why does my cat keep licking the balcony floor?

Question

when ever we let him out onto the balcony he ends up licking the floor..is it because of the moist in the wood?

Answer 1

Hi there...cats who lick, chew, suckle unusual objects or non-edibles have a condition known as PICA. This has been witnessed with cats who lick wood, cement, plastic bags, photographs, wool (aka wool-sucking), etc.

Here's more on PICA by UC Davis Veterinary Medicine:
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/feline_behavior/pica.html

Pica: The Un-finicky Feline
Chewing or eating cords, fabric, houseplants, etc.

What is Pica?
Pica is the act of eating non-food items. In less serious cases, cats may chew or suck on objects, but not actually swallow them. Common targets include yarn or string, fabric, wool, phone or electric cords, and plants. Any object may be a potential target, however.

Why is Pica Dangerous?
Other than its destructive potential, pica can be extremely hazardous to your cat's health if non-food items are consumed. Ingested fabric, string, or other materials can lodge in your cat's stomach or intestine. The blockage prevents the passage of food and may cut off the blood supply to these organs. Both are life-threatening conditions. Cat's that chew on power cords may be electrocuted. Additionally, many common houseplants are toxic to cats; chewing or eating these plants can cause a wide range of symptoms from drooling to death. If your cat has a history of ingesting non-food items and becomes lethargic, vomits, or displays other concerning behavior, take them to your veterinarian immediately.

Why Does My Cat Eat/Chew on Non-food Items?
No one knows exactly why some cats exhibit pica behavior. Because pica has been associated with a variety of diseases including feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, a veterinarian should examine any cat with pica. A genetic component is also suspected since wool or fabric sucking/chewing is more commonly found in Oriental breeds such as Siamese cats. Although it is normal for cats to eat small amounts of grass, consumption of large amounts of plant material may be an indication of a dietary deficiency or illness. Once medical causes are ruled out, behavioral reasons for pica can include boredom, attention-seeking, attractive odors, hunger, and learned behavior.

...please see website for full details on how to treat PICA

Answer 2

Cats like to lick odd things. I am not sure why, my cat has licked most of the fur off a teddy bear and often licks the rug in the living room. I am not sure why it is so appealing to her, since most of the cats I have owned have been into licking strange things I just sum it up to it's their nature.

Answer 3

More than likely he smells some food or drink that has been spilled there, or even something salty. Try to clean the spot that he licks. Possibly set a water dish nearby, he may be thirsty.

Answer 4

That is a good question. I think maybe your cat just likes the way it feels on his/her tounge. My brother has a cat that likes to lick plastic bags, bricks, and sandpaper. Just one of those things, I guess.

Answer 5

I think so. I've had a cat lick walls. I think it's to bring out the saliva in their tongues because they're so thirsty.

Answer 6

It might be for the salts in the wood. Or it might be because he's a cat and they are very odd. My aunt had one that used to like to chew her wedding ring.

Answer 7

my cat licks plastic grocery bags and other polypropylene...

i have always had a feeling it's his way of (brushing his teeth)

but hey! cats may wonder why do we (humans) sometimes bite the top of a pen or put it in our mouth... maybe it's something that doesn't make sense but we still do it LOL!

Answer 8

Maybe there is moisture in the wood or perhaps somebody dropped food there and he can still smell and taste it.

Answer 9

its because of the salt, my cat does that too.