Why does my cat love to lick plastic bags?

Question

Mostly grocery bags. It's like he gets high off it or something.

Answer 1

Hi Miss Cissy...some individuals speculate that cats are naturally drawn to plastic bags because they either make the crinkly sound or it's from the animal fats used when manufacturing the bags. Medically scientists have determined that cats who chew, suck, lick non-edible items suffer from a condition called PICA. This is common among kittens who were weaned early and seen in many Asian breed of cats as well. 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

Mine does that too, I think it's something to do with the actual material in plastic grocery bags. I always like to think my cat is checking through the groceries making sure I did a good job at picking them out.

Answer 3

Maybe your cat licks plastic bags like grocery bags because he/she likes the taste of the bag...lol.


Maybe you cat licks plastic bags like grocery bags because something spilt in them. Like milk.


Maybe your cat licks plastic bags like grocery bags because the grocery store you have been to and those bags come from have water or something from the factory.


Theres not really any reason for a cat to lick plastic bags....mabe he/shes just weird. LOL.

Answer 4

My cat does it too, I'm not sure why but I had several cats in my life time all did this. I would take it away from them though because didn't want them get sick off any toxins on the bags.

Answer 5

Some researchers think cats are tasting the slight odor that emanates from the plastic.

They might also like the texture of the plastic on their tongue. I read one researcher thought that plastic resembles the feel of water on their tongue.

Answer 6

ha ha my cat jimmy chews on them. I think its just fun for cats because its a different texture and they are attracted by the fun noises.

Answer 7

just keep them away from him, they can be dangerous to the cat