Cats may eat litter or other unwelcome items for a variety of reasons. This behavior is called pica, which is eating things that are not food. There are many causes of pica, it can be caused by a mother abandoning her kittens and not feeding them. Cats with pica may eat all types of materials, including plastic, fabric, string, paper, dust, and even cat litter.

Cats eat cat litter

Pica will be particularly troublesome for poop scrapers. Eating non-edible substances can cause intestinal blockage. At the same time, it may also be a sign of a disease.

Why do cats eat cat litter?

If your kitten eats cat litter, it could be a health or behavioral problem. If you suspect this is a medical problem, you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately, especially if the behavior appears suddenly. Some kittens may eat litter out of sheer curiosity, but will not do so regularly.

Anemic cats eat cat litter

Eating litter can be a sign of illness in cats, especially anemia, which affected cats may exhibit. Anemia occurs when there is a deficiency of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Your cat's gums should be checked to see if they are light, white or blue. Anemia is a lack of iron, trace minerals, vitamins or essential fatty acids.

In addition, if your cat is eating cat litter, it may also be a sign of anemia or kidney disease caused by leukemia. Your veterinarian will perform a standard exam on your cat, including a complete blood count and urine test. A blood count will determine if the cat is indeed anemic, and a urinalysis will show the concentration levels of the urine, which is a sign of kidney disease. If your cat shows signs of blockage, your veterinarian may also order an X-ray or MRI.

Cat malnutrition

If your cat doesn't get enough nutrients from its food, it may eat cat litter. Vitamin A, vitamin B1 carnitine, magnesium, pyruvate kinase, sodium or taurine deficiencies may also cause cats to eat litter. Clay-based litter contains minerals that make up for the shortfall. Then we can supplement nutrition for cats.

Curious kitten

Kittens may eat litter out of curiosity, so it is recommended not to use litter until they are older. Eating cat litter clumps may cause intestinal blockage. If you see your kitten eating litter, remove it from the litter box.

How to stop cats from eating cat litter?

OnceIf the cat has no health problems after the examination, then we must focus on changing its litter-eating behavior. Of course, there are many types of cat litter, including clay, corn, wheat, or paper scraps. If your cat is eating one type of litter, switch to another type of cat litter.

Reevaluate your cat's diet. Upgrade its food, especially supermarket grade dry food. Many high-quality foods are richer in nutrients. Improves your cat's natural predatory behavior. In addition to increasing playtime, look into food puzzle toys, which can encourage natural foraging behavior. There are many ways to make your own using common household items, and there are different models available at pet stores. Puzzle toys are a fun way for your cat to work for food, thereby distracting her from unwanted behavior.