Why Does My Cat Eat Plastic? How To Stop It

Have you ever suddenly heard rustling in the house? Then, you see your cute cat is chewing on plastic bags, straws, cups, … with a very interesting expression. My God, you must have been very worried and wondering why your cat eats plastic, haven’t you?

Fortunately, this article appears to bring you some reasons for this problem and how to stop it. Keep browsing through!

“Why does my Cat Eat Plastic?”- 5 most common occasions

First of all, to solve any complication is to understand it. I know your unrest but forget your worries for now and let’s find out the following reasons.

1. Stress and apprehension

Some people, when faced with fear and anxiety, often have the habit of unconsciously biting their nails. Likewise, cats often eat or chew plastic when they feel scared and stressed. Another cause is called: “Obsessive-compulsive disorder” (OCD).  When trying to eat plastic, cats will feel more relaxed and comfortable even though plastic is not as healthy as the food you buy for them. 

2. Deprivation of food

If your cat has a nutritional deficiency, its internal functions will be greatly impaired. This common reason usually leads them to eat plastic. To shed some light, nutritional deficiencies also give your cat an impulse to be foolish with plastic. In other words, you should be careful when choosing cat food or changing its diet.

3. Health Condition

Diabetes, dental issues, anemia, hyperthyroidism, and brain tumors are the reasons why your cat keeps eating plastic. It is worth mentioning that eating plastic is also the cause of numerous diseases for cats. This is an extremely dangerous cycle that we need to be careful of.

4. Hunting

Predatory instinct is a key to answering your question “Why does my cat eat plastic”. Cats are inherently predatory animals, so when they see their prey move, they will quickly attack. The faster the prey moves, the more interested the cat is. For example, the plastic bag is light, it moves very easily. So cats are always irritated by plastic bags or pieces of plastic.

5. The smell of food

Coincidentally, plastic bags, plates, and forks are often used for food. The smell of the food will make the cat want to pounce. Maybe your cat tries to take food out. Most likely, cats will lick and accidentally ingest plastic.

6. PICA

To describe an eating disorder, we need to know a term called “Pica”. It is used to refer to the behavior of cats eating and consuming things that have no nutritional value such as plastic, garbage, and dirt. Most cats eat plastic because it feels yummy or simply because they want to mess around to relieve stress.

Tips for you to prevent this problem

We all love cats. But only love is not enough. You need to learn and understand how to protect your cat from hazards, specifically preventing them from eating plastic.

Just like teaching a child, you need knowledge, tips, and perseverance. Now let’s find the solution together!

1. Buy them toys

To prevent the problem of cats ingesting plastic, buy cat toys. Guaranteed for quality and safety when cats bite and play. Certainly, even if cats chew on toys, it will be better than cats eating plastic. This option is quite useful and easy to implement. Furthermore, all cats will feel more relaxed, happier, and less stressed when having entertainment. 

Some suggestions for cat toys: balls, plush mice, scratching spots, etc. I believe you will feel more secure when seeing your cat forgetting plastic completely.

2. Make your cat more healthy

As long as you ensure the nutrition of your cat’s daily meal, plastic will not be his/her favorite “food”. You should also pay attention to the cat if there are symptoms such as: digestive disorders, vomiting, loss of appetite,… Take your cat to the vet for a prompt diagnosis. A better health condition, a stronger your cat is.

3. Keep your cat away from plastic 

Most of us have our jobs and can’t stay at home all day. So you won’t be able to control your cat 100 percent. The best way to prevent your cat from ingesting plastic is to keep plastic items out of your cat’s reach. This is also a great way to keep cats safe.

4. Ask your veterinarian for help

If you have applied many measures but your cat still stubbornly eats plastic. I guess you will surely wonder “Why does my cat eat plastic” all the time. Instead of putting down your mood, you should ask your veterinarian for help with this problem. As a result, your cat’s behavior will be checked by professionals.

5. Perseverance training

Cats are very intelligent animals, they have their own emotions and perceptions. Like humans, cats are fully aware of what’s going on around them. In consequence, rest assured your little friend is very smart. In this way, you can train your cat to distinguish between what is edible and what is not.

6. Change your habits

Do you think that preventing your cat from eating plastic is also a way to contribute to protecting the environment? More specifically, you can switch from using plastic items to non-plastic ones. For example, using canvas bags for food, using bottles made of other materials (metal, glass, etc.)

7. Discourage your cat

Another useful way is spraying plastic items (plastic bags, electrical cords, etc) to a cat-safe deterrent. To get your cat more protection, try using non-toxic liquid to spray such as hot sauce, bitter apple spray, or get cat safe deterrent in a pet store.

Let’s relax! Cats eating plastic is a fairly common behavior, as well as causing us worrying. But as I have shared in this article, every problem has its solution. Hope you will successfully apply some of the ways that I have shared and understand more about your cat. The more patient you are, the more durable your relationship with your cat is. Love your cat and know how to protect your little friend – you are the fabulous cat owner! Cheers!

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