Poppy - I love plastic...too much

by cythia
(Lake Stevens, wa)

Our problem is with our 8 year old lovely kitty who has a maddening habit. She is totally obsessed with licking and chewing plastic things. We no longer get bags from the market. We drape towels on bathroom and bedroom garbage cans. She'll finds hidden baggies...anything really and the licking begins! The scarry thing now is when she finds something without us knowing it -she has started swallowing it and throwing it back up! Some of the pieces are quite large. Is it just a bad habit as some people have told us or is she needing something she is not getting? She is dearly loved and will play on her own time schedule. She eats an excellent food diet. She is an indoor cat.

Is she bored?
Vitamins lacking?

Thanks for your help in advance.

cythia h.

Answer by Kate
Hi, your cat could be one of those rare cats who suffer from a condition known as pica. This is a condition where they love to eat or chew etc non food items. It is a strange condition and little is known about it and there is also no cure as such. You simply have to try and remove the items which attract your cat. I know it is a nuisance, you could also try spraying it with water and lemon juice as cats don't like citrus smell and it may repell them from the item.

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