Cats and chewing...
SoDamnHungry
Posts: 6,998 Member
in Chit-Chat
I have a new cat. He used to chew (but not eat) plastic bags to let me know he's hungry, but other than that, he was fine. Until two days ago, when I went into my bedroom and heard a noise. I turned around to find him in my chair, EATING a t-shirt. He literally ate part of the shirt. Initially I thought he just chewed it up, but he threw up a chunk the next day. Had I known he'd eaten it, I would have taken him to the emergency room. The vet suggested spraying things with bitter spray, but I can't spray the whole house, and it seems like he'll chew on anything. Has anyone here had a similar problem? What did you do?
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Replies
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It's not unusual for some cats to have a tendency towards certain items such as plastic items such as bags (the crinkly sounds it makes perhaps a taste from a food item). Some tend to say it is because they are missing something in their diet. Some say it is rendered animal fat used in plastics that they are attracted to. And others think it may because it smell like food.
However it's best to be mindful and supervise their inappropriate desires just in case of accidental ingestion of particular items...mainly plastic bags that get chewed off in pieces and anything easily swallowed. Ideally, pastic bags should be securely locked away if your cat later decides it would be something worth beyond licking like ...eating--ingesting this could create some serious medical problems which is expensive to later treat.
It's best to please note that in the future never to pull out accidentally ingested material even slowly...from a cat's *kitten* or mouth because those items may become twisted around the digestive tract therefore you may accidentally pull out the intestines. A vet visit would be required always under these circumstances.
Consider offering a safe kitty toys with similar textures in place of non-durable plastic items so that they learn to enjoy playing these instead.
Here's a few websites that offer more reasons why cats possibly like plastic bags:
http://www.catchow.com/searchresults_rec…
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?…0 -
Get him a girlfriend !!!0
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The only problem I had with mine was that she chewed on electric cords for a couple years. I ran most of the cords down with hot sauce and it nixed that problem quickly. Not sure what I would advise if yours is eating all those random items though!0
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It's not unusual for some cats to have a tendency towards certain items such as plastic items such as bags (the crinkly sounds it makes perhaps a taste from a food item). Some tend to say it is because they are missing something in their diet. Some say it is rendered animal fat used in plastics that they are attracted to. And others think it may because it smell like food.
However it's best to be mindful and supervise their inappropriate desires just in case of accidental ingestion of particular items...mainly plastic bags that get chewed off in pieces and anything easily swallowed. Ideally, pastic bags should be securely locked away if your cat later decides it would be something worth beyond licking like ...eating--ingesting this could create some serious medical problems which is expensive to later treat.
It's best to please note that in the future never to pull out accidentally ingested material even slowly...from a cat's *kitten* or mouth because those items may become twisted around the digestive tract therefore you may accidentally pull out the intestines. A vet visit would be required always under these circumstances.
Consider offering a safe kitty toys with similar textures in place of non-durable plastic items so that they learn to enjoy playing these instead.
Here's a few websites that offer more reasons why cats possibly like plastic bags:
http://www.catchow.com/searchresults_rec…
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?…
Thanks for the detailed response! I should mention that I put away all the plastic bags so that he no longer has access to chew on them. Our trash cash is lined, but he doesn't seem interested in that. My worry is mostly that he just seems like he'll chew on anything. I'll try the cat toys and see if he'll switch to those. Thanks!0 -
my cat actually loves spicy things.. .-.The only problem I had with mine was that she chewed on electric cords for a couple years. I ran most of the cords down with hot sauce and it nixed that problem quickly. Not sure what I would advise if yours is eating all those random items though!0 -
Anyone have advice on how to get a cat to use a scratching post?
Mine had one that she used to the point she completely shredded it. I went and replaced it, put the new one in the exact same spot and now she completely ignores it. She has taken to using the armrests of my leather bar stools as as scratching post!!!
Help!0 -
Anyone have advice on how to get a cat to use a scratching post?
Mine had one that she used to the point she completely shredded it. I went and replaced it, put the new one in the exact same spot and now she completely ignores it. She has taken to using the armrests of my leather bar stools as as scratching post!!!
Help!
Sprinkle some catnip on it. Also sometimes orange peel will keep them away from things you don't want them scratching0 -
Anyone have advice on how to get a cat to use a scratching post?
Mine had one that she used to the point she completely shredded it. I went and replaced it, put the new one in the exact same spot and now she completely ignores it. She has taken to using the armrests of my leather bar stools as as scratching post!!!
Help!
Cat nip spray. I foster cats and have to train kitten after kitten to use it. We're pretty successful at saving out furniture and having them use the tree with the spray. I get mine at the dollar store, pet stores will have it too.0 -
I have 4 cats and they scratch everything including their scratching post but I suggest spraying cat nip on the new one or make sure it's in the exact spot as the old one was in. Good luck!!Anyone have advice on how to get a cat to use a scratching post?
Mine had one that she used to the point she completely shredded it. I went and replaced it, put the new one in the exact same spot and now she completely ignores it. She has taken to using the armrests of my leather bar stools as as scratching post!!!
Help!0 -
Oh yea, forgot to mention my cat seems to be immune to the effects of catnip. I've tried the spray as well as the fresh stuff in a tub. She takes two sniffs and walks away completely indifferent to it.
Sorry to derail the OP topic!! Cats eating tshirts and plastic bags.... hmmm..0 -
Managed to "train" Thomas the cat (original name huh?) to stop running up the curtains with the use of a water pistol....
Harmless deterent and it didn't take too many squirts before he associated running up curtains with getting squirted and stopped.0 -
Oh yea, forgot to mention my cat seems to be immune to the effects of catnip. I've tried the spray as well as the fresh stuff in a tub. She takes two sniffs and walks away completely indifferent to it.
Sorry to derail the OP topic!! Cats eating tshirts and plastic bags.... hmmm..
Have you tried cat grass? You can grow it or buy it at the grocery store. Putting it on/near the cat tree might help. Make sure to secure it or you'll end up with dirt all over the place.0 -
Managed to "train" Thomas the cat (original name huh?) to stop running up the curtains with the use of a water pistol....
Harmless deterent and it didn't take too many squirts before he associated running up curtains with getting squirted and stopped.
Water pistol/spray bottles are EXTREMELY effective at deterring bad behaviour, it only takes a squirt or too before they associate bad behaviour with getting wet.0 -
Managed to "train" Thomas the cat (original name huh?) to stop running up the curtains with the use of a water pistol....
Harmless deterent and it didn't take too many squirts before he associated running up curtains with getting squirted and stopped.
I used the exact same technique to stop mine using my home theater speaker grills as scratch posts!!0 -
spray it with catnip...the scratching post...0
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Cats are natural hunters and I would highly recommend looking into feeding either fully raw food or using raw Chicken/Turkey necks to satisfy that natural urge to chew.
http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=103
As for the scratching post when ever you see your cat about to or in the middle of scratching what they are not suppose to be scratching simply pick them up and place their paws on the post. Do not be visibly angry that they are scratching else where or they may associate the post with angry also. another thing to do would be to pick up some loose cat nip/honeysuckle and sprinkle some on the post and see if they scratch.0 -
have you tried the cardboard scratching pads for your cat!!!! My 4 cats love it...0
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As for the scratching post when ever you see your cat about to or in the middle of scratching what they are not suppose to be scratching simply pick them up and place their paws on the post. Do not be visibly angry that they are scratching else where or they may associate the post with angry also. another thing to do would be to pick up some loose cat nip and sprinkle some on the post and see if they scratch.
As I said, immune to catnip. I have done the whole pick her up and place the paws on the post a few times and she just runs off.0 -
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Any thing I can do to help.. My pleasure0 -
I have a cat who I nicknamed "The Goat" because she would eat weird things. Once she ate several large holes in a dishtowel - at least that I could understand since it had some food residue on it. The big concern with that was the potential her intenstines would get blocked and she's need emergency surgery. The xray showed no blockage at that point and the vet said to watch her closely for 2 days to make sure she didn't start throwing up (one sign of blockage) or signs of pain. She amazingly "passed" the dish towel fibers. She also ate a hole in a t-shirt that was clean with no food odor.
She also sometimes peed outside the litterbox (which was clean) and was sometimes aggressive to my other cat. I didn't think about it until I saw your post, but I just realized that since she started taking Prozac 2 months ago (for the peeing issue), she has also stopped eating weird things. There are other anti-anxiety medicines for cats, and I had tried 2 others but for her Prozac is the one that works.0 -
is the scratching post tall enough? cats prefer to be stretched out fully when scratching and if the stuff you don't want scratched is taller than the scratching post, they will ruin everything!!!!
as for the cat eating your t-shirt......... try getting a wardrobe!! I hear those things are **** hot right now hahaha
some cats prefer wet food to dry food and vice-versa so try out new foods and stuff
or if you think it could be stress related, try using lavender around the house or maybe invest in a Feliway (a plug-in diffuser that calms scatty cats in the UK, I am unaware if they sell it anywhere else or something similar)
There are loads of cat behavior books in libraries, try looking around for some!0 -
is the scratching post tall enough? cats prefer to be stretched out fully when scratching and if the stuff you don't want scratched is taller than the scratching post, they will ruin everything!!!! ...
That's the funny thing. The first one wasnt all that tall and she would hunker down to use it. This new one is like 3 feet tall. I bought it with that exact thing in mind that she would like to stretch out. Not the case so far.0 -
My friend has rescue cat that has his naughty moments ( weeing where he should not) - 1 time he nearly shorted the electrisc in the house as he caught a socket fitting - the FELIWAY SPRAY seemed to calm him down somewhat, they also do it is sprayform
We have 2 rescue cats sisters) and they love the scrathing post but one has also taken to using a step on the stairway carpet on the odd ocassion, but this might be out fault, they are mainly indoor cats so sometimes we have them chase a toy/string up and down the stairs to make sure they get a good workout ( mee too I might add :laugh: ) so that might be the reason for that one, GOOD LUCK with your kitty I hope they settle down .0 -
http://www.amazon.com/Stimulo-Feeding-Station-Activity-Center/dp/B004EG21FS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363559598&sr=8-1&keywords=cat+feeding+station
I have one who likes to chew on things when he is bored. He has always liked to stalk and play with his food and I can keep him occupied by flipping treats across the room so he has to go chase them one piece at a time. Some times I leave crunchies along the window sills, in open shopping bags, on top of boxes, along the radiator covers, etc etc so he has to hunt for his meals. The feeder in the link keeps him occupied as well since he has to dig out each piece.
The water pistol works well when you catch them in the act.
And to the poster who's cat does not respond to catnip - all of mine had to grow into it - most of them were at least 2 years old before they turned into stoner cats!0 -
Can you remove his teeth and just feed him wet food or juice cleanses?0
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is the scratching post tall enough? cats prefer to be stretched out fully when scratching and if the stuff you don't want scratched is taller than the scratching post, they will ruin everything!!!! ...
That's the funny thing. The first one wasnt all that tall and she would hunker down to use it. This new one is like 3 feet tall. I bought it with that exact thing in mind that she would like to stretch out. Not the case so far.
This may sound silly, but do you still have the old one? Putting it back and then slowly introduce the new one. Sometimes they get pissed off at you and wont use the new one because you changed it too fast. My cats have trained me very very well...0 -
Can you remove his teeth and just feed him wet food of juice cleanses?
hahahahahaha
we had a cat who would chew plastic as well, though she never swallowed anything. we think she liked the sound. not sure about the tee-shirt issue though. obviously try to keep clothes hanging up and off the floor. are you certain you're feeding him enough? perhaps he's just hungry!0 -
Instead of a water pistol (I am frankly too lazy to keep it filled and didn't want water all over the place) we did something similar yet different. We used one of those air-zooka type things. The item that will send a tiny puff of air at the cat? Yeah. It worked wonders. If they even see or hear the thing they immediately stop what they're doing. I haven't had to break it out in a year and a half.0
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Instead of a water pistol (I am frankly too lazy to keep it filled and didn't want water all over the place) we did something similar yet different. We used one of those air-zooka type things. The item that will send a tiny puff of air at the cat? Yeah. It worked wonders. If they even see or hear the thing they immediately stop what they're doing. I haven't had to break it out in a year and a half.
The water pistol was the same way. It didnt take long at all before the mere sight of the thing would make her stop whatever she was doing instantly!!
It was so helpful in the kitty years as she was born deaf!0 -
What about Honeysuckle? Or there is also Valerian root instead of Catnip. Sorry I sis not see that post before.0
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