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Eating Cat Litter in Cats
What is Eating Cat Litter?
If you have a kitten under three months old who is eating cat litter, he may just be curious. Just like human babies, they will put just about anything in their mouth. So, a kitten that eats cat litter is pretty common, but adult cats do not usually eat cat litter unless they have a medical condition or vitamin deficiency. In addition, cats that eat clumping cat litter should be taken to the veterinarian right away because the absorbency of the kitty litter is dangerous for their system. It can cause choking or an intestinal blockage.
Even if your cat is not ill, you need to have him checked by a veterinary professional to make sure he does not have any blockages in his digestive system.
Why Eating Cat Litter Occurs in Cats
Cats sometimes behave strangely if they are ill or if they are trying to tell you something. For example, if your cat is anxious or stressed due to a change in home life, he may eat cat litter to get your attention. However, this is not common. It is most frequently seen in Tonkinese, Burmese, Siamese, and other Oriental types. The most common causes of eating cat litter are:
Curiosity
When kittens are young, they are just like toddlers, and they are curious about everything they see. It is very common for kittens to eat litter as well as other non-food items such as paper, plastic, electrical cords, and anything else they can find. Some kittens do this if they are weaned too early.
Anemia
If your cat is older than three months of age and is eating cat litter, he may have pica, which is a symptom of anemia. Pica is the urge to eat non-food items such as paper, plastic, blankets, carpeting, or cat litter. Anemia is a decrease in the amount of red blood cells due to blood loss, lack of production of red blood cells, or destruction of red blood cells. There are different types of anemia separated into two main groups:
- Regenerative anemia includes those caused by diabetes, inherited disorders, infections, toxins, and medication such as aspirin
- Non-regenerative is a serious type that is usually caused by bone-marrow disorders like leukemia, aplasia, chronic disease, and major nutritional disorders
In addition, your cat may show other signs if he has anemia such as pale gums, weakness, lack of appetite, and tiredness.
Vitamin or Mineral Deficiency
If your cat is lacking in some vitamins or minerals, he may eat non-food items like cat litter as an instinct to get those nutrients. There are a variety of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in cats, some of which are:
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency
- L-Carnitine deficiency
- Magnesium deficiency
- Pyruvate Kinase deficiency
- Sodium deficiency
- Taurine deficiency
Kidney Disease
As cats get older, their kidneys get weaker and less efficient. This makes the kidneys have to work harder to do their job. Approximately 30% of cats over seven years old have kidney disease. Some of the additional symptoms besides eating cat litter include vomiting, weakness, weight loss, and depression.
Feline Leukemia
Your cat may eat cat litter if he has feline leukemia as well. This virus is the second leading cause of death in cats. Leukemia affects the bone marrow and blood production, which causes anemia and pica. Some of the other signs of feline leukemia include diarrhea, weight loss, pale gums, depression, and fever.
What to do if your Cat is Eating Cat Litter
If your kitten is curious enough to eat litter, you should change to a nontoxic type of litter made of paper or other natural substances.
Anemia has to be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian. Your cat will need several tests to determine the cause of the anemia. Once the anemia is addressed, your cat should not eat cat litter anymore. Blood transfusions will be done as well, if needed.
Vitamin or mineral deficiencies must also be diagnosed by a veterinary professional to find out which vitamins or minerals your cat is lacking so you can replenish it. Also, the veterinarian will need to figure out why your cat had the deficiency to begin with.
Kidney disease is a serious condition in cats and must be treated right away by your veterinarian.
Feline leukemia is almost always fatal in cats and has to be treated (supportive treatment only) by your veterinarian.
Prevention of Eating Cat Litter
To prevent your kitten from eating cat litter, monitor his litter use and remove him if he tries to eat the litter. They will grow out of it quickly.
Anemia can be prevented if it is caused by a nutritional deficiency or from consuming toxic medications. Make sure you are feeding your cat a high quality cat food with enough vitamins to support good health and do not give your cat human medication.
Vitamin or mineral deficiency is prevented by providing a good, healthy diet of the best commercial cat food.
Kidney disease cannot be prevented. It is caused by age and affects 30% to 50% of cats between 7 and 10 years of age.
Feline leukemia can be prevented with a vaccine from your veterinary care provider. Be sure to keep your cat up to date on his vaccinations at all times.
Cost of Eating Cat Litter
The cost of treating a cat who eats cat litter can range from $100 for an office visit and tests for curiosity to $3,000 to $6,000 for kidney disease. In addition, feline leukemia can run about $200 to $1,000 if you do not get the vaccination, which only costs about $30. Anemia may cost up to $3,000 with the blood transfusions, hospitalization, and tests to determine the cause. Vitamin deficiency is usually only about $200 for the cost of the veterinary visit, tests, and vitamin supplements.
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Eating Cat Litter Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
tabby
Soda
One Year
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Weight Loss Lethargic Eating Cat Li
I have a male cat estimated amount of weight I took him to the vet but I could not pay for the blood work that he needed they would not even do a payment plan now he is eating a little looks a little bit better eating cat litter can you tell me what could possibly be wrong with him I don't want him to continue to suffer
Sept. 1, 2018
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Unsure
Dash and peg
7 Weeks
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I have two 7 week old kittens. I was unaware of the need for a non clumping litter. I have changed to a natural non clumping litter but I am worried they have already ingested some due to cleaning themselves after using the box. They are both eating and playing. Should I wait and see or take them to the vet now? Help.
Aug. 28, 2018
0 Recommendations
If Dash and Peg are otherwise in good spirits, I wouldn’t been too concerned; licking some dust off themselves shouldn’t cause an issue. The problems come when cats decide that the litter will make a good snack and have a few mouthfuls. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 28, 2018
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Arabian
Mauri
5 Months
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Constipation
My cat is eating cat litter everytime I see him next to the litter box. For the past 2 days he's been having constipation.. Not pooping at all. What should I do?
Aug. 12, 2018
0 Recommendations
There may be an issue here if you have clumping cat litter as it can cause a gastrointestinal obstruction as it will clump together (as described); if Mauri has constipation you should visit your Veterinarian immediately for an examination and possibly surgery if the litter has clumped causing a gastrointestinal obstruction. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 13, 2018
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DOMESTIC
Spud
9 Years
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I got a ~9 year old male from a shelter 6 months ago, and noticed he was eating litter, every day. Thinking he might have a mineral deficiency (even though I give him a high-quality vitamin-mineral supplement powder), I bought non-clumping pure clay litter, strained it and set it out so he'd eat clean stuff at least. He eats a bit every day, and either thinks it's a treat, or maybe it was a habit he developed before he went to the shelter (he came from a house that hoarded animals....). He doesn't have any problem pooping, as there don't seem to be any blockages, so I could deal with that. But....
~6 weeks ago, he started peeing and spraying in my hallway, bedroom door. I was going to use am enzyme cleaner, but then realized that if he stopped doing it there (where I could mitigate the damage), he might do it in worse places). And he's now done that anyway: on my box spring and the cardboard storage box under it.
He'd only peed/sprayed a few times months ago, in the kitchen, after my big female cat harassed him (she's always hissing at him), so I thought that was the trigger. He didn't seem to do it any more, but after the recent change I searched with UV and found a few old places that probably he marked. There aren't any other males, just another small female, who gets along with him, so I don't think it's territorial. Oh, they're all indoor cats.
Some sources suggested giving more attention, which I've done, but that hasn't stopped it. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. I have to keep him in the laundry room and garage while I sleep, and watch him when I'm in the kitchen,and keep him out of the rest of the house now, which is exasperating.
Another problem he has is scratching a lot, and licking the wounds raw, so they take a long time to heal, if at all. He has some fleas, which I manually get, although he doesn't like me doing it. But this started when he got here, before flea season. I thought it was the big girl fighting with him and him being curious and clumsy. (There's no chance of infections as I give them a natural immune optimizer yeast which we've cured several drug-proof infections with.) But there's something else causing it. I've minimized the itching & scratching with a homeopathic medicine, but it hasn't eliminated it. I'd prefer to not use toxic, allopathic medicine, but may have to in the short run.
Anyway, could these be related? And what can I do to get him to stop marking???? If I can't find a solution, I'll either have to take him back to the shelter or make him an outdoor cat.
Thanks!
Aug. 6, 2018
0 Recommendations
Below is an interesting article from the ASPCA on marking in cats, however this behaviour can be difficult to curb and there is no single effective method of stopping this and you may need to try multiple methods before you find something which works for you. I understand that people have concerns regarding western or allopathic medicine, but it is more effective than most alternatives with homeopathy being disproven by multiple scientific studies; you should visit a Veterinarian to determine the cause of the scratching (allergies, parasites etc…) and to treat wounds from itching as well as secondary infections. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/urine-marking-cats
Aug. 6, 2018
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tabby
Socks
7 Years
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My pet has the following symptoms:
None
Hello my cat has been eating Tidy cats non-clumping litter lately and I just wanted to know if I should be worry. Also he has fleas.what should I do to help him out?
July 27, 2018
0 Recommendations
There are many reasons for a cat to eat litter, but it is good that it is non-clumping; however nutritional deficiency, boredom among other causes may lead to consumption of litter. You should ensure that Socks is eating a balanced diet appropriate for age and breed as well as regularly applying a topical spot on medication against fleas and ticks like Revolution (selamectin) or similar. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 27, 2018
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