How can i stop my cat from chewing on plastic bags from stores if he finds 1 in the house,?

Question

Does the plastic have a sweet taste cause my other cat doesn't bother with it at all.

Answer 1

I had a cat that did the same thing once! It's not fun to get it out the other end when its still intact. We were told to lay some small (10cmx10cm) pieces of plastic bags around but soak them in citrus juice (lemon or lime work best) first. when the cat goes to chew the bag parts they react to the smell if that doesn't deter them they will get some of the moisture on their faces from the bag and they wont enjoy smelling or cleaning it off.
This didn't work instantly but within 2 weeks the cat didn't even want to see a plastic bag1
Also a little citrus juice mixed with water in a small water pistol sprayed when the cat is doing something wrong will quickly teach the cat not to keep up the behaviour.
Hope this helps

Answer 2

Hi Ellen...It's not unusual for some cats to have a tendency towards certain items such as plastic items such as bags (the crinkly sounds it makes perhaps a taste from a food item). Some tend to say it is because they are missing something in their diet. Some say it is rendered animal fat used in plastics that they are attracted to. And others think it may because it smell like food. However it's best to be mindful and supervise their inappropriate desires just in case of accidental ingestion of particular items...mainly plastic bags that get chewed off in pieces and anything easily swallowed. Ideally, pastic bags should be securely locked away if your cat later decides it would be something worth beyond licking like ...eating--ingesting this could create some serious medical problems which is expensive to later treat (usually surgically). It's best to please note that in the future never to pull out accidentally ingested material even slowly...from a cat's anus or mouth because those items may become twisted around the digestive tract therefore you may accidentally pull out the intestines. A vet visit would be required always under these circumstances.

Consider offering a safe kitty toys with similar textures in place of non-durable plastic items so that they learn to enjoy playing these instead.

Here's a few websites that offer more reasons why cats possibly like plastic bags:
http://www.catchow.com/searchresults_record.aspx?combinedID=2018&intn28f5=1058&f=32166&diu49ax=20151&TidyCats=no&intnhuyd7207&19767328&pdrnvgq0kxsdf83405kiht=2150
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1310&articleid=1154

Answer 3

My cat does it all the time. The only thing that really works is to keep the bags out of her reach. I've tried spraying her with a water bottle to get her to stop but she seems to know that she won't get sprayed while I'm at work. Make sure you get her teeth and gums checked. My cat has had several bad bouts of gingivitis which caused her to have several teeth pulled. I'm not sure if she chews on the bags because her gums bother her or if she has gum trouble from chewing on the bags but I'm sure that chewing on plastic doesn't help matters any.

Answer 4

Your cat does that too? I think it's a fetish for felines...Ha Ha...When mine are messing around with the plastic bags I use a squirt bottle....Adjust the squirter so that it comes out in a stream when you spray it and get them once or twice whenever they get into a bag...They may find the bag entertaining, but it can be dangerous if they get inside the bag..They can suffocate or choke if they eat a piece of the bag...

Answer 5

I have a cat that does the same thing. The safest thing is to store the bags where your cat can't get at them.

Answer 6

Some cats are afraid of balloons.
Let your cat watch you blow your plastic bag then Pop it.
It might works because I dont know if you cat is afraid of balloons.

Answer 7

Do not let your plastic bags in your house.
Keep them immediately in your cupboard as you would do for a child.
I know this does not answer specifically your questions but it is the best I could come close.

Answer 8

Hello- Pick up the bags, so kittie won't chew them. It is not a good thing.

Take Care!

Answer 9

i know alot of cats that play in plastic bags,but they usually dog eat them. try using a squirt bottle filled with water.when you catch your cat eating a bag just squirt him/her once.if your cat doesnt like water then he/she should learn that when it trys to eat a bag it will get squirted and should eventually stop. this is not cruel and works for most problems with both cats and dogs.(like scratching,barking,etc...)

Answer 10

Well you could just let him chew on them until he chokes, or just throw them away so he can't chew on them.