How do i get my cat to stop eating my blanket?

Question

every night when me and my kitty go to bed she will come lay by my head and start to eat the cotten from my blanket!(this blanket is old but i love it) i push her away but she comes back to eat more.. im loosing sleep over this (= how do i get her to stop? no matter how hard i push her away it dosent end!

Mort- i was feeding her scinence diet and just changed her food to normal cat food. and she just started doing that. wow so they eat cotten yummy! i will switch her back to her normal food and see if that helps!

Answer 1

Hi there...cats who lick, chew, suckle unusual objects or non-edibles have a condition known as PICA. Some speculate that this is common to cats who were weaned early or more evident in asian breed of cats.

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

I have a cat who eats the fuzz off of my blanket. I haven't ever been able to get him to stop. You may just want to switch blankets. I don't think that the cotton or fuzz from blankets is harmful to the cats, but you my want to switch so you stop losing sleep over it.

Answer 3

use a different blanket, my kitten would do that to our summer blanket, its torn to shreds now. It must be something about the fabric but anything of that sort he'll chew and scratch at. Try adding a duvet cover over your favorite blanket.

Answer 4

i know you love your blanket, but you might have to get rid of it. other wise , go to Walmart, there is some spray you can get to make the kitty stop eating the blanket

Answer 5

I have heard this is because it is lacking something in its diet. Are you feeding it a quality cat food?

Answer 6

put the cat outside