Cats are well-known for being fussy eaters, always demanding the freshest, tastiest foods. But occasionally a cat will go to the other extreme and begin snacking in the most unappetizing of places, the litter box.
Eating litter isn't necessarily dangerous, although cats that take more than a small nibble may get obstructions in their intestinal tracts. The real problem isn't the litter lunch itself but the underlying condition that is causing them to take up the habit.
"A cat that suddenly starts eating litter is almost always sick," says Jane Brunt, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Towson, Maryland. For example, cats with anemia, a condition in which the body doesn't have enough red blood cells, will sometimes eat litter. Vets aren't sure why they do it, but it may be nature's way of getting more iron into their systems. Cats with kidney disease or feline leukemia will also eat litter on occasion, she says.
"Cats with poor diets, especially those given vegetarian diets, may crave nutrients," adds Carol A. Tice, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Cary, North Carolina. The clay used to make litter is rich in minerals and may act as a natural supplement. Cats that keep eating litter, however, may actually lose nutrients because the clay will leach out more minerals like iron, zinc, and potassium than it puts back in.
It doesn't happen often, but sometimes cats will develop unusual compulsions, in which a normal habit, such as licking litter off their fur after using the litter box, becomes an uncontrollable urge, says Elizabeth Shull, D.V.M., a veterinary behaviorist and neurologist at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville. This type of compulsion is thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain, she explains.
See Your Vet If...
- Your cat is on a vegetarian diet.
- Your pet has pale or white gums.
- Your pet has eaten antifreeze, houseplants, or other harmful substances.
- She has missing or broken teeth.
- Her teeth are gray or black.
- She has been vomiting for more than a day or is vomiting blood.
- She has had diarrhea or constipation for a day or more.
- You have noticed weight gain or weight loss.
- Your pet hasn't eaten for more than 24 hours.
- She is eating, drinking, or urinating much more than usual.
- Her abdomen is bloated or feels tight.
- She is drooling more than usual.
- There is a bulge in her throat.
- Your pet seems unusually tired and lethargic.
- She has sores on her gums or tongue.
- She seems to be having trouble chewing or swallowing.
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