Every once in a while I get people who ask about their cat’s desire to chew. Usually we hear more about dogs chewing on things, but some cats have that tendency as well, whether it’s the corner of a pillow, a magazine, potpourri, a wire cord, ribbon or a plastic bag.

Some cats start chewing on things because they are bored or lack fiber in their diet. The little wheat grass containers you see in pet shops are a good supplement, or sometimes I’ll send people home with fiber supplements that we carry.

Chewing can become a bad habit, especially with Siamese cats, so you must be sure that what they are chewing is safe and that there is no lead in the item (check to see if it was made in China!). Note, cats may love catnip, but it is a hallucinogen, and can cause them to act rather strange!

There are potential medical reasons why cats and dogs develop such behavior, termed pica (abnormal chewing and possibly swallowing of non-nutritional items). There could be different endocrine disorders (hormonal imbalances) such as diabetes or thyroid disease, a food allergy where Fluffy has a chronic stomach ache, possible lymphatic cancer, or a neurologic disorder (brain abnormality). A full health checkup is called for to determine if something serious is going on, or if your cat is acting out of boredom or some obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Happy Holidays, and till next time, Dr. Steve, Ashburn Village Animal Hospital

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest