Why do some cats eat cat garbage? – North Toronto cat rescue

By Nomi Berger

Have your favorite felines suddenly developed a love to eat their cat litter? If so, consider the various possible reasons for this behavior.

Pica: Pica is a condition in which cats chew or eat items such as cardboard, plants, earth, wood and yes, even cat garbage. While itch can be a behavior problem, it can also be caused by medical conditions such as endocrine diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections.

Dietary deficiency: Cats can delight their cat’s garbage as a way to “compensate” the essential nutrients missing their daily diet. Consult your veterinarian to make sure your cats are not only eating food for high quality cats, but are also eating appropriate portions.

Anemia: Often related to nutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, some anemic cats can start eating their cat garbage. Riboflavina’s deficiencies, vitamin B12 and Niacin can also cause anemia. Other signs of this condition include lethargy, small resistance and pale gums.

Curiosity: Being naturally curious, some cats can decide to play and try their cat litter. Because? They can enjoy the feeling of their texture and assume that it is a texture that is worth trying, several times before they satisfy their curiosity and lose interest.

Flavor: Some cats can enjoy their taste of cats too much! This happens when it is made with natural materials such as cornhusks, grass and/or wheat. Change to a cat garbage brand made with different materials and provide their cats with cat grass as a safe alternative.

Boredom: Boring or anxious cats can start eating their cat litter as a way of “choosing” with these negative feelings. The solution is to make sure you exercise enough and game time: game time one by one with you together with mentally stimulating elements such as toys for treatment dispensers.

Coprofagia: This condition causes cats to eat their own feces. Although cats with coprophagia seem to be eating their cat litter, they are actually eating their poop. Since coprophagia can be the sign of an underlying health condition such as colitis, dementia or malnutrition, it is essential that your cat be thoroughly examined by its veterinarian.

Hyperthyroidism: The most common endocrine disease in cats and more frequent in the oldest, hyperthyroidism (high levels of thyroid hormone) can increase its appetite and metabolism, which causes them to eat their cat litter. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism are to drink more water than usual, the bad condition of the body, weight loss and a enlarged thyroid gland.

Again, only your veterinarian can, through a physical exam combined with specific diagnostic tests, find the reason behind your cat’s behavior. Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan will be provided to help restore your cat to good health. In most cases, cats will stop celebrating with cat garbage once they are better.

<< Back to all things for the cat