This cat blog will answer the major question, “Why does my cat eat paper?” we will also discuss the major reasons for cats eating paper, the major threats of cats eating paper, and what you can do to stop your cat from eating paper.
Why does my cat eat paper?
Following are the reasons why cats eat paper:
- Pica
- Exploring
- Medical condition
- Stress
- Taste and smell
These are the major reasons and you need to rule out each and every reason to find out the exact cause of paper eating behavior of your cat.
What are the major reasons for cats eating paper?
Following are the major reasons for cats eating paper:
Pica
The first cause is pica which is a condition in which your cat eats non-food items. These non-food items include rocks, paper, and mud. It is due to the deficiency of phosphorus in the body. Phosphorus Is essential in the energy production in the body of your cat.
Stress
Any form of stress can trigger this behavior of your cat. If you have changed the surroundings of the cat then it can trigger this behavior of your cat. If you are not giving food at the exact place, then your cat will show this behavior. You need to find out which is the stress factor that is triggering this behavior of your cat.
The one important factor that can trigger this behavior in your cat is boredom. Boredom is something that can lead to abnormal behavior in your cat.
Medical conditions
There are a number of medical conditions in which your cat will eat paper. The first medical condition is stomach upset in your cat. The stomach upset is due to many reasons. Following are the major clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
The next medical condition is worm infestation in your cat. The worms can harbor the intestine of your cat and will hinder the absorption of nutrients from the intestine of your cat. This will lead to:
- Loss of appeite
- Worm in the feces
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Rough coat
Hungry
The next reason might be hunger. Your cat might be hungry, and you need to make sure that your cat gets the right food. If your cat is not getting enough nutrients or enough food, then your cat will eat paper to satisfy its needs.
Taste and smell
The next thing is the taste and smell of the paper. The taste and the smell of the paper are appealing to your cat, so your cat is attracted to chewing and eating paper.
Exploring
The last reason is cats want to explore the paper. It might be new to your cat, and your cat wants to be familiar with it too.
What are the major threats of consuming paper for your cat?
Following are the major threats of consuming paper for your cat:
Choking
The first problem is choking in your cat. Choking is due to the obstruction of the esophagus of your cat. This is a painful condition for your cat. Following are the major clinical signs of choking in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Unable to vomit
- Pawing at the head
It can be dangerous as the expanded esophagus can put pressure on the trachea, which can lead to tracheal collapse and the death of your beloved furry friend.
Intestinal obstruction
If the paper happens to slip through the esophagus it will stuck in the intestine, which is also painful for your cat. The only solution to this is the surgical removal of the paper from the intestine.
Following are the major clinicl signs of intestinal obstruction in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Distended abdomen
- Painful abdomen
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Dehydration
- No feces
You need to take good care of your cat in this condition.
Toxicity
The last threat is the toxicity in your cat. The paper has many chemicals in it which can cause toxicity in your cat. Following are the major clinical signs of toxicity in your cat:
- Loss of appetite
- Pale mucous membrane
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
How can you stop your cat from eating paper?
The best way to stop your cat from eating paper is to train your cat to avoid paper and other things like that. Besides this, you can lock up all the paper in the drawers, so your cat can’t get access to it. You can also provide adequate nutrition to your cat.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered the major question, “Why does my cat eat paper?” we also discussed the major reasons for cats eating paper, the major threats of cats eating paper, and what you can do to stop your cat from eating paper.
