Question: My 14-year-old cat has developed a craving for plastic items. It started after he had a tooth pulled. My vet said he's healed nicely, but I'm concerned by this behavior. What can I do?
Answer: If you have any boxes of Plastic Chow (even the ones fortified with rubber), throw them out. And after pouring a bowl of your cat's usual fish-scented kibble, remove any Hello Kitty toys that may spill out. Pet Toys Factory
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The first step in maintaining a plastic-free diet for your cat is to remove plastic from his reach.
If he is like most cats, however, everything is within his within his reach, especially if he's learned to open drawers and cupboards, a feat not unheard of for a species smart enough to eliminate in a box.
If your feline was prone to plastic before the dental procedure, it could have signaled a condition known as pica in which animals attempt to consume all sorts of inedible material, said Valley cat behaviorist Jane Ehrlich (cattitudebehavior.com).
But this may be more about an itchy socket than a condition, and she is finding all sorts of plastic items that are perfect gum-scratchers.
Your vet may be able to diagnose itchy gums and even have a few ideas on appropriate cat toys that can help.
Your cat may well continue to seek out plastic, so those items you can't hide should be treated with safe but distasteful solutions. Just was we puree cauliflower and spray it on everything we don't want our teen to touch (the TV remote control, primarily), spritz lemon on the things you want your cat to avoid. Cats hate lemon.
For the perfect chew toy, however, look toward dogs. Take a small rawhide bone, doctor it with a little tuna or liver, and allow your cat to gnaw to her heart's delight.
If you have a dog that counts his rawhide bones, even things up. Let him use the litter box. Once.
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