Cat eating cat litter - Answered by Dr. Van Lienden

[rescue12]

One of my cats she is approx 4 yrs old started licking, and eating cat litter is this the sign of some kind of deficiency, and will it kill her?

[Lucky Rescue]

Adult cats who start eating litter are nearly always sick. You need to take her to the vet right away.

Does she go outside?

[rescue12]

no has never been out

[OntarioGreys]

Clumping clay litters can be very dangerous if ingested, so get her to the vet

[chico2]

WoW,I've never heard of that before,but if she is eating clumping litter,her life is in danger..please take her to see the vet.

[rescue12]

thanks for the obvious that isn't help or a reason why? it's your opinion, well thanks again.

[mafiaprincess]

Well, If you haven't bothered to take the cat to the vet, and it may die from doing it, it is as much help as you are going to get whether you are rude about the answers you recieve or not.

We are not vets. We cannot diagnose your animal's illness. All we can do is implore you to take the animal in before it is too late.

[Lucky Rescue]

And we shouldn't have to tell you to take your sick cat to the vet.

I would think that would be pretty obvious to most people.

[OntarioGreys]

Originally Posted by rescue12

thanks for the obvious that isn't help or a reason why? it's your opinion, well thanks again.

You ask whether the eating of litter could kill her? and I answered that part

As for opinion , scroll down beolw the chart and read http://www.treshanley.com/cic/feline.html

Try a different type of litter, like yesterdays news, corn, wheat, pine, she may decide one of these are not as tasty.

[rescue12]

Thank you , but I did not ask if it would kill my cat! I was looking for a reason that she might be lacking something in her diet? or needed vitamins. etc...

[badger]

On the other hand if it indeed kills your cat, this will all be academic.
But it's true that trying a different kind of litter is often the answer. Cats change their minds all the time... if the cans of cat food I have to lug back to my local store for exchange are any evidence (but you LIKED chicken last week!).

[chico2]

If this is clumping litter she is eating,it will form like cement inside her and yes,it will be fatal,I'm sure and you did ask if it would kill her.
I've had cats all my life and haver never heard of a cat eating litter,normally cats are quiet picky eaters.
If you want to find out if she is lacking anything,your best bet is a vet,she will most certainly die if she continues this strange behaviour.

[chico2]

Badger,that's funny...mine seemed to really like beef last week,so I bought a whole bunch,now they don't....oh well,at least they don't eat cat-litter

[Lucky Rescue]

but I did not ask if it would kill my cat!

Excuse me, but you certainly did ask that. Forgotten already?

and will it kill her?

When I had a cat who started eating litter, it was because he had a parasite that was destroying his red blood cells.

Please take you cat to the vet. That's the only way you'll know what's wrong.

[Blathach]

This thread has run its course. Please take your cat to the vet and update us when you get results.

[petdr]

Pica, an unnatural craving for abnormal things, is well documented in people and animals. And, it usually does tie in with a deficiency such as iron.

Blood work will usually reveal the more common causes for pica, and appropriate supplementation cures the problem. There are also psychological causes for abnormal ingestion of things such as cat litter. And, yes, eating cat litter can cause medical problems such as obstipation and heavy metal poisoning potentionally over time.

I would first change the litter type and make certain your kitty is on a balanced, nutrious diet, and additionally apply some environmental enrichment such as a window platform to address any boredom issues.

If pica continues, then a physical exam and directed diagnostics to clarify the problem.

Dr. Van Lienden

Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM
The Animal Clinic of Clifton
12702 Chapel Road, Clifton
Virginia, U.S.A. 20124
703-802-0490