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 search out out if one issue that’s unusual to us is actually frequent for cats.

In terms of consuming cat litter, we’re able to safely say that this isn’t frequent habits no matter how somewhat rather a lot your cat tries to make it appear frequent. Consuming cat litter is usually related to an underlying successfully being downside 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 can 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 supplies 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 could possibly be attributable to quite a lot of components, it could possibly be seen as an indication of an underlying medical state of affairs or it could possibly 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
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2. Dietary Deficiency

Often, cats can begin to eat cat litter and completely totally different supplies 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 fact, it’s vital 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.

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3. Anemia

Anemia could possibly 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 might 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
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4. Curiosity

Cats are curious animals, so they could merely be involved in having enjoyable with with and tasting cat litter. Cat litter would possibly 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 earlier than they alter into disinterested. So, in case your cat continues to eat cat litter on quite a lot 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 fashion of their cat litter and develop a liking for it. This normally occurs when their cat litter is made with pure supplies like grass, wheat, or corn husks.

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

cat sniffing litter in the box
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6. Coprophagia

Coprophagia refers to a state of affairs that causes cats to eat their very private feces. Cats with coprophagia would possibly look like they’re consuming cat litter, nonetheless they’re truly 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 fact, it’s vital 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 would possibly resort to consuming cat litter. Consuming litter could also be a way for bored cats to basically actually really feel stimulated, or it might very properly be a habits that cats develop as quickly as they’re feeling wired or anxious.

Guaranteeing your cat will get sufficient apply and playtime will help alleviate boredom. Offering mentally stimulating actions like deal with 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
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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 might 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 peculiar 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 better danger of rising a ideas tumor.

cat using the litter box
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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 also develop pica. Cats would possibly develop to be constantly hungry, which might set off them to start out 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.

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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 vital to go looking atmosphere pleasant selections to forestall them from consuming it. Some cat litter isn’t protected for consumption and should set off intestinal blockages. Clumping clay litter and silica litter are each kinds of cat litter which shall 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 shall be unsanitary. Ingesting parasites and micro organism from soiled cat litter can result in gastrointestinal factors.

cat sitting next to the litter box
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Simple 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 downside, it’s vital to get your cat in for a bodily examination. Your veterinarian might 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 circumstances, cats will cease consuming cat litter as rapidly 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 would possibly make the cat litter rather a lot a lot much less palatable to your cat and discourage them from consuming it. Make sure that to furthermore play collectively alongside together with your cat recurrently and distract them with one totally different prepare while you happen to search 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 quite a lot of causes, nonetheless this habits is usually tied to a successfully being downside. Attributable to this fact, it’s largest to get your cat to your veterinarian as shortly as doable while you happen to search out that they’re beginning to eat cat litter. Your veterinarian will make it simpler to grasp 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 vital to make sure they’re residing a healthful way of life that consists of a nutritious meals routine, adequate parts of apply, 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 ranking: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

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5 thoughts on “Why Is My Cat Consuming Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Causes”
  1. This article is very enlightening regarding why some cats might eat litter. The connection between behavioral issues and health problems is particularly noteworthy, reminding us that our pets rely on us for their health needs.

  2. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the various reasons why cats might eat litter. It’s interesting to see how behaviors can often be linked to health issues, making it essential for cat owners to monitor their pets closely.

  3. I appreciate the detailed breakdown of potential causes for this behavior. Understanding that dietary deficiencies and boredom could lead to such actions highlights the importance of a balanced diet and engaging activities for our feline friends.

  4. The discussion about the safety of different types of cat litter is useful information. Knowing which types can be harmful emphasizes the need for responsible pet ownership and proactive measures in ensuring our cats’ health.

  5. The insights into pica and its association with medical conditions are quite informative. It’s crucial for pet owners to recognize these signs early on and consult with a veterinarian to ensure their cat’s well-being.

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