Is your cat eating litter? Find out why!
Cats can do a bunch of things that will leave us confused, and eating litter is one of them. You do your best and try to give your cat that premium wet food, only for them to start munching on the litter from their box. What is wrong with them?
Figuring out why this is happening can be challenging, but you can ask for help. Most vets know what is happening and are eager to help you. Now, if you want to have access to this information, you can also do a little bit of research by yourself. This is how we decided to write this article.
Cats eating litter is quite a popular problem, and you as an owner should know. what to do. Maybe your cat is trying to make this behavior look normal, but this is not. Generally, there is an underlying health issue causing this, and acting quickly can make the life of your feline companion better.
Anemia
This is a very serious condition, and sometimes it can make your cat act unusual. Eating litter is one such behavior. This condition is caused by the lack of iron, riboflavin, vitamin B12, or niacin.
Iron is essential because it is the one transporting the oxygen within the blood. Maybe your cat is not aware of this density, but their body sure is, and it might try to find a way to make things better. Sometimes this is manifested by eating random stuff such as kitty litter.
But eating litter to compensate for their deficiency is not the scariest symptom of anemia. Cats suffering from this condition are often lethargic, have low energy levels, and may struggle with stamina. Pale gums are another concerning sign. The gums of a healthy cat should be pink.
If you notice any of these in your cat and they are also eating litter, you should visit a vet as soon as possible. Anemia is diagnosed through blood tests, and after that, the vet should find out what the underlying cause is. Hopefully, the deficiency can be successfully treated.
Boredom
Cats sleep a lot, but they are still craving some action in their lives. They are natural hunters, but they are not able to do that in your home. This is why you buy them toys. They need to play, or else they get bored.
And a bored cat is not good news because they can literally destroy your home. Well, not all cats do this, but some can become aggressive when they have nothing to do. Also, there are the cats that will start to chew anything they can find. This includes litter.
A bored cat can easily start eating litter. If this is happening only because of boredom, this is not such a huge problem. Try to allocate more playtime for your feline, spend more time with them, and see if they are still doing this.
There is a high chance they will stop as soon as you give them more attention, but be careful because this behavior can easily come back if you stop this new healthy routine and they get bored again.
Pica
This is a condition that makes your cat develop a habit of chewing or eating non-food items, including cardboard, plants, soil, wood, and even cat litter. This might seem like a strange behavior, but many times there is an underlying cause, and finding out what causes this is essential. It can be something purely behavioral, or it can be something health-related.
There are more medical conditions that make your cat predisposed to eating litter, some of them including endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal problems, and parasitic infections. For example, if your cat has gastrointestinal issues, they might start consuming litter as a way to soothe their digestive system.
If pica is triggered by a medical condition, treating the root cause usually resolves the behavior. But in some cases, pica is a behavioral issue rather than a medical one. Stress, anxiety, or boredom can all trigger such behaviors. This is why it is best to talk with your vet about this.
Hyperthyroidism
This is a common endocrine dysfunction in cats, and most of those affected are older felines. Their thyroid gland starts to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, and this speeds up their metabolism. As a result, your beloved cat might become hungrier since the appetite has changed.
As a result, you might notice that your cat is trying to eat anything. This means you can also see them eating litter. This can seem shocking at first, but hyperthyroidism is a condition that can be easily managed.
Other key symptoms you should keep your eye on are significant weight loss despite having an increased appetite, drinking more water than usual, poor body condition, and lastly, an enlarged thyroid gland.
You should never leave the hyperthyroidism of your cat untreated because this can lead to some tragic consequences, such as serious health complications, including heart disease and high blood pressure.
Flavor
This might sound unbelievable, but there are cats that start eating litter because they enjoy it! Yes, they like the taste, and this makes them eat their litter. This usually happens if you are using a litter made out of natural materials such as grass, wheat, or corn husks. These might have a texture and taste that might be appealing to some cats.
So, if you notice that your cat enjoys snacking on their litter, you can start by changing the litter to one made from a material that is less appealing. Using clay-based or paper-based litter might help your cat stop munching on litter. Additionally, offering a safe and healthy alternative, like cat grass, can redirect their urge to chew on plant-based substances.
You should always monitor this behavior closely because if this continues even after changing the litter, this might indicate a strong nutritional deficiency. Consulting with a veterinarian can help determine if your cat’s litter-eating is purely a preference or something that requires medical attention.
Curiosity
Cats are naturally curious creatures, and you can always see them exploring their environment with their paws and noses. If you’ve recently changed the litter, you might observe that your cat is eager to explore it more in the first few days.
This means that your cat might even try eating the litter. Yes, you’ve heard it right. Out of curiosity, they might start chewing on litter. The texture, scent, or even the way the litter moves when they dig in it can seem very intriguing for your cat, so taking a few experimental bites is not excluded.
Generally, a curious cat will nibble on their litter a couple of times, and after they see that there is nothing so interesting, they will stop. This is why if you see your cat eating litter once or twice, you should not start worrying.
If you still want to discourage this behavior, make sure your cat has enough entertaining toys. This will help them explore their curiosity in a much safer way.
Want to keep your cat entertained? Try this toy: Interactive Cat Toys for Indoor Cats, The 3rd Generation Agile Moving Cat Ball
You should also read: Why Are Cats Obsessed with Boxes? 6 Reasons Behind This Behavior
