The Siamese was put on a high-fiber low-calorie diet. Spraying the objects with a deterrent such as Grannick’s Bitter Apple may also help keep your cat from inappropriately chewing on things.ĭodman used a combination of environmental enrichment and Prozac to treat Caleb’s eating disorder.

That includes making necessary dietary changes and, when possible, denying your cat access to the items he craves. Once your cat gets a clean bill of health, you can work on managing the behavior. Taking your cat to a veterinarian to rule out an underlying health issue is the first step to controlling this eating disorder. In addition to stopping the destruction of household items, it’s important to treat pica in cats because it can lead to a possibly deadly intestinal obstruction, warns Dodman.

How do I get my cat to stop eating everything? While it’s not unusual for young cats to chew or rip up items when playing, a pica sufferer will grind the object repeatedly before ingesting. The onset of pica can be as early as 3 months of age with some cats growing out of it by 1 to 2 years old. He may need more mental or physical stimulation.Īccording to Dodman, pica is closely related to - and is sometimes an extension of - feline wool-sucking commonly seen in Oriental breeds such as Siamese and Balinese. Your fur baby may have been born to occasionally nosh on non-food.Įnvironmental factors - Your cat may simply be bored or seeking attention. Genetic predisposition - Sometimes feline pica is hereditary. Medical problems - Feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, or brain tumors can cause cats’ pica behavior. In a WebMD article, veterinarian Arnold Plotnick, a feline specialist in New York, said that many things can cause pica, including:ĭietary deficiencies - Cats who are not getting enough vitamins, minerals, and fiber in their diets sometimes turn to non-food sources, classic feline pica syndrome behavior. When a cat’s cravings focus on non-food items, finding the cause can be more difficult. If your cat is always looking for food, a trip to a veterinarian is necessary to rule out health issues. Medical reasons for food cravings include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cancer, or aging. There are many possible reasons your cat may be begging for food.

50 percent protein (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish)ģ0 percent fat (from meat, dairy, eggs, or plants)ġ0 percent carbohydrates (from grains, potatoes, or legumes).

While Liff explains that there is no ideal formula for how much and how often to feed your cat, here’s a general breakdown of what your cat should consume: Stephanie Liff, a veterinarian and advisor at SpotOn.Pet, cats are carnivores, first and foremost, so they really rely on animal products with a lot of protein, moderate fat, and minimal carbohydrates. Why does my cat act like he’s starving?Īccording to Dr. A study on cats’ pica behavior published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that the unusual cravings were directed most commonly at shoelaces or threads followed by plastic, fabric, rubber, paper, cardboard or wood.

If your cat is eating everything in sight, he may be suffering from pica syndrome. How do I get my cat to stop eating everything?.Why does my cat act like he’s starving?.

Medical causes of pica in cats