Do you know what allotriophagia is? This difficult word refers to a very unusual cat behavior: the habit of eating things that are not food and therefore are not digested by the body, such as plastic. It sounds strange, but this can affect several cats who feel like "exploring" other objects with their mouths and end up eating. Want to know everything about allotriophagia in cats? The Paws of the House has put together a series of important information on the subject, check it out!

What is allotriophagia in cats?

Allotriophagia in cats - also known as pica syndrome - is not as uncommon as you might think. If you've seen your cat licking plastic, cat eating grass or nibbling on papers and other inedible items, chances are they suffer from the condition. But how does it develop and affect pets?

Allotriophagia is actually a behavior that evolves little by little. It all starts with the cat licking plastic. Then the animal starts to want to bite the object and, finally, it will try to eat. The practice is very problematic and can bring several damages to the animal's health, so it should be avoided and the guardian should always be aware if he suspects that the feline suffers from allotriophagia.

Why does my cat eat plastic?

There are a few reasons why cats may be interested in plastic. Bags made of this material often have chemicals that often retain the smell of food that was there - such as meat and fish - and this ends up attracting the attention of pets. In addition, the texture of plastic is also another point that contributes to licking and biting. So the cat lickingplastic is often attracted by these factors.

The reason why your cat eats plastic may also have to do with nutritional deficiencies, stress and boredom. In the case of food, it may be that the animal is not getting all the nutrients it needs from its food and tries to make up for this by munching on plastic and other inedible objects.

Boredom and stress can be caused by sudden changes in routine and/or lack of environmental enrichment for cats. A pet without stimuli often develops harmful behaviors, such as allotriophagy, so it is important to make gratification of the house and always offer toys and games for the pet.

Allotriophagia is a serious problem that can not only cause your cat to choke, but can also cause damage to the animal's intestines. Ingestion of plastic can wrap around the stomach, cause an intestinal obstruction and even be fatal. If you have any suspicion that your cat has eaten plastic or another object that is not digested by the body, be sure to seek veterinary advice.

How to treat and prevent allotriophagia in cats?

Punishments don't work. Some people may think that infesting the plastic with smells that cats don't like is a good strategy to stop the behavior, but it is likely that the animal will simply look for another object of interest. However, the best thing to do is to invest in a well-nourished diet for pets. Premium and super premium cat food usually satiates the cat's appetite.In some cases, the veterinarian may also recommend entering some supplement for cats.

Environmental enrichment is essential, and you can do this by installing niches, shelves, hammocks, hanging beds, scratching posts and providing toys. This way you won't have a bored cat with allotriophagia.