasting cat litter. Cat litter might really feel enjoyable or have a singular texture that cats need to style. In most instances of curiosity, your cat will often 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 secure to say that it’s not as a result of they’re interested by it.
5. Flavor
Sometimes, cats can benefit from the taste of their cat litter and develop a liking for it. This often occurs when their cat litter is made with pure supplies like grass, wheat, or corn husks.
If your cat likes the flavour of their cat litter, you may strive switching to a different cat litter that’s made with a unique materials. You also can strive offering them with cat grass as a secure different.
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6. Coprophagia
Coprophagia refers to a situation that causes cats to eat their very own feces. Cats with coprophagia might appear like 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, similar to malnutrition, colitis, or dementia. Therefore, it’s necessary 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 might resort to consuming cat litter. Eating litter could also be a method for bored cats to really feel stimulated, or it could be a behavior that cats develop once they’re feeling wired or anxious.
Ensuring your cat will get sufficient train and playtime may also help alleviate boredom. Providing mentally stimulating actions like deal with dispenser toys also can stop boredom. Alleviating boredom may cause your cat’s litter consuming behavior to go away by itself.
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8. Hyperthyroidism
Sometimes, cats with hyperthyroidism might 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 commonest endocrine illness in cats, and it’s most prevalent in older cats. Other indicators of hyperthyroidism are weight reduction, ingesting greater than standard, poor physique situation, and an enlarged thyroid gland.
9. Brain Tumors
Brain tumors are a uncommon sort of most cancers and an unusual reason for a cat consuming litter. However, mind tumors can have an effect on a cat’s habits relying on their location and it’s doable for them to extend starvation.
Older cats who’re over 10 years outdated have a better danger of creating a mind tumor.
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10. Intestinal Parasites
It’s not totally clear what the hyperlink between intestinal parasites and pica is, however some cats with intestinal parasites similar to worms may even develop pica. Cats might grow to be repeatedly hungry, which might trigger them to start out consuming inedible objects.
Treatment will differ since there are various kinds of intestinal parasites. Once your cat is free from an intestinal parasite infestation, their pica additionally often goes away.
Is It Safe for Cats to Eat Cat Litter?
It’s not secure for cats to eat cat litter, so it’s necessary to search out efficient options to forestall them from consuming it. Some cat litter isn’t secure for consumption and might trigger intestinal blockages. Clumping clay litter and silica litter are each varieties of cat litter which can be notably unsafe for consumption. It’s often okay if a small quantity will get in your cat’s mouth, however consuming giant quantities will trigger issues within the gastrointestinal system.
Eating cat litter can be unsanitary. Ingesting parasites and micro organism from soiled cat litter can result in gastrointestinal issues.
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How to Prevent Cats from Eating Cat Litter
The first step 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 difficulty, it’s necessary to get your cat in for a bodily examination. Your veterinarian might also run diagnostic assessments to search out the explanation behind your cat’s litter-eating habits. If your veterinarian finds a prognosis, they’ll be capable of present a remedy plan to assist your cat return to good well being. In many instances, cats will cease consuming cat litter as soon as they’ve gotten higher.
If your cat continues to eat cat litter, strive switching to a unique model or sort of cat litter. This could make the cat litter much less palatable to your cat and discourage them from consuming it. Make certain to additionally play along with your cat often and distract them with one other exercise for those who 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 habits is usually tied to a well being difficulty. Therefore, it’s finest to get your cat to your veterinarian as quickly as doable for those who discover that they’re beginning to eat cat litter. Your veterinarian may also help you perceive what’s inflicting this habits and how one can stop it from occurring.
Along with getting your cat medical assist, it’s necessary to make sure they’re residing a wholesome life-style that consists of a nutritious weight loss program, enough quantities of train, and mentally stimulating actions. Prioritizing your cat’s wellness can stop them from consuming cat litter and creating different unsafe or unhealthy habits.
Sources
- petMD – Pica
- Merck Manual
- VCA Animal Hospitals
- Vetster
- petMD – Hyperthyroidism
- petMD — Brain Tumors
Featured Image Credit: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock
The publish Why Is My Cat Eating Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Reasons by Jessica Kim appeared first on Catster. Copying over whole articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You will not be conscious of it, however all of those articles had been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they are not thought of public area. However, we recognize that you just just like the article and would like it for those who continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.
