{"id":645581,"date":"2024-09-26T07:12:21","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T11:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=645581"},"modified":"2024-10-10T17:14:26","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T21:14:26","slug":"why-is-my-cat-eating-cat-litter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cat-behavior\/why-is-my-cat-eating-cat-litter\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Cat Eating Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cats are capable of doing many things that leave us feeling bewildered and scratching our heads. It\u2019s often challenging to figure out if something that\u2019s strange to us is actually normal for cats.<\/p>\n
When it comes to eating cat litter, we can safely say that this isn\u2019t normal behavior no matter how much your cat tries to make it seem normal. Eating cat litter is often associated with an underlying health issue that requires medical attention. Here are a few possible reasons why your cat may be eating cat litter and what you can do to help them stop this behavior.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pica refers to a condition where cats will chew or eat inedible materials and objects. Cats with pica are known to eat items like cardboard, plants, soil, and wood. They may also develop a habit of eating cat litter.<\/p>\n
Pica can be caused by a variety of factors, it can be seen as a sign of an underlying medical condition or it can be a behavioral problem. Some medical conditions that have been linked to pica include endocrine diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and parasitic infections.<\/p>\n Sometimes, cats can start to eat cat litter and other materials due to a nutrient deficiency. They do this in an attempt to compensate for any essential nutrients that they lack in their daily diet. Therefore, it\u2019s important to seek advice from your vet and ensure your cat is eating high-quality cat food and eating appropriate portions. Making healthy adjustments to their diet may put an end to your cat\u2019s litter-eating habit.<\/p>\n If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet<\/b><\/a>. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online<\/b> and get the personalized advice you need for your pet \u2014 all at an affordable price!\r\n<\/p>\r\n Anemia can be related to nutrient deficiencies, in particular iron deficiency, so some anemic cats may start to eat cat litter. Riboflavin, vitamin B12, and niacin deficiencies can also cause anemia.<\/p>\n Other signs of anemia include low energy, little stamina, pale gums, and lethargy. After a cat has been restored to health and any nutrient deficiency has been addressed, the cat litter-eating behavior usually goes away.<\/p>\n Cats are curious animals, so they might just be interested in playing with and tasting cat litter. Cat litter may feel fun or have a unique texture that cats want to taste. In most cases of curiosity, your cat will usually taste cat litter a couple of times before they become disinterested. So, if your cat continues to eat cat litter on multiple occasions, it\u2019s safe to say that it\u2019s not because they\u2019re curious about it.<\/p>\n Sometimes, cats can enjoy the flavor of their cat litter and develop a liking for it. This usually happens when their cat litter is made with natural materials like grass, wheat, or corn husks.<\/p>\n If your cat likes the flavor of their cat litter, you can try switching to another cat litter that\u2019s made with a different material. You can also try providing them with cat grass as a safe alternative.<\/p>\n Coprophagia refers to a condition that causes cats to eat their own feces. Cats with coprophagia may look like they\u2019re eating cat litter, but they\u2019re actually eating their own poop.<\/p>\n Coprophagia is often a sign of another underlying health condition, such as malnutrition, colitis, or dementia. Therefore, it\u2019s important to get your cat your veterinarian if they start to eat their own poop.<\/p>\n Cats who feel bored or stressed out may resort to eating cat litter. Eating litter may be a way for bored cats to feel stimulated, or it may be a habit that cats develop when they\u2019re feeling stressed out or anxious.<\/p>\n Ensuring your cat gets enough exercise and playtime can help alleviate boredom. Providing mentally stimulating activities like treat dispenser toys can also prevent boredom. Alleviating boredom can cause your cat\u2019s litter eating habit to go away on its own.<\/p>\n Sometimes, cats with hyperthyroidism may start to eat cat litter. The high levels of thyroid hormone can increase a cat\u2019s appetite and metabolism, which can lead them to eating inedible objects like cat litter.<\/p>\n Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disease in cats, and it\u2019s most prevalent in older cats. Other signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, drinking more than usual, poor body condition, and an enlarged thyroid gland.<\/p>\n Brain tumors are a rare type of cancer and an uncommon cause of a cat eating litter. However, brain tumors can affect a cat\u2019s behavior depending on their location and it\u2019s possible for them to increase hunger.<\/p>\n Older cats who are over 10 years old have a higher risk of developing a brain tumor.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not entirely clear what the link between intestinal parasites and pica is, but some cats with intestinal parasites such as worms will also develop pica. Cats may become continuously hungry, which can cause them to start eating inedible items.<\/p>\n Treatment will vary since there are different types of intestinal parasites. Once your cat is free from an intestinal parasite infestation, their pica also usually goes away.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not safe for cats to eat cat litter, so it\u2019s important to find effective solutions to prevent them from eating it. Some cat litter isn\u2019t safe for consumption and can cause intestinal blockages. Clumping clay litter<\/a> and silica litter are both types of cat litter that are particularly unsafe for consumption. It\u2019s usually okay if a small amount gets in your cat\u2019s mouth, but eating large amounts will cause complications in the gastrointestinal system.<\/p>\n Eating cat litter is also unsanitary. Ingesting parasites and bacteria from dirty cat litter can lead to gastrointestinal problems.<\/p>\n The first step to preventing your cat from eating cat litter is to take your cat to your veterinarian. Since eating cat litter is often associated with a medical issue, it\u2019s important to get your cat in for a physical exam. Your veterinarian may also run diagnostic tests to find the reason behind your cat\u2019s litter-eating behavior. If your veterinarian finds a diagnosis, they\u2019ll be able to provide a treatment plan to help your cat return to good health. In many cases, cats will stop eating cat litter once they\u2019ve gotten better.<\/p>\n If your cat continues to eat cat litter, try switching to a different brand or type of cat litter<\/a>. This can make the cat litter less palatable to your cat and discourage them from eating it. Make sure to also play with your cat regularly and distract them with another activity if you find them going to their litter box to eat cat litter.<\/p>\n Cats can start to eat cat litter for a variety of reasons, but this behavior is often tied to a health issue. Therefore, it\u2019s best to get your cat to your veterinarian as soon as possible if you notice that they\u2019re starting to eat cat litter. Your veterinarian can help you understand what\u2019s causing this behavior and how you can prevent it from occurring.<\/p>\n Along with getting your cat medical help, it\u2019s important to ensure they\u2019re living a healthy lifestyle that consists of a nutritious diet<\/a>, adequate amounts of exercise, and mentally stimulating activities. Prioritizing your cat\u2019s wellness can prevent them from eating cat litter and developing other unsafe or unhealthy habits.<\/p>\n Featured Image Credit: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cats are capable of doing many things that leave us feeling bewildered and scratching our heads. It\u2019s often challenging to figure out if something that\u2019s strange to us is actually normal for cats. When it comes to eating cat litter, we can safely say that this isn\u2019t normal behavior no matter how much your cat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3839,"featured_media":645818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[231],"tags":[402],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2. Dietary Deficiency<\/h3>\n
\r\n\r\n
\n3. Anemia<\/h3>\n
\n4. Curiosity<\/h3>\n
\n5. Flavor<\/h3>\n
\n6. Coprophagia<\/h3>\n
\n7. Boredom<\/h3>\n
\n8. Hyperthyroidism<\/h3>\n
\n9. Brain Tumors<\/h3>\n
\n10. Intestinal Parasites<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Is It Safe for Cats to Eat Cat Litter?<\/h2>\n
How to Prevent Cats from Eating Cat Litter<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
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