Pica in Cats: What It Is, Symptoms, and Treatment

Does your cat eat things that they shouldn’t? They may have pica.  

Pica in cats is an eating disorder.  

Cats with pica eat non-food items with no nutritional value. Let’s look at pica in depth as we explore common causes and what you, as a pet parent, can do about it. 

What Is Pica in Cats?

Pica in cats occurs when a feline consistently chews, sucks, or consumes inappropriate and inedible materials, most seen with: 

• Cardboard 

• Fabric 

• Paper 

• Plants 

• Plastic 

• Rubber 

• Soil 

• Wood 

Pica in cats isn’t very common. However, because the material ingested is inedible, it will cause stomach upset and can also become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal blockage).

This can cause multiple conditions, some of which are life-threatening if left untreated. Surgery is often required. 

Pica in cats is not well understood, but this behavior eventually becomes obsessive due to increased reward sensations from the behavior itself, which promotes more of the behavior.

Pica isn’t always the sign of an underlying health issue, but the results can be devastating—including health risks to the cat, damage to the pet parent’s belongings, and breakdown of the human-animal bond. 

Symptoms of Pica in Cats

The most noted symptom of pica in cats is the behavior itself—chewing, sucking, or ingesting non-edible materials. Cats can also exhibit other symptoms associated with pica or its results, such as: 

• Vomiting 

• Diarrhea 

• Lack of appetite or thirst 

• Constipation, straining to defecate 

• Lethargy 

Causes of Pica in Cats

Pica in cats can be challenging to pinpoint to a single cause. 

Potential causes may include: 

• Behavioral conditions. These can arise from anxiety, stress, boredom, or compulsion. The behavior may have started innocently but has become obsessive over time. 

• Early weaning or lack of socialization. Pica in cats is seen more often in younger pets. 

• Anemia. Anemia, particularly iron-deficient anemias, can lead to pica in cats. There are many underlying diseases that can cause anemia, and subsequently pica. Auto-immune disease, cancer, and underlying kidney and liver disease are just a few conditions that can lead to anemia. 

• Endocrine diseases. This includes conditions such as diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism. 

• Genetics. Some breeds, such as Siamese and Burmese, have higher incidences of pica than others, although any cat can be affected. 

• Gastrointestinal disease 

• Neurologic disease 

• Parasites. Parasites can live in many places in the cat’s body. Intestinal parasites (like worms) can steal nutrients leading to malnutrition and pica. Some intestinal parasites, like hookworms, can even lead to bleeding in the GI tract and anemia which results in pica.

  • Other parasites can attack the red blood cells themselves. Mycoplasma and cytauxzoon can be spread from ticks or other blood sucking insects and lead to destruction of blood cells, subsequent anemia and pica. 

• Infections. feline leukemia, FIV and  feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) are all infectious disease in cats that can lead to anemia, decreased immune function,  loss of body condition, and possibly even pica. 

• Poor diet or malnutrition 

• Pyruvate kinase deficiency. Lack of an enzyme needed for red blood cells results in anemia. 

• Teething-related difficulties 

How Veterinarians Diagnose Pica in Cats

Seek veterinary attention if you notice any symptoms of pica in cats. 

To help rule out underlying medical conditions, your vet will perform tests like blood work, urine testing, and stool examinations will most likely be performed, in addition to a detailed history and physical exam. 

There is no diagnostic test specifically for pica, so often a combination of the above. Other tests may also be needed. 

Treatment of Pica in Cats

Treatment of pica in cats is often complex and multi-layered. 

Consultation with your veterinarian to determine the best course of treatment for your cat is recommended. The following are some protocols that can help. 

Diet 

If pica in cats stems from a nutritional deficiency, consult with your veterinarian and consider altering your cat’s diet to a high-quality cat food or veterinary diet such as Royal Canin/MD Calm or Hill’s c/d MultiCare. 

These diets—which contain nutrients like hydrolyzed milk protein and L-tryptophan—also help decrease stress in cats.  

Medication 

Certain medications are often prescribed to aid in eliminating or treating compulsive or anxiety-related behaviors. 

Speak with your veterinarian to understand the correct medication, dose, and frequency for your cat. Adhere to all follow-up appointments, as these medications often require monitoring blood work. 

Other medications such as dewormers and supplements (EFAs, omega-3, EPA, and DHA) may be recommended to aid brain health and improve cognition, and also probiotics and prebiotics to improve gut health.  

Enrichment and Exercise 

To help curb pica in cats that stems from boredom and anxiety, you can provide some new activities that help to engage or calm your cat, such as: 

• Teaching your cat how to walk on a leash, or playing with them more often 

• Installing a catio, or more perches or cat trees in your home 

• Using feeder puzzles or toys 

You may also want to consider more chew toys as suitable alternatives. 

Reduction of Stress 

Stress can be a major factor in inappropriate behavior in cats. Sometimes just moving the furniture around can make them upset. 

By making sure your cat has easy access to plenty of litter boxes—as well as their food and water bowls—and ensuring positive cat-to-cat interactions within the home, you help keep your cat’s stress levels down. 

Calming products such as a pheromone spray or diffuser may also be helpful in decreasing stress in the home. 

Avoidance and Prevention 

Pica-proofing your home and preventing access to your cat’s preferred items can curb this behavior. While easier said than done, using cat gates, shutting doors, closing trash cans and cupboards, and even using a harness and leash when supervised can prevent a trip to the emergency room.  

Deterrents 

No-chew sprays can be used as a deterrent for preferred objects.  

Natural Remedies for Pica in Cats 

Unfortunately, there’s not much research to show whether natural remedies can aid in eliminating pica behavior. 

As for other home remedies, be careful with over-the-counter products, as cats are extremely sensitive to many, and toxicities can develop even with the smallest of doses, including essential oils. 

Always discuss with your veterinarian the proposed benefits and risks of any home remedies before you try them with your cat. 

Recovery and Management of Pica in Cats

Pica in cats can be a difficult and challenging condition to treat, let alone manage. 

Being patient and working closely with your veterinarian while being open to trying different recommendations is important. 

There are several supplements on the market that may be helpful to reduce anxiety in cats. Consider trying something like Nutramax Solloquin calming treats or Vetoquinol Zylkene calming capsules if your cat’s pica is behavioral. 

Fortunately, for most cats this condition can be managed effectively, while most kittens simply grow out of the behavior.  If you catch your cat in the act, redirecting the behavior toward something else or offering a tasty cat treat may be enough to curb the behavior in the moment. 

Limiting or blocking your cat’s access to preferred items can also be a simple way to keep your cat safe. 

Should you notice your cat ingesting anything inappropriate, an immediate trip to the veterinarian for treatment may prevent a costly surgery. 

Be vigilant for signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction, which can include lethargy, decreased appetite or thirst, failure to pass stool or straining while defecating, and vomiting.  

Pica in cats can be a frustrating condition to manage, but with good nutritional support, parasite control, supplements and environmental enrichment, many pet parents find the behavior goes away.