My cat chews holes in my clothes how do i get this to stop?

Question

My cat likes to chew holes in my clothes and my gloves. She even chewed the straps off of my swimsuit. I do try to keep things put away but as soon as I forget to she chews on whatever I leave out.

Answer 1

Hi there...cats who chew, suck, lick non-edible items sufer from a condition called PICA. Here's an article about PICA by University of California Davis on what is PICA and how to treat it: 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 consider visiting the website for full details on how PICA is treated.

Answer 2

Take the cat to the vet for a blood test. It may be missing something in it's diet. A friend of mine had a Siamese cat that ate wool. If it found a wool sock it would hide it and eat away until the entire sock was gone or it got caught. It needed some vitamin or other and it stopped doing it. But it's quite a dangerous habit because the material can choke the cat or get bunched in the digestive tract and the animal could die.

Answer 3

Could be boredom. I know my cat liked to 'eat' things in my absence, mainly rough drafts of stories and reports. She's my only cat and I'm her only source of interaction, since she's an indoor cat. I found that if I played with her before I left for the day and when I got back, she was less destructive. I also kept my papers put away and made sure she had plenty of toys to play with while I was gone.

Answer 4

I think I agree with the person who said they lack a vitamin and could choke on the wool, also check that its not stressed in some way cats are fairly touchy animals, you see them clawing things like clothes but not eating or chewing them!

Answer 5

My at reaches up into the closet, no doors at this time, and pulls my sweatshirts or anything else with long sleeves and chews the cuff off on one side or the other. I am at wits end and even tried putting him in a kennel at night since this is "his time" to roam. I will keep you posted on things that I am going to try. ie: bitter apple spray, or higher dietary fiber program.

Answer 6

Leave an article of clothing that you no longer want out and put Tabasco sauce on it, I guarantee that cat will not try chewing again...trust me it works

Answer 7

Never heard of a 'chewing' cat!!! Amazing . . . think it has some dog dna in it???
Seriously - have a vet check it's teeth and gums - perhaps there is a problem there that is causing your pet to need to do this bizarre action.

Answer 8

That's funny this is the first time where someone has holes in their clothes and mothballs won't work!
What about if you give her catnip so that she will be occupied with that instead?

Answer 9

I have heard of people keeping a water spray bottle handy and giving the cat a sqirt of water when you see it doing something you don't want it to do. be firm and consistent.

Answer 10

That's a great question