What is PICA?

Posted on July 25, 2024

Has your cat ever eaten a nonfood item that he should not eat like foam, plastic, or electrical cords? If so, your cat might suffer PICA. This can occur for a number of reasons including separation anxiety, boredom, nutritional deficiency, or another underlying health problem.
The best way to manage this is to prevent the cat from accessing these items. You can use cord covers to protect electrical wires. Other items can be covered with double sided tape. Closing bedrooms doors or putting away items should be considered. You can also apply a spray with a bitter taste to deter inappropriate eating of objects. If your cat is bored, play with him at least twice a day for fifteen minutes. You want to redirect your cat from this behavior with a positive association. Lastly and most importantly, take your cat to a vet to rule our health issues.