Pica Syndrome In Cats: How Dangerous Is It?

Pica syndrome in cats can be the reason if your cat chews or even eats strange things. It really is that dangerous.

Your cat is healthy and well-fed and yet you are concerned about its behavior? Does she show a playing and eating behavior that you cannot classify? Does she chew on plastic parts, lick and pull on the carpet, and even try to eat erasers, corks, or stoppers?

In this case, it is very likely that she has pica syndrome. Basically, nothing bad usually happens. Occasionally, however, a swallowed object can insult the sensitive digestive tract of the fur nose, leading to internal injuries or even intestinal obstruction. That’s why it’s important for all cat owners to know about pica syndrome. We have all the information for you and your cat or cats.

What is Pica Syndrome in Cats?

The word “pica” is the Latin name for magpie. What is meant is the black and white raven bird, to which we like to attribute the property “thieving” colloquially. Although magpies are not thieves, they are very intelligent and curious. They like to take a closer look at unusual things by picking them up in their beak and carrying them with them.

The unusual behavior of cats to develop a preference for such objects is therefore called pica syndrome. In this context, “unusual” means that these things have nothing to do with our cats’ hunting instincts, nor are they used for nutrition.

With pica, cats look for objects to lick, suck, gnaw, bite, and/or eat. According to the guide, pica syndrome is an eating disorder or a behavioral disorder. Not only cats but also small children can be affected. The disorder can begin at an early age and persist for several years.

What are the symptoms of a cat with pica syndrome?

Licking, sucking, or eating things that are strange to us humans is never intended to satisfy the hunger of our four-legged friends. Rather, it arises from an inner urge – a habit acquired in early childhood that can grow into compulsive behavior.

As a cat owner, you have to learn how to design the environment for such a special cat. The “collected” things and substances can sometimes be sharp-edged pieces of plastic, hard rubber plugs, sand, paper, cardboard, or scraps of fabric.

How often cats exhibit this behavior depends on how strong their compulsive behavior is. General statements cannot be made here. In any case, the behavioral disorder must occur at regular intervals in order to be diagnosed as pica syndrome.

Diagnosis: how to diagnose pica syndrome in cats

According to the guide, there is only one way to diagnose pica: close observation of the cat and subsequent discussion with a veterinarian or animal psychologist. In any case, you are not alone with the problem: Quite a few four-legged friends show abnormalities in this regard, regardless of gender.

Do you have the impression that your cat is licking, tearing, and eating things made of plastic or similar substances at regular intervals – i.e. daily or several times a day? Then pica syndrome is likely. Pica cats lick, gnaw, bite and swallow their “victims” or their fragments with great passion.

According to the guide, if your cat only does this once or twice a week, it is probably just a strong hunting instinct or skipping behavior and no pica.

If your cat eats indoor plants, it is also not Pica, because many house tigers need the cellulose from plants for digestion. Most cats disassemble their “play prey” and do not chew or eat it – so this is still normal play behavior and not pica syndrome.

How Dangerous Is Pica Syndrome in Cats?

In principle, Pica is harmless if you assume that your cat does not eat anything that could hurt it internally. Unfortunately, you have no guarantee for that. Therefore heed the following advice and note two things:

1. When the cat is unattended, don’t leave anything made of plastic, rubber, or other synthetic materials on the floor, couch, or another accessible surface, other than its toys. You should make it a habit for you and your family members to place small and shareable items out of the reach of your four-legged friend.
2. Train your cat (according to the guide, if necessary with the help of an animal trainer) so that it reacts to your loud NO and refrains from biting and swallowing things made of plastic, wood, or textiles. Of course, this only works if you can observe them and are close to them.

What are the consequences of the eating disorder?

According to the guide, the eating disorder only has health consequences if your cat catches something that damages its digestive tract. This can happen in three ways:

1. The digestion of the substance releases substances that damage the cat’s body as soon as they get into the blood.
2. The substances or objects made of plastic and other materials are swallowed in such a size that they occlude the animal’s intestines.
3. Sharp edges made of wood or plastic injure the animal’s intestines.

However, only in a few cases do these horror scenarios occur – so don’t panic! Your pet has a good instinct for which things to eat and swallow and which not.

Nevertheless, damage to the digestive tract can never be ruled out. If your house tiger shows signs of pica, just be on the lookout. It is often precisely those things that you would never have expected that make the affected cats their favorites.

What Causes Pica Syndrome in Cats?

Pica has been known for several decades, but so far no veterinarian can explain the exact background to you with certainty. In principle, a distinction is made between three possible causes of behavioral disorders in cats:

• Malnutrition
  Everyone knows the feeling of an irrepressible craving for certain foods. Our body wants to show us that we need certain vitamins, minerals, or sugar. The same thing seems to happen to our house tigers. They sense a lack and look for a substitute by chewing and swallowing various things, including things that are unsuitable for them.
• inheritance
  Because pica is more common in Burmese or Siamese cats, an inherited obsessive-compulsive disorder is suspected. This is often reinforced by the strict breeding regulations for cats of certain breeds.
• psychological causes
  Pica syndrome is more common in kittens weaned from their mothers prematurely. You can also see this eating disorder more often in cats that suffer from health hazards such as boredom, stress, neglect, and loneliness than in balanced cats.

Treatment or therapy: what helps a cat with pica syndrome?

You can help your cat by looking for possible causes. If a hereditary disorder is likely, give your cat all the more attention and offer her many opportunities for distraction.

If your fur nose is likely to be caused by a lack of nutrition, give it feed additives such as oils, fats, or cat milk that are rich in vitamins and minerals. A conversation with your veterinarian can help you here. There are countless high-quality treats and patties that, given once a day, will help your cat with just that.

Has your pica kitten been weaned prematurely and does it show a nervous or anxious nature? Does it kick a lot? Again, you can help by making his environment varied and entertaining. Give your sweetheart a lot of attention and steer him through special games such as B. Intelligence games depend on his behavior.

Can Pica Syndrome be Prevented?

One thing is particularly important for you here: it is not your fault if your cat suffers from pica syndrome and loves plastic more than mice. Perhaps even the word “suffers” is out of place here. As long as she stays with harmless objects and doesn’t take any damage, Pica is harmless and your cat can get through the day with the unusual pastime without stress.

Since the unwanted behavior manifests itself primarily in kittens, it can be assumed that its adaptation to a life without a cat mother and siblings has not been ideal.

So what you can do for every house tiger and its offspring is:

1. Never wean kittens from their mother too early.
2. Don’t pressure the person selling or giving away the kitten you want a little sooner because “it’s only been this cute, small, and lovely for a short time.”

If you breed cats yourself, never give up the kittens too early. Separating from the mother too early means enormous stress for the little cats. This can have serious health consequences, both physically and mentally.

We wish you and your four-legged friend all the best!