why do my cats lick black bin liners and eat plastic??

Question

Yes my cats are weird...but lovely...they have always done this since kittens! The weirder thing is they dont chew the black bags they only lick them! Its got so bad as adult cats that i now have to make sure there is no plastic left about or they will chew them! They dont touch cheap thin carrier bags..only thick plastic ones! Touch wood to date they are both healthy..lol

Answer 1

They probably associate it with all the rubbish they manage to get from bins when they're out and about like Slinky Malinki. My cat is a bit of an oddball as well, but it just adds to the charm. Nice haircut by the way..

Answer 2

If the cat only licks plastic, it is not a problem. Are you sure it has actually eaten some of the plastic or was the plastic just torn up and you thought it ate some of it? Many cats lick plastic bags and other items made of plastic. One theory is that the ingredients of the plastic, such as corn byproducts, attract the cat. Licking is fine, eating is not. We have had and currently have cats who lick plastic but none has ever actually swallowed any of it. Check to see if they are actually eating any of it. If not, let them lick all they want, it won't harm them.

Answer 3

Cats are strange creatures, that is my answer. I had a cat who used to lick plastic bags from the grocery store. My cat now likes to eat the paper towels! Why, I have no idea! Boredom, it tastes good. As long as it doesn't make your cats sick, let them go just supervise so they don't choke on anything like bag handles.

Answer 4

Hi there...some speculate that cats who lick, chew, eat plastic may be atracted to the rendered animal fat used to manufacture the bags, however after considerable research and speaking with my friend who is a veterinarian I've learned that this condition is called PICA. If ingested it may be fatal. As a general rule, anything which is questionable should be securely put away and out of reach. Here's more on PICA by UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine:

http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/fel...
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.

Answer 5

I have a kitten who likes the plastic - he will chew it, lick it, eat it......he also loves tape. Almost choked on a piece of scotch tape one. But my older cat prefers magazines and books. He loves to find a stack of magazines or books and lick the edges or just rub his nose on the edge. Who knows why they do it. But as long as they are not actually ingesting it I don't think it could hurt them.

Answer 6

cats are definitley wierd but constant entertainment.
mine chews plastic too and licks any tape on boxes or opened presents, i think she's a bit of a glue junkie! she'll ignore food in her bowl for lumps of fluff on the floor and also the fresh water given to her and then drink out of puddles outside.

Answer 7

Cats like plastic bags because they are often coated with a lanolin oil substance, even if as humans we can't detect it. It is not harmful to the cats.

Answer 8

Hi there...(BY THE WAY the person above should have recited where they took their resources as they copy/pasted my answer in response to another person's answer here who already asked this question).

Medically scientists have determined that cats who chew, suck, lick non-edible items suffer 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

The website details on what is PICA and how to best treat this disorder.

Answer 9

we had a really old cat, about a year before he died he started licking trash bags all the time, we asked our vet about it and he said the cat might be lacking proper nutrition (getting all his vitamins from his food). maybe you should switch kitty food, like to a healthier kind, science diet is good, or iams. cat chow is a cheaper alternative.

Answer 10

Try licking a black bin liner and you will know why..