Why Do Cats Eat Things That Aren't Food?

Feline Pica Symptoms

Does your cat eat paper and plants or how about strings and plastic bags? Do you ever wonder why they do this and if there's anything that you can do about it? Is there a chance that this behavior can be stopped and stopped right now?

The scientific name for cats that eat non-food items is known as Feline Pica. What are the signs of feline Pica and what symptoms do you look for?

Non-Food Items:

Dirt, clay, rocks
Paper, string, hair
Soap, garbage, feces, and litter
Common Items:

Eating blankets, socks, jackets, plastic grocery bags, and shoelaces
Or any other non-food items that can be bad for their health.

Possible Underlying Medical Conditions:
Malnutrition- are you feeding your feline enough food?
Vitamin deficiency- Is your cat getting enough vitamins in their meals?
Increased appetite- Not getting enough intake of food?
Inflammatory bowel disease:
Feline diabetes
Intestinal Parasites
Anemia (low iron in the blood)
Neurological disease
Thyroid disease

What Are the Signs for Coprophagia?
The scientific name for cats (and dogs) who eat poop is called Coprophagia and yes, felines can have this, but it’s more common for dogs than cats.

For Example:
Cats - New mother cats eat their kitten’s feces for grooming purposes and to keep their bedding nice and clean. This is normal behavior so don’t be alarmed if your cat does this.

Dogs - A new mama dog cleans her pups the same way mama cats clean their kittens by eating their poop and when the pups watch their mama do this, sometimes they will copy their mom and they will eat it too. Be careful and keep watch to make sure your new pup doesn’t pick up on this bad habit.

Did You Know?

Why Does My Cat Eat Poop?
Sometimes your cat will eat feces if there is undigested food in their poop. Another thing to consider is that animals, in general, who eat poop may be doing so as a response to recent punishments/time-outs or from the addition of a new pet in the house. This leads your cat to “act out” to draw attention to them and away from the new family member.

Treatments and Solutions
Is the underlying cause of medical or behavioral in nature?
Limit access to non-food items in your house.
Be aware of what gets dropped on the floor by little kids teens and husbands, if it's dropped on the floor 99% of the time your cat will try to eat it!
What Else Can You Do To Help?
Increase play activities with interactive toys, cat trees, scratching posts and other forms of stimulation.
Place the cat tree near a window so your feline can watch outdoor activities.
Does your feline love to play outdoors? Does she love to go outside? Perhaps she would like some organic sunshine to bathe in?
Purchase or create a safe outdoor enclosure for your cat to run and play in.
Coprophagia and Feline Pica
Helpful Tips

Train your cat to walk on a leash and harness or ride in a cat stroller. Get them to go outside and run off some of that energy!
Safe alternatives for chewing: grow organic greens for your cat. Rye, oat, wheatgrass or catnip. (Refrain from the grass from your lawn because it’s treated with fertilizer and chemicals that could make your cat sick.)
You can buy cat greens at your local pet store or buy an already grown square of grass from an organic health food store.
Yummy! Love paper... now time for some plants... (she didn't eat anything but she looks oh so full!)
Yummy! Love paper... now time for some plants... (she didn't eat anything but she looks oh so full!)
Free From Boredom
Remember to keep cats (and dogs) free from boredom and provide them with nutritional-balanced meals full the vitamins and minerals and this will stop this behavior. Keep their litter boxes clean and provide cat trees, scratching posts and window lounging furniture, take them for walks and for those outdoorsy kind of felines build their own cat walk-away cat space. Regardless, keep your cat busy, free from clutter and boredom!

If your pet shows any signs of medical issues please make sure to take them to the vet clinic right away, there may be some underlying issues that you can't see.