Why Is My Cat Consuming Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Causes

Why Is My Cat Consuming Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Causes

[ad_1]

The knowledge is present and up-to-date in accordance with the most recent veterinarian analysis.
Be taught further »

Cats are able to doing many factors that go away us feeling bewildered and scratching our heads. It’s usually troublesome to search out out if one issue that’s unusual to us is actually widespread for cats.

In the case of consuming cat litter, we’re able to safely say that this isn’t widespread habits no matter how reasonably quite a bit your cat tries to make it appear widespread. Consuming cat litter is usually related to an underlying successfully being drawback that requires medical consideration. Listed beneath are just a few doable the reason why your cat could also be consuming cat litter and what you’ll do to assist them cease this habits.

divider 3 pawsdivider 3 paws

The ten Causes That Cats Eat Cat Litter

1. Pica

Pica refers to a state of affairs the place cats will chew or eat inedible offers and objects. Cats with pica are acknowledged to eat objects like cardboard, vegetation, soil, and picket. They could furthermore develop a habits of consuming cat litter.

Pica may very well be attributable to a wide range of components, it may very well be seen as an indication of an underlying medical state of affairs or it may very well be a behavioral drawback. Some medical circumstances which have been linked to pica embody endocrine sicknesses, gastrointestinal sicknesses, and parasitic infections.

cat sniffing cat litter
Picture Credit score rating score: Lightspruch, Shutterstock

2. Dietary Deficiency

Often, cats can begin to eat cat litter and completely totally different offers on account of a nutrient deficiency. They do that in an attempt to compensate for any important dietary nutritional vitamins that they lack of their on every day foundation meals routine. Attributable to this reality, it’s essential to hunt suggestion out of your vet and guarantee your cat is consuming high-quality cat meals and consuming related elements. Making healthful modifications to their meals routine would possibly put an finish to your cat’s litter-eating habits.

💛 😺 Speak To a Vet On-line From the Consolation of Your Sofa!

If it will be significant converse with a vet nonetheless can’t get to a minimum of one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an net service the place it is potential you will talk to a vet on-line and get the personalised suggestion you want in your pet — all at an inexpensive worth!


3. Anemia

Anemia may very well be associated to nutrient deficiencies, significantly iron deficiency, so some anemic cats would possibly begin to eat cat litter. Riboflavin, vitamin B12, and niacin deficiencies could even set off anemia.

Fully totally different indicators of anemia embody low power, little stamina, pale gums, and lethargy. After a cat has been restored to successfully being and any nutrient deficiency has been addressed, the cat litter-eating habits normally goes away.

tabby cat sniffing the litter box
Picture Credit score rating score: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

4. Curiosity

Cats are curious animals, so they may merely be involved in having enjoyable with with and tasting cat litter. Cat litter would possibly really actually really feel fulfilling or have a novel texture that cats should kind. Often of curiosity, your cat will normally kind cat litter only a few occasions earlier than they alter into disinterested. So, in case your cat continues to eat cat litter on a wide range of events, it’s protected to say that it’s not due to they’re excited by it.


5. Fashion

Often, cats can revenue from the type of their cat litter and develop a liking for it. This normally occurs when their cat litter is made with pure offers like grass, wheat, or corn husks.

In case your cat likes the flavour of their cat litter, it is potential you will strive switching to a definite cat litter that’s made with a novel provides. Likelihood is you will as successfully strive offering them with cat grass as a protected different.

cat sniffing litter in the box
Picture Credit score rating score: Duet PandG, Shutterstock

6. Coprophagia

Coprophagia refers to a state of affairs that causes cats to eat their very private feces. Cats with coprophagia would possibly seem to be they’re consuming cat litter, nonetheless they’re really consuming their very private poop.

Coprophagia is usually an indication of 1 totally different underlying successfully being state of affairs, resembling malnutrition, colitis, or dementia. Attributable to this reality, it’s essential to get your cat your veterinarian inside the event that they begin to eat their very private poop.


7. Boredom

Cats who really actually really feel bored or wired would possibly resort to consuming cat litter. Consuming litter could also be a technique for bored cats to primarily actually really feel stimulated, or it could very nicely be a habits that cats develop as quickly as they’re feeling wired or anxious.

Guaranteeing your cat will get sufficient follow and playtime will help alleviate boredom. Offering mentally stimulating actions like address dispenser toys could even stop boredom. Assuaging boredom might set off your cat’s litter consuming habits to go away by itself.

cat climbs to the litter box
Picture Credit score rating score: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

8. Hyperthyroidism

Often, cats with hyperthyroidism would possibly begin to eat cat litter. The acute ranges of thyroid hormone can improve a cat’s urge for meals and metabolism, which may make them consuming inedible objects like cat litter.

Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine illness in cats, and it’s most prevalent in older cats. Fully totally different indicators of hyperthyroidism are weight low cost, consuming higher than common, poor physique state of affairs, and an enlarged thyroid gland.


9. Ideas Tumors

Ideas tumors are a weird type of most cancers and an unusual motive for a cat consuming litter. Nonetheless, ideas 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 earlier have a higher threat of rising a ideas tumor.

cat using the litter box
Picture Credit score rating score: Danielle Masucci, Shutterstock

10. Intestinal Parasites

It’s not completely clear what the hyperlink between intestinal parasites and pica is, nonetheless some cats with intestinal parasites resembling worms may additionally develop pica. Cats would possibly develop to be persistently hungry, which may set off them to begin consuming inedible objects.

Treatment will fluctuate since there are quite a few kinds of intestinal parasites. As rapidly as your cat is free from an intestinal parasite infestation, their pica furthermore normally goes away.

divider 2 catsdivider 2 cats

Is It Protected for Cats to Eat Cat Litter?

It’s not protected for cats to eat cat litter, so it’s essential to go looking atmosphere pleasant decisions to forestall them from consuming it. Some cat litter isn’t protected for consumption and will set off intestinal blockages. Clumping clay litter and silica litter are each kinds of cat litter which will likely be notably unsafe for consumption. It’s normally okay if a small quantity will get in your cat’s mouth, nonetheless consuming massive parts will set off factors contained in the gastrointestinal system.

Consuming cat litter will likely be unsanitary. Ingesting parasites and micro organism from soiled cat litter can result in gastrointestinal factors.

cat sitting next to the litter box
Picture Credit score rating score: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

Easy methods to Stop 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 drawback, it’s essential to get your cat in for a bodily examination. Your veterinarian could run diagnostic exams to go looking the rationale behind your cat’s litter-eating habits. In case your veterinarian finds a prognosis, they’ll have the ability to present a remedy plan to assist your cat return to good successfully being. In quite a few instances, cats will cease consuming cat litter as rapidly as they’ve gotten bigger.

In case your cat continues to eat cat litter, strive switching to a novel model or type of cat litter. This would possibly make the cat litter quite a bit a lot much less palatable to your cat and discourage them from consuming it. Ensure to furthermore play collectively alongside together with your cat recurrently and distract them with one totally different practice whenever you happen to search out them going to their litter self-discipline to eat cat litter.

divider 2 catsdivider 2 cats

Conclusion

Cats can begin to eat cat litter for a wide range of causes, nonetheless this habits is usually tied to a successfully being drawback. Attributable to this reality, it’s greatest to get your cat to your veterinarian as shortly as doable whenever you happen to search out that they’re beginning to eat cat litter. Your veterinarian will make it simpler to know what’s inflicting this habits and the best way one can stop it from occurring.

Together with getting your cat medical assist, it’s essential to make sure they’re residing a healthful way of life that consists of a nutritious meals routine, ample parts of follow, and mentally stimulating actions. Prioritizing your cat’s wellness can stop them from consuming cat litter and rising completely totally different unsafe or unhealthy habits.


Featured Picture Credit score rating score: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

[ad_2]

5 thoughts on “Why Is My Cat Consuming Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Causes

  1. This article provides valuable insights into why cats may consume cat litter. It emphasizes the importance of consulting a veterinarian if this behavior is observed, as it could indicate underlying health issues.

  2. I found the section on potential medical conditions quite enlightening. It highlights how important it is to monitor our pets and seek veterinary advice when we notice unusual behaviors like eating cat litter.

  3. I appreciate the detailed explanation of potential causes for this unusual behavior in cats. Understanding the reasons behind pica or other habits can help pet owners make informed decisions for their pets’ well-being.

  4. The information about dietary deficiencies and their connection to litter consumption is particularly useful. It’s crucial for cat owners to ensure their pets have a balanced diet to avoid such behaviors.

  5. It’s interesting to learn that boredom and curiosity can lead to cats eating litter. Providing more stimulating activities could be an effective strategy for cat owners dealing with this issue.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *