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

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

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

In relation to consuming cat litter, we’re able to safely say that this isn’t frequent habits no matter how moderately rather a lot your cat tries to make it appear frequent. Consuming cat litter is commonly related to an underlying successfully being drawback that requires medical consideration. Listed under 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.

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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 elements, 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 each day foundation meals routine. Attributable to this reality, it’s necessary to hunt suggestion out of your vet and guarantee your cat is consuming high-quality cat meals and consuming related parts. Making healthful modifications to their meals routine may put an finish to your cat’s litter-eating habits.

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3. Anemia

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

Utterly totally different indicators of anemia embody low vitality, 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 may truly actually really feel fulfilling or have a novel texture that cats should sort. Often of curiosity, your cat will normally sort cat litter only a few occasions prior to 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. Model

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 doable you may attempt switching to a definite cat litter that’s made with a novel provides. Chances are high you may as successfully attempt offering them with cat grass as a protected diversified.

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 may appear to be they’re consuming cat litter, nonetheless they’re truly consuming their very private poop.

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


7. Boredom

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

Guaranteeing your cat will get sufficient observe and playtime will help alleviate boredom. Offering mentally stimulating actions like address dispenser toys might 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 may begin to eat cat litter. The intense 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 typical endocrine illness in cats, and it’s most prevalent in older cats. Utterly 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 may 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 shortly as your cat is free from an intestinal parasite infestation, their pica furthermore normally goes away.

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Is It Protected for Cats to Eat Cat Litter?

It’s not protected for cats to eat cat litter, so it’s necessary to go searching 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 probably be notably unsafe for consumption. It’s normally okay if a small quantity will get in your cat’s mouth, nonetheless consuming large parts will set off factors contained in the gastrointestinal system.

Consuming cat litter will probably 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 commonly related to a medical drawback, it’s necessary to get your cat in for a bodily examination. Your veterinarian might run diagnostic exams to go searching the rationale behind your cat’s litter-eating habits. In case your veterinarian finds a prognosis, they’ll be capable to present a remedy plan to assist your cat return to good successfully being. In quite a few circumstances, cats will cease consuming cat litter as shortly as they’ve gotten bigger.

In case your cat continues to eat cat litter, attempt switching to a novel model or type of cat litter. This may make the cat litter rather a lot a lot much less palatable to your cat and discourage them from consuming it. Be certain that to furthermore play collectively alongside along with your cat recurrently and distract them with one totally different prepare while you happen to seek out them going to their litter self-discipline to eat cat litter.

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Conclusion

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

Together with getting your cat medical assist, it’s necessary to make sure they’re residing a healthful way of life that consists of a nutritious meals routine, ample parts of observe, 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

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5 comments
CuriousCat99

This article provides a comprehensive overview of why cats might consume cat litter. It emphasizes the importance of consulting a veterinarian, which is crucial for pet owners who notice this behavior in their cats.

GizmoTheExplorer

I found the section on pica particularly interesting. It’s fascinating how various health issues can manifest through such unusual behaviors. This information could help many cat owners identify potential problems early.

WhiskerWizard

The discussion on boredom and stimulation resonates with many pet owners. Ensuring that our cats have enough mental and physical engagement is essential, and I appreciate the tips provided in this article for addressing such issues.

FurryFriend123

It’s alarming to think that something as simple as eating cat litter can indicate serious health concerns like anemia or hyperthyroidism. The advice to seek veterinary help is practical and necessary for responsible pet care.

PurrfectlyNormal

Overall, this article does a great job of breaking down the reasons behind a cat’s unusual eating habits. It serves as a reminder that understanding our pets’ behavior is key to maintaining their health and well-being.

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