Rotate the items sprayed so your cat learns that all fabric tastesР’В bad. Do not just spray one thing, although her favorite sucking spot is certainly the place to start. Use bad-tasting, commercially available pet repellents on fabrics toР’В deter chewing. Spend time with her, tossing kibble or ping-pong balls for her to chase. An outdoor catio (see January 2020 РІР‚Сљ The Ins and Outs of Catios,РІР‚Сњ available at ), a cat tree or РІР‚Сљkitty condoРІР‚Сњ that she can crawl up or hide in, and, especially, extra play time with you can help. A busy, mentally stimulated cat has less time to participate in compulsive behaviors. Increase your catРІР‚в„ўs environmental enrichment. Feliway, a calming, pheromone-like substance, reduces anxiety levels in some cats and may reduce aggression. Work to find solutions, such as separating feuding cats or placing a favorite perch back where it used to be. If the behavior is new, look for triggers, such as cat aggression. Remove the object from her reach, at least temporarily, if possible.Р”В¬onsider stress.

The minute she is distracted, get her attention with a treat or toy, and lure her away from the object of her desire. If your cat starts to chew or suck on something inappropriate, startle her with a sound, such as a loud tap on a tabletop. If you choose the latter, make sure that theР’В dry food used is part of your catРІР‚в„ўs calculated daily caloric intake so you donРІР‚в„ўt cause obesity.Р”В«e aware of what kitty is doing. Offer cat-safe rubber toys scented with fish oilР’В and additional dry cat food. Remove all the items your cat likes to suck on, such as afghans, wool sweaters, scarves, and heavy socks. Potted cat grass or catnip can help, too. Some cats do better with high-fiber kibble in a separate bowl that they can eat at will. Gastrointestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies), infectious diseases (feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus), kidney disease, pancreatitis, thyroid disorders, and diabetes can all cause pica. Of course, you should rule out medical reasons for any pica. In some anxious cats, chewing behaviors serve as coping mechanisms, with the resulting endorphin rush becoming addictive and developing into an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Chewing or sucking on objects is believed to release endorphins, which are pain-relieving hormones that lead to warm feelings of well-being and comfort (this is also a reason why some children suck their thumbs). Stress, anxiety, and boredom can lead to a resurgence. Many cats show wool-sucking behavior as young as 6 months of age, and most cats that develop it are noted to express the problem by 18 months of age. Unfortunately, no definitive cause has been found for pica, but early weaning of kittens may be a contributing factor (see sidebar). In cats, a study from the United Kingdom showed that the most common material cats sucked or chewed on was wool (93%), followed by cotton, man-made fabrics, rubber, plastic, paper, and cardboard. People, dogs, and other animals can also demonstrate pica. PicaР’В is the medievalР’В LatinР’В name for the magpie, a bird known for eating anything. РІР‚СљPicaРІР‚Сњ is the proper term for the ingestion of abnormal substances. While choking is rare, ingesting fabric, string, plastic, or any other non-food item can lead to gastrointestinal tract obstructions, requiring emergency life-saving surgery. Consuming any non-nutritive object is a cause for alarm. Cats often use seemingly odd ways to cope with stress, such as sucking on fabric (wool is a kitty favorite) or eating bizarre items, like a bread-bag twist tie.

My cat keeps chewing on plastic