Food that is chewy may also help to redirect the behaviour.

Young cats that wool-suck before the age of 6 months will probably stop spontaneously, but should be provided with an enriched environment and access only to safe objects to chew. Conditions causing polyphagia may encourage cats to investigate and consume borderline non-food items such as food packaging that retains food odour.Ĭats with pica should be thoroughly medically investigated before commencing a behavioural investigation.Cats with severe CNS pathology or senility may sometimes attempt to eat non-food items because they may perceive them as food.Stealing and chewing objects as a means of getting attention from the owner.Consumption of non-food items to induce vomiting (which can also occur repeatedly if a previous foreign body remains lodged in the stomach).Repetitive chewing to relieve oral pain.There are a number of differentials for compulsive pica or wool-sucking, including: Cats with pica consistently choose to chew and swallow the same kind of non-food items, rather than simply engaging in oral investigation of a range of different items and materials, which is relatively normal in immature cats. However, the aetiology of the problem is not understood. Wool-sucking is characterised by rhythmic repetitive mouthing and sucking of woolly objects and has therefore been classed as a compulsive disorder.

However, cats with existing attachment problems, especially oriental breeds, may steal and chew objects to get attention. Unlike dogs, cats do not deliberately swallow items to carry them between locations, and they are also less inclined to steal and retain objects as a means of gaining attention. The risk this presents depends upon the type of material being swallowed. The behaviour is usually restricted to chewing or mouthing the material, but in some cases can involve ingestion. Cats may also start to suck and chew leather, cardboard and other items. Wool is often the first target with progression from that to cotton and and other fabrics over time. Usually the cats show a specific preference for a material but this may generalise or change over time especially if the owner attempts to stop the cat from sucking or chewing the items that it currently favours. If the behaviour persists beyond the age of 6 months, then it may be considered abnormal. The precise reason for this delay in weaning from oral suckling behaviour is not understood but such juvenile behaviour is not considered to be compulsive and does not necessarily lead onto adult 'compulsion'. Cats usually stop ‘wool-sucking’ before the age of 6 months. Typically the cat sucks on and chews the owner’s clothes whilst being held. Some reports indicate that chewing or sucking of woolly items is most common in early-weaned oriental breed cats, that continue to display suckling behaviour but transfer it to clothing and bedding.

Home remedies for pica in cats