My cat wants to eat plastic bags...all the time

Question

He is only 2 years old and he does have intestinal problems. I think it is called inflammatory bowel disease. He chews on any plastic material he can get his teeth into to. What would cause this craving?

Answer 1

Maybe the scent or taste of the food that was once in the plastic bags?  Some animals like to chew things that aren't good for them.  Be sure not to leave any plastic bags where your cat can get to them.  If he eats some of it, he could die.

Answer 2

Holy cow!  There is nothing I know of to stop this behavior, so make sure all the plastic bags, or any other ingestible plastics,  are far away.  With IBD, non-food items in the tummy are a big no-no. This is a behavior problem, not a true craving.  One of my cats likes to gnaw on the edge of my laptop . . .  

Answer 3

It's like people and the smell of gasoline. Same thing. As long as he doesn't ingest it he'll be fine.

Answer 4

Hi there... Medically scientists have determined that cats who suck, l**k, chew non-edible items suffer from a condition called PICA. This is common among kittens who were weaned early and seen in many Asian breed of cats as well. Here's an article about PICA by University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine on what is PICA and how to treat it: http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/fel...

Pica: The Un-finicky Feline

Chewing or eating cords, fabric, houseplants, etc.

What is Pica?

Pica is the act of eating non-food items. In less serious cases, cats may chew or suck on objects, but not actually swallow them. Common targets include yarn or string, fabric, wool, phone or electric cords, and plants. Any object may be a potential target, however.

Why is Pica Dangerous?

Other than its destructive potential, pica can be extremely hazardous to your cat's health if non-food items are consumed. Ingested fabric, string, or other materials can lodge in your cat's stomach or intestine. The blockage prevents the passage of food and may cut off the blood supply to these organs. Both are life-threatening conditions. Cat's that chew on power cords may be electrocuted. Additionally, many common houseplants are toxic to cats; chewing or eating these plants can cause a wide range of symptoms from drooling to death. If your cat has a history of ingesting non-food items and becomes lethargic, vomits, or displays other concerning behavior, take them to your veterinarian immediately.

Why Does My Cat Eat/Chew on Non-food Items?

No one knows exactly why some cats exhibit pica behavior. Because pica has been associated with a variety of diseases including feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, a veterinarian should examine any cat with pica. A genetic component is also suspected since wool or fabric sucking/chewing is more commonly found in Oriental breeds such as Siamese cats. Although it is normal for cats to eat small amounts of grass, consumption of large amounts of plant material may be an indication of a dietary deficiency or illness. Once medical causes are ruled out, behavioral reasons for pica can include boredom, attention-seeking, attractive odors, hunger, and learned behavior.

Treatment:

To rule out medical causes, a veterinarian should examine all cats displaying pica. Once your veterinarian gives your cat a clean bill of health, discuss with them what steps you can take to modify your cat's behavior. These may include the following:

1) Remove targeted items - Placing clothing, blankets, houseplants and electric cords out of the reach of your cat is often the easiest solution. Storage containers, electric cord guards, and other useful items are available at most home supply stores.

2) Provide alternative items to chew or eat - Food-dispensing toys, durable cat toys, or pieces of rawhide can be used to redirect your cat's chewing behavior to more appropriate and safe items (see handout). For cats attracted to houseplants, small flowerpots of grass or catnip can be planted and kept indoors. Birdfeed can be used as a safe source of plant seed.

3) Provide lots of structured play - Many cats chew on household items out of boredom. Provide interactive toys and set aside time each day to play with your cat.

4) Increase dietary fiber - It may help to increase the amount of fiber in your cat's diet. Besides providing more dietary fiber, high fiber foods usually contain fewer calories. Your cat may be able to satisfy their craving to eat more while still maintaining their weight. Consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet.

5) Make targeted items aversive - Occasionally, applying aversive substances (e.g. hot sauce, Bitter Apple®, Bandguard®) to an item may deter a cat from chewing it. If this is not possible, spraying strong smelling substances (e.g. citrus air freshener, potpourri) or using physical deterrents (e.g. upside down carpet runner, Ssscat®, Snappy Trainers®) around an object may prevent cats from approaching.

6) Consult with a veterinary behaviorist - If your cat continues to ingest non-food items, referral to a veterinary behaviorist is recommended. Further environmental and behavior modification plans, specifically tailored to your pet, may be needed. In some cases, medication may be helpful.

Answer 5

i dont know maybe its because its the only thing that fills him up and doesnt cause problems as it cant be absorbed or dissolved by the gut and passes right through him but its highly dangerous as it can get stuck in his throat bowels or any organ,its not recomended for humans to eat plastic nor is it for animals,but cats are strange, my cat used to l**k but not eat chewing gum and he ate biscuits,icecream and he loved l*****g my lip gloss! even when it was on my lips!! he also ate crayons that my kids left lying about which i was totally sick with worry but it all passed through him! he actually once ate a balloon!! his poo was purple! i think as long as they dont eat poisin or something totally fatal like poisin cats are one strong animal!! in all fairness their not like dogs their born hunters and eat rats and worse things!, just HIDE the plastic stuff!!!!! lol or if thats not enough buy a pepperment or garlic deoderisor sensitive to plastic or any furniture and spray it on it!!!!!!!! good luck!!

Answer 6

hahahahahahahahaha thats hilarious. sorry  

Answer 7

my cat actually loved l*****g the plastic bags. I believe its the chemicals on the bags, they must taste good or smell good or something. You need to try to keep them away from him, as it sounds like it could make his health problem even worse.  

Answer 8

My cat is 4 and he has been trying to eat plastic bags his whole life too!  He is obsessed with them! I dont know why, but i try my best to keep them away from him. I work at a vet and i can tell you the plastic bags have nothing to do with the  IBD. Just keep an eye out for blockages (if he eats the bags when your not home). Watch out for vomiting, refusal to eat, or not being able to keep his food down. If that happens take him to the vet right away, it can kill them quickly. Good luck! I have given up on my cat. It seems there will always be some bit of plastic that he finds before me....

Answer 9

1.  Put away anything which smells or "sounds" like plastic.

2.  Put applebitter or some other organic, foul-smelling liquid on any surface which you just can't put away.

3.  Try giving him something you want him to chew on with cat-nip rubbed into it, and immediately put this item into his mouth whenever you catch him chewing on plastic.

I've also always trained my cats from early on to understand the word "no" so thoroughly that they will stop whatever they're doing in their tracks when I say the word.  Training your cat this way (he needs to also have the word "good" in his brain, so that you can praise him when he's drinking water or eating food or chewing on o.k. stuff) will help you with all future behavior problems as well.

I had a cat who used to like to chew on pencils; I got him doggy-stick chews and attached them to the ends of my pencils with tape; pretty soon, he just chewed on the chew-toy, and not on pencils or pens.

Another cat liked to sink his teeth into the corners of magazines and books.  I learned to put away anything I wanted to keep whole, and would leave magazines or newspapers on the floor for him to chew on.

The important thing is to make sure he can't swallow anything inorganic which he chews on, as this will certainly worsen his intestinal problems.

Final thought: I've started adding a little pinch of psyllium husk (available in health food stores) to my cats' food; it "bulks up" their stool and helps them pass hairballs and anything else which might be clogging up their digestive tract.

Answer 10

So keep the plastic stuff out of his reach. I don't know what would cause this but don't allow the cat to get the plastic.

P.S. Never heard this, let alone that it's similar to people sniffing gasoline. But sniffing gasoline IS bad for your brain...fumes...I guess the person who wrote that answer has sniffed too much gas.

Answer 11

Sorry, I can't answer the craving question, but chewing plastic can be deadly.  A piece of it could become lodged inside and the cat could be disastrously ill before you know it.  

My cats don't have IBD, but they do like to chew plastic, so I keep all plastic out of reach and out of sight at all times.

Note to Edward: It's not hilarious.  Do you realize how you sound?

Answer 12

Since there's no need to have plastic bags where he can reach them, put them into the cupboard or get rid of them by recycling.  Use paper garbage bags, or get one of those lidded garbage bins for the kitchen.  

YOU are the one who controls the environment. Remove the bags.