Pica in cats is a disorder that should not be underestimated. Here is everything there is to know about this problem.
Usually when a cat bites something, it does it simply to play and maybe you don’t even pay attention to the danger that it could cause the ingestion of some object, even if small.
The situation is more serious and should not be underestimated, when your cat persistently bites an object not to play with it but to eat it.
In this case the feline suffers from pica. We will see below what pica in cats consists of, what are the causes of this disorder and what can be done to help the cat.
Pica in cats: causes
Pica is a very common eating disorder in dogs but it can also be found in felines. The main cause that can cause pica in cats is poor nutrition or rather a food deficiency.
In fact, the feline tries, by biting and ingesting the objects it finds around, whether they are plastic, wool or paper, to take in the nutrients that are lacking in its diet. Other causes that can generate pica in cats are:
Diabetes in cats
Stress in the cat
Immunodeficiency in the feline
Nervousness in the cat
Furthermore, as with other pathologies, there are cat breeds more prone to suffer from pica , such as the Siamese cat or the Burmese cat.
Cat pica: symptoms
One of the first symptoms of pica in the cat is to notice the cat that begins to lick objects, then bite them and finally eat them.
Obviously this is a very dangerous behavior, as the feline could choke or become intoxicated. Other symptoms that are the consequence of the cat ingesting the object are:
Diarrhea in cats
Vomiting in the cat
Stomach pain in the cat
If you notice that your cat is biting on objects persistently, you should contact your veterinarian.
Care and solutions
The best solution to help the cat with this disorder is to understand what the triggering cause is. If the problem arose from a lack of food, it is advisable to optimize the cat’s diet by introducing minerals and fibers.
If, on the other hand, the pica in the cat occurs due to stress or nervousness of the feline, it is advisable to play with him or to get him a scratching post so that the cat gets distracted, it is also necessary that the cat live in a quiet environment.
We advise you to always observe the behaviors of your cat and refer them to the veterinarian for the right treatment.
