Food for thought, literally.
Cats delight and confuse us with some strange practices, for example, their fascination of paper. Living with a feline can resemble living with a little, programmed paper shredder. There are teeth marks in your books, on welcome cards, on important paperwork as well as posters of your favourite music artists. The annihilation is endless and nothing is protected.
For what reason do your cats shred paper? Numerous felines hook and shred as well as bite up and swallow variety of paper. Are these paper-fixated cats simply trying to make a party atmosphere by making kitty confetti? Is it hazardous for the cats, or just repulsive to you? Here's the take on why your cats targets paper, and how to deal with this ‘problem’.
There are a few reasons this may happen. To begin with, the age of the cat may have some kind of effect. In the event that it's still teething or developing, it might simply be doing it because it feels very good. Additionally, many cats will tear cardboard and paper as if they are tearing a prey apart. This kind of conduct is sometimes linked with predation. Quite often, cats rip cardboards and papers apart in order to have some fun. Both of these reasons can be moderated by playing with your cat for 15 – 30 minutes per day.
As an owner, you need to decide whether your cat is deliberately eating it or not. A cat's sandpaper-like tongue has little in reverse confronting snares called papillae that are convenient for skinning and eating their prey. These evolutionary traits make it impossible for cats to remove things out of their mouth when they get caught on their tongue. Tissues and paper towels are especially troublesome, so you should keep these things where your cat cannot reach them. In the event that the cat likes to tear tissue, keep your washroom door shut. You need to take your cat to the vet if it is intentionally consuming cardboard/paper. Just like humans, cats can develop PICA, which is the urge to eat non-food items. Hence it is really important to figure out if there is a physical cause for this kind of behaviour. Make sure there aren’t items readily available for your cat to chew on as consumption of such items can cause a bowel blockage which could prove to be extremely dangerous for your cat’s health.
There isn’t any definitive answer to why cats develop PICA. It could be due to a wide range of reasons including dietary deficiencies, medical issues or genetic predisposition. Little sums presumably will go through, yet consuming fiber like paper or other inedible items needs assessment by a medical expert. There have been theories that pica could be associated with anemia. Your vet may suggest a higher fiber diet from food, which may help control the desire to consume paper.
Once your cat is cleared by the doctor, try the following things: 1. Keep the doors closed: Keeping the doors to the washroom is the best way to keep cats away from toilet-paper attacks! 2. Regulate the chewing: Dispose off temptations like paper pieces, cardboards, etc to keep them away from your kittens which are eager to relieve the discomfort caused by teething.
3. Playtime: There’s nothing better for bored cats than to string toilet paper out of the washroom, into your bedroom, living room and all around your life. Playing with you is always better and more fulfilling for your feline than playing solo. Make an effort to understand what your cat likes can offer you alternatives that could keep your cat entertained.
Cats and strange behaviours are inseparable. However, it is important to understand that occasionally, something else might be going on which does not meet the eye. Anything odd should always warrant a visit to the vet, particularly if it’s hazardous to your pet. You can expect chaos and destruction when you have a cat but making sure it doesn’t harm your cat in any way should be your utmost priority.
