January 20, 2025
Why Is My Cat Consuming Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Causes

Why Is My Cat Consuming Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Causes

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The data is present and up-to-date in accordance with the most recent veterinarian analysis.
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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 seek out out if one issue that’s unusual to us is actually widespread for cats.

In relation to consuming cat litter, we’re able to safely say that this isn’t widespread habits no matter how relatively so much your cat tries to make it appear widespread. Consuming cat litter is usually related to an underlying successfully being downside that requires medical consideration. Listed under 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 offers and objects. Cats with pica are acknowledged to eat objects like cardboard, vegetation, soil, and picket. They might furthermore develop a habits of consuming cat litter.

Pica may very well be attributable to quite a lot of elements, it may very well be seen as an indication of an underlying medical state of affairs or it may very well 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
Picture Credit score rating ranking: Lightspruch, Shutterstock

2. Dietary Deficiency

Normally, cats can begin to eat cat litter and completely totally different offers 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 each day foundation meals routine. Attributable to this fact, it’s essential 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 may put an finish to your cat’s litter-eating habits.

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3. Anemia

Anemia may very well be associated to nutrient deficiencies, significantly iron deficiency, so some anemic cats may begin to eat cat litter. Riboflavin, vitamin B12, and niacin deficiencies could even set off anemia.

Fully totally different indicators of anemia embody low vitality, 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 often goes away.

tabby cat sniffing the litter box
Picture Credit score rating ranking: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

4. Curiosity

Cats are curious animals, so they could merely be involved in having enjoyable with with and tasting cat litter. Cat litter may truly actually really feel fulfilling or have a novel texture that cats should sort. Normally of curiosity, your cat will often sort cat litter only a few occasions prior to 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. Fashion

Normally, cats can revenue from the type of their cat litter and develop a liking for it. This often occurs when their cat litter is made with pure offers like grass, wheat, or corn husks.

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

cat sniffing litter in the box
Picture Credit score rating ranking: Duet PandG, Shutterstock

6. Coprophagia

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

Guaranteeing your cat will get sufficient observe and playtime will help alleviate boredom. Offering mentally stimulating actions like address dispenser toys could even stop boredom. Assuaging boredom may set off your cat’s litter consuming habits to go away by itself.

cat climbs to the litter box
Picture Credit score rating ranking: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

8. Hyperthyroidism

Normally, cats with hyperthyroidism may 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 typical 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 weird 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 higher threat of rising a ideas tumor.

cat using the litter box
Picture Credit score rating ranking: Danielle Masucci, Shutterstock

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 may develop to be constantly hungry, which might set off them to begin consuming inedible objects.

Treatment will fluctuate since there are quite a few kinds of intestinal parasites. As shortly as your cat is free from an intestinal parasite infestation, their pica furthermore often 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 essential to go looking atmosphere pleasant selections to forestall them from consuming it. Some cat litter isn’t protected for consumption and will set off intestinal blockages. Clumping clay litter and silica litter are each kinds of cat litter which might be notably unsafe for consumption. It’s often okay if a small quantity will get in your cat’s mouth, nonetheless consuming large parts will set off factors contained in the gastrointestinal system.

Consuming cat litter might be unsanitary. Ingesting parasites and micro organism from soiled cat litter can result in gastrointestinal factors.

cat sitting next to the litter box
Picture Credit score rating ranking: Oleg Opryshko, Shutterstock

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 essential to get your cat in for a bodily examination. Your veterinarian could run diagnostic exams to go looking the rationale behind your cat’s litter-eating habits. In case your veterinarian finds a prognosis, they’ll be capable to present a remedy plan to assist your cat return to good successfully being. In quite a few instances, cats will cease consuming cat litter as shortly 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 may make the cat litter so much a lot much less palatable to your cat and discourage them from consuming it. Be sure that to furthermore play collectively alongside along with your cat recurrently and distract them with one totally different practice if you happen to seek 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 if you happen to seek 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 essential to make sure they’re residing a healthful way of life that consists of a nutritious meals routine, ample parts of observe, 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. I was unaware that boredom could lead to cats eating litter. It makes sense, though; they need stimulation just like any other pet. Engaging them with toys sounds like a practical solution.

  2. It’s surprising how many factors can lead a cat to eat litter. I appreciate the advice about providing better nutrition and mental stimulation as preventive measures for such behaviors.

  3. The discussion around dietary deficiencies and their impact on cat behavior is quite insightful. This highlights the importance of a balanced diet for our feline friends and regular veterinary guidance.

  4. I found the section on pica particularly interesting. It’s alarming to think that what seems like a quirky habit might be linked to serious health problems. This information can help many pet owners.

  5. The article provides a detailed overview of potential reasons behind cats consuming litter. It’s essential for cat owners to understand that this behavior could indicate health issues. Regular vet check-ups seem necessary.

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