My cat eats plastic. What to do?

[Sattua]

My cat, Pudding, really likes to chew on crinkly plastic and paper. The problem is that she doesn't just chew it, she eats it--swallows it, and I find it in the litter box. This can't be good for her, and I've done everything I can to remove the things she likes to chew on from her reach.

I feel guilty, though, because she seems to derive such enormous enjoyment from chewing. Does anyone have suggestions for materials that are likely to have the same crinkly aspects she enjoys, but that she won't be able to tear into pieces and swallow?

[Phlosphr]

First of all you broke one of the cardinal rules of cat threads....no picture?

Sounds like your cat might have Pica. My siamese attack cat Loki (http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/Phil_Cat_1-1.jpg) has it, and is exactly like your little lady. If it's crinklly and loud and will fit in his mouth he'll injest it. I have to be diligent - to the point of being a carpet nazi. Always looking at the carpet to make sure we haven't dropped anything that he will eat. I buy a lot of durable toys that mimick things he's normally eat. That's how my wife and I get around it.

BTW - WE used to put tinsel on our christmas tree. Until a week after we put it up, Loki was dragging tinsel from his...ahem...behind. :(

[Queen Bruin]

My cat Bitey (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/varishna/Biteyhatesyou.jpg) has pica, also. I started a thread about it when I first joined, which of course I can't access now. But yeah, mainly it revolved around keeping things she'll eat away from her - which I'm very diligent about (my big annoyance was she'd open my vanity drawer and chew my hairbrush bristles). I get some crinkly toys from PetSmart sort of like these (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751888) but made of a crinkly, sort of plastic-metallic material instead, which I think she enjoys. She carries them everywhere, and it doesn't appear that she's able to break the material down and consume it.

[LavenderBlue]

Both my Lucy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10086811@N06/2339432782/) and my Scout (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10086811@N06/2338608173/) like to chew on plastic but not eat it.

I keep the stuff as much away them as possible. When I see them go near it I substitute a kitty treat.

[Sattua]

Ooh, bad me. I was thinkin' that you could all look her up in the Meet Pudding thread, but of course, that's recursive, and there's no search function anymore anyway. Gosh. There are people in the world who don't know Pudding? You poor, poor souls.

The prettiest puddy tat you'll ever see (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kat1980/2304383079/in/set-72157603881962949/)

Pica? Must look this up.

[LavenderBlue]

Ooh, bad me. I was thinkin' that you could all look her up in the Meet Pudding thread, but of course, that's recursive, and there's no search function anymore anyway.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kat1980/2304383079/in/set-72157603881962949/

Pica? Must look this up.

That black mustache across her face is hilariously adorable. If you look at my Scout he has ginger patches down his nose. The patches make him look like he never cleans his face. Her patch is much better placed.

[Merhouse]

I'm sorry, I just can't help myself.

When I saw the title, my immediate thought was "Let her eat cake." :eek:

Hey, at least I'm hijacking a thread where you've already gotten helpful answers :)

[It's Not Rocket Surgery!]

Have you submitted Pudding's picture here (http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigmiaow.pl) yet?

[squeegee]

One of my cats likes to lick plastic bags. I recall there was a thread a while back* that talked about some organic additive to some plastics (bags) that cats seemed to like, cow fat or something as unlikely.

*but unfortunately the search function is disabled or I'd refer you to that.

[Pullet]

I recall there was a thread a while back* that talked about some organic additive to some plastics (bags) that cats seemed to like, cow fat or something as unlikely.

Cats are just weird.

I have a cat who would drink rubbing alcohol if I let her.