Does Your Cat Eat Strange Things?

My cat Iggy liked to eat tortilla chips–a little strange, but not nearly as odd as her taste for tape, preferably of the scotch or packing variety. Old Serena loved broccoli…but not as much as she loved licking photographs. I’ve yet to meet a cat that wasn’t a little quirky, but eating tape and photographs? Although I attributed these habits to the animal-based ingredients used to make the tape’s glue and the gelatin in developing photos–I also had a nagging suspicion that I might be justifying some obsessive behavior in my pets. Although I think it’s amusing in that special kitty kind of way I have to wonder: is it normal for cats to eat strange things?

As it turns out, just like humans can manifest a disorder called pica (whereby non-nutritive items like dirt and clay are eaten) so do cats. And it can be pretty common in our feline friends.

In addition to tape and photographs, there is an abundance of other odd items that many a cat find irresistible: shoelaces, paper, plastic grocery bags, houseplants, shower curtains, even electrical cords. Yikes. And I am sure there is a whole of host of other strange things that cats find appealing to the palate. But why? Often times it’s nothing to worry about, but it turns out that pica has been associated with a number of diseases including feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus–a veterinarian should examine any cat with unusual eating habits. Here’s what a vet will look at when presented with a cat pica case:

Dietary deficiencies. Some cats will eat their cat litter if they’re anemic. This makes sense, as in the case of human pica the cause is quite often a mineral deficiency.

Medical problems. Cat pica is also associated with feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, or it may be triggered by conditions like diabetes or brain tumors.

Genetic predisposition. For some cats, pica might just be in their genes. For example, wool sucking, sometimes a precursor to pica, is seen more frequently in Siamese and Birman cats (More on wool below.)

Environmental factors. Is the cat bored or seeking attention? Maybe he needs more mental or physical stimulation. Behavioral reasons for pica can include boredom, attention-seeking, attractive scents, hunger, and learned behavior

Compulsive disorder. Once other possibilities are ruled out, some pet behavioralists start to look into the possibility of compulsive disorder.

A related behavior that is often seen in cats is the desire to suck on wool–and although this is often lumped together under the umbrella of cat pica, it seems to me to be of a slightly different nature. Nursing on wool seems more of a nursing behavior similar to kneading. To back me up, Arnold Plotnick MS, DVM, ACVIM, ABVP of Manhattan Cat Specialists says that “Wool-sucking is a commonly described abnormal ingestive behavior in cats. Wool-sucking, however, is a compulsive, misdirected form of nursing behavior and technically should be distinguished from true cases of pica.” He continues that “the younger a cat is weaned, the stronger its drive to nurse, and the more likely the cat is to suck on wool–or its owner’s arms, earlobes, or hair. Although some cats may only suck on such fuzzy items as wool, fleece, and stuffed animals, others progress to actually eating these fabrics.”

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer B.

2:55PM PDT on Mar 23, 2012

My cat Jager has been licking ashtrays which I find not only disgusting but upsetting even more so. I now don't leave them any place he can access. My female, Shy Ann I found eating to eat cat litter. This I attribute to anemia since she recently had her first litter of kittens. So, if anyone can shine more light on my babies behaviors your comments are welcome!

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Judy A.

2:53PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

I have noticed one thing one of my cats like believe it or not is white color food items.

Deborah S.

2:10AM PDT on Sep 6, 2011

My cat does like a taste of what I'm eating....

2:09AM PDT on Sep 6, 2011

Cherise U.

6:21PM PDT on Aug 12, 2011

We have three cats, but only one of them has an odd propensity to eat weird un-cat-like things. Ricki Ticki Tabby eats among other things: rubber bands, watermelon, popsicles, paper and our pet rats' dry food. It seems to me like he often has a swollen belly, as if these non-kitty-friendly items are stuck in his system...I probably should bring him to the vet and have this odd eating pattern examined.

Lynn S.

10:23PM PDT on Aug 7, 2011

I'm very lucky my 3 cats do not normally eat non food. My little girl has a fascination with licking plastic bags and has on 2 occassions run around the house with a plastic bag around her neck --- doing her super hero routine. She also liked to take elastics and large paper clips but that is now in the past. Although she doesn't eat everything, she is a kleptomaniac and has absconded with a shoe, fridge magnets, a book end that was bigger than her, socks, underwear, a watch which is still missing, fork, spoons etc. But all 3 get Royal Canin dental formula 2ce a day in carefully measured portions.They also like to mouche from me so they get little bits of roast white meat chicken (they are chickenholics --- have refused fish, but love chicken), bananas, oranges, strawberries, apricots, cantaloupe, tomatoes, barley and a few others, but never chocolate.
One cat I had in the past, jumped onto the kitchen counter where I left a fresh loaf of bread after I made myself a sandwich. I was sitting in the den upstairs and became suspicious at the quiet. When I called his name, he came to the door with half a loaf of bread in his mouth in the bag. The other half was neatly stacked at the base of the stairs and there were no crumbs anywhere. Blew me away.
Yup, cats do and eat some strange things but thet are such blessings! We child proof homes, I cat proof and learn something new everyday.

Amanda J.

10:22PM PDT on Jun 12, 2011

My cat has eaten rubber bands in the past. Now we are careful not to leave these lying around!

Rhonda S.

5:57AM PDT on Jun 11, 2011

my maxi will eat pizza crust and yogurt anything dairy even gold fish crackers and cottage cheese

Lisi K.

8:51PM PDT on Jun 10, 2011

My cat eats only her dry cat food, for the most part, she won't touch meat, or 'people food' at all. I really enjoy marshmallows, so I buy a bag to eat every now and then. My cat somehow knows that there is a bag somewhere in the house, stops what she is doing and goes to the bag. She then breaks into the bag of marshmallows and starts chewing on them!!! I hide them now.

Patricia G.

9:00AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Afonso, one of my cats, LOVES olives. I very rarely let him eat one, because I don't know if it may be bad for him.