
Hepatic lipidosis can develop in any cat, but those already overweight are most vulnerable. In addition, cats don’t handle disruptions to normal eating as well as dogs, especially any condition that causes them to eat less. Cats are excellent at hiding when anything is wrong with them and could get sicker than you realize quickly.

Some pups might only eat one type of item, whereas others will eat a. If you suspect your cat has any of these disorders of eating, don’t delay in seeking care for them. Pica is an eating disorder characterized by the urge to eat objects that are not food. More complicated behavioral concerns may require medication or a referral to a feline behavior specialist. Cats with this condition may eat all kinds of non edible objects such as wool, wood, hair. Pica is a condition defined as consuming non-food items with no nutritional value. Treatment: Medication, increased environmental enrichment, diet change. Common signs: Eating non-food items, vomiting. According to the DSM-V (2013) pica is classified as an eating disorder in which an individual consumes non-food substances at least once per month, at a developmental stage in which the behavior is inappropriate, and occurs in a culture that does not sanction such behavior. The 5 Eating Disorders That Can Affect Cats. Sometimes, small modifications or changes to your cat’s routine or environment may be all that’s needed. Pica is a condition that has been prevalent among humans for centuries. When medical conditions are ruled out, your vet can help you deal with any behavioral issues triggering your cat’s eating problem. These specialists are best equipped to help treat rare and complicated medical conditions. If basic diagnostic tests fail to identify a problem, your vet may suggest you take your cat to a veterinary internal medicine specialist for advanced care. Unfortunately, this may be complicated depending on your kitty’s condition. If you are concerned your cat has an eating disorder, the first step is to see your vet and rule out any medical conditions. What to Do If You Suspect Your Cat Has an Eating DisorderĪs we learned, disorders of eating in cats may have medical or behavioral causes. Your vet will need to rule out medical causes of pica before attempting to treat any behavioral concerns or compulsive disorders. Cats that were weaned too early may also develop this condition. Pica in cats is the act of eating objects that are not food. Boredom, stress, and anxiety are all common behavioral causes of pica. Eating cat litter can be a sign of anemia. Oriental breed cats that were severed early and fed a diet low in fiber without access to grass or prey are more at risk to eat wool. Medically, cats may eat inappropriate items because their usual diet lacks key nutrients, or they have worms, hyperthyroidism or other illnesses. This means that it is a repetitive, uncontrollable impulse. Pica may also have a medical or behavioral cause. Pica is considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder in cats. Certain cat breeds, like Siamese, are prone to this fabric-sucking behavior and it may have a genetic component in these cats. Some will compulsively suck on or chew cloth items like blankets or even other cats. Cats with this condition may eat all kinds of non edible objects such as wool, wood, hair bands, plastic, or string.

Several cat breeds show a higher risk of pica syndrome and cross-bred cats can produce such cats.Medication, increased environmental enrichment, diet change Your cat might be showing pica symptoms simply because it has gotten the genes of a pica cat. Extreme stress, lack of attention, separation anxiety, unregulated behavior, noise exposure, re-location, etc. Your cat may tend to chew on random things in a learned pattern just to satisfy their primal urges or meet their stimulation needs as they get bored easily. Pica is a behavioral symptom where cats compulsively eat non-food items. Redirecting to a more suitable object, such. In such a case, cats tend to eat plants, litter, or anything that gives them good taste or smell. Most cats with pica have a favourite target, and pet owners must take care to keep these objects away from the cat. Insufficiency of the cat meal in delivering essential nutrients to the cat can lead it to search for them in other items that can even be non-edible and this behavior turns into becoming the pica disorder later. have been usually associated with pica in cats. Health conditions like diabetes, brain tumors, anemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, etc. Medical problemsĪny medical issue with the cat can be the primary reason behind the pica syndrome getting triggered and then continuing into becoming a disorder. It is difficult to pinpoint the source of the mental short-circuiting that happens in the pica cats but several factors have been pointed out by different pet experts.
