A professional can work with you, your vet, and your cat to address some of the problems and causes of pica. Just make sure your cat isn’t eating the potting material. Instead of allowing your cat to nibble on grass or houseplants, try growing some catnip or a catnip alternative that your kitty can safely chew. Give your cat some safe, chewable cat toys with treats inside or puzzle toys that will keep them busy. Substances with a strong smell or bad taste may also work, like citrus sprays or hot sauces. There are nontoxic cat deterrent sprays that can safely repel your cat from electrical cords or other objects that you can’t put away all the time. If you have houseplants, it may be time to find an outdoor space for them or put them in a room that stays closed during the day. Wrap up any electrical cords and put them away when you’re not using them. Lock up cabinets that your kitty can open. Keep dirty laundry in a hamper that can close tightly. If your cat is chewing on items like clothing or blankets, put them in drawers or closets that will stay closed while you’re out. This will help your cat adjust to environmental changes. Provide your cat with lots of safe spaces, including enclosed areas like boxes, elevated perches so your kitty can keep an eye on their environment, and a secure litter box area. If you’ve moved recently and changed the cat’s environment, if you’ve added a new pet to the family, or if there is stress at home that your cat is picking up on, this may be the cause of your kitty’s anxiety.
Chewing and eating may also be a comforting thing to do that reduces stress. It can be an attention-seeking behavior, especially if your cat notices that you are reacting strongly to it. Anxiety or boredom can also cause a cat to eat nonfood items.Some cats might nibble grass, and that’s a fairly normal behavior, but cats who start eating too much plant matter or chewing on houseplants may also be trying to compensate for a lack of nutrients in their diet. Inadequate amounts of fat or fiber in the diet may also lead to cats seeking nutrients from unusual sources.
Cats might start to eat their own kitty litter if they are anemic.
Deficiencies in the diet can cause cats to start eating strange things.There are, however, many possible reasons a cat might start to eat things that aren’t food, such as the following: Pica is still a bit of a mystery to most veterinarians, and it doesn’t exactly have one specific cause.