What is pica and why can it be deadly for your cat?
Posted by Armarkat on 7th Sep 2024
One of the most viewed episodes of My Cat From Hell opens with a conversation that many cat parents find hard to imagine: “Just last night we had to take Monty to the emergency room. He had recently eaten a towel.” One cat ate not a string, not a spot, not an edge, but devoured a hand towel. If you can relate to this scenario, be prepared to take your cat to the vet at once.
Pica is a condition defined by “craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value, such as ice, clay, soil, or paper.” Witnessing your cat eating non-food items is a big tip off that your cat likely has pica. However, if your cat hasn’t been caught in the act but frequently chews on non-food items and also vomits or has diarrhea, or drools for food but doesn’t eat it, have your vet assess them for a proper diagnosis as soon as possible.
Pet experts from Wag! explain why pica is so deadly: “Eating non-food items can be very dangerous to a cat, as chewing on electrical cords can cause a feline to be electrocuted, and plant consumption can be toxic. Other inedible objects, such as clothing and plastic, can block the intestine and prevent food from passing.” There is no cure for pica and there is no clear cause for the condition other than some cats displaying anxious behavior that may trigger the pica.
In the case of the pica cat from My Cat From Hell, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy discovered that kitty Monty tended to eat objects while his owners were away. Putting items out of the feline’s reach prevented more medical incidents, but steps also needed to be taken that were specific to Monty’s individual situation. Since Monty was a normally social cat who showed separation anxiety, his treatment needed to address his comfort level about being alone. Just as important as removing inedible objects from his vicinity was finding ways to keep Monty entertained while his humans were gone. Jackson brought in pica-friendly toys made of hard plastic and even a fish to help distract Monty from his anxiety. Introducing cat grass provided Monty with a plant that is good for his digestion.
In a different video on Jackson Galaxy’s YouTube channel, another cat parent asked Jackson for advice about her potentially-pica cat Sasha. Sasha had a habit of suckling items, especially blankets and furniture. Jackson clarified that “Cats who have pica have been known to eat everything, from knobs off of dressers and crown molding off the wall. They will just keep chewing on these things. It’s sort of an OCD. Now with Sasha, she could just be a suckler, and if that’s the case, it’s okay. The suckling behavior is a leftover behavior from early weaning, so that is to say that at some point she was probably removed from her mom just a little bit too early.” Nonetheless, Sasha could be in the early stages of pica If Sasha’s suckling increases to the point of eating the items she chews. Her cat parent will have to be watchful.
Pica shows us how complex cat behavior really is. With each pica-diagnosed cat coming from their own situation with a unique circumstance, history, and personality, there is no simple solution. Keeping your cat safe depends on knowing the warning signs and being familiar with your cat’s behavioral patterns. Like people, cats can change over time in response to their environment, their fears, and their interests. We are companions to our cats in their times of anxiety just as much as they are to us.
Quote of the day: “A kitten is in the animal world what a rosebud is in the garden.” – Robert Southey
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Sources:
“Cat Is Rushed to the ER After Eating a Towel!” My Cat From Hell, Animal Planet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOZUuwx-ZOU
“Cats that suckle: Is it Pica?” Jackson Galaxy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO52mm_pB5o
“Pica in Cats,” Wag!