Keeping a Cat that Loves Plastic Bags Safe

Plastic bags are like magnets to some cats. They will lick them like they're covered in tuna. Why do cats do that? Should they be stopped? As if you didn't need another reason to use canvas bags at the grocery store, your cat will drive you crazy with that constant licking.

Some think that the plastic bag gives off an odor which attracts cats. I may recall their asking me "paper or plastic" at the grocery store, but not "tuna or catnip"? Perhaps the texture of the plastic bag pleases them.

They may do it in response to a nutritional deficiency. Having your vet run blood tests can rule that out, and the cost of blood tests will prevent you from going to the grocery store for awhile, reducing the chances of bringing more plastic bags into the house! Increasing the B vitamins in his diet may help, or you might try feeding him a diet higher in fiber.

Cats may lick plastic out of anxiety. You can try distracting the cat with toys or catnip. Changes in the household are always stressful to pets, and you can minimize their stress by keeping their environment quiet and not making sudden changes to their routine.

This type of behavior becomes a concern when the cat consumes non-food items. Eating non-food items is called pica. This can cause health problems in the form of digestive blockages. Also, with plastic bags there is a risk that the cat could become trapped inside it and suffocate. Let your cat's quirky affection for all things plastic inspire you to keep plastic bags stored away where he can't get to them.

To deter cats from licking or consuming things they shouldn't, some people use deterrent sprays or even consult animal behaviorists. Provide your cat with toys - outlets to relieve boredom. You can also offer alternate things to chew on like grass or catnip. Medications are also available to curtail obsessive compulsive behaviors in pets.

Some breeds, such as Siamese, may be more likely to indulge in behaviors like licking plastic.

Another danger to your cat is chewing on electrical cords, which could be fatal. In this case, it may be necessary to get special covers for your wires. This may be necessary to protect the cat from itself. They can't tell us why they want to chew on foreign objects, and we can't tell them why it's bad for them. Throughout your pet's life you are their parent and must monitor their environment.

Sources:
www.xmission.com/~emailbox/whycat.htm
http://www.indefenseofanimals.org/cat_therapist/archive_september.html
www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/feline_behavior/pica.html
www.vetinfo4cats.com/catchew.html