Expert: Dear Tabbi - 6/1/2008

Question
My cat will not stop chewing clothes, mostly anything my girlfriend leaves around, including opening dresser drawers to eat bras and underwear.  She was also chew anything with a tough texture. Any ideas?


Answer
Patrick,

Chewing clothes or other non-food items is call PICA and it accounts for approximately 2.5% of abnormal behaviors seen in cats.

Vets are not sure of the cause. Some medical possibilities have included anemia, a mineral dificiency, or a psychological disturbance. Behavioral possibilities have included attention-getting, boredom, hungar, or attraction to the odor of the clothes.

There is no known cure. The only thing you can do is to prevent your cat access to your clothes.

Pica can be very dangerous to your cat if a piece of clothing or other non-food item gets stuck in the cat's stomach or intestines. It can cause a blockage and/or cut off the blood supply to both organs which could be potentially fatal.

A lot of times getting a kitty friend for your cat will help. Cats need a friend to play kitty games with, snuggle with, and be company and comfort when they are alone. Single cats are more destructive than having a multi-cat household. Also play with the cat more. Get a pet laser light (from PetSmart/Petco/etc.). It is good interactive play and burns off some excess energy in the cat.

You should have the cat examined by a vet to check for any vitamin or mineral deficiencies the cat may have that is causing her behavior. Also go the the vet ASAP is you notice her having any pain or discomfort relating to her stomach or intestines.

I would go to Home Depot or a hardware store and get "child-resistant" latches to put on your clothing drawers to prevent the cat from opening them. And do not leave any clothing laying around for her to get at.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Tabbi