Wool and other fabrics, plastic (including plastic casing surrounding electrical cords), rubber, pins and needles, newspapers. These are just some of the items that might be chewed on and swallowed by cats afflicted with pica, which is the eating of non-food items. The word pica is based on the Latin word “picave.” It means magpie — a bird with indiscriminate dietary habits.
Oriental breeds, including Siamese and Burmese cats, appear genetically predisposed to the condition; they are at highest risk for developing it. But pica can strike a cat of any breed. It may start during kittenhood with wool that is kneaded on while it is chewed. In those cases, the pica is believed to be a displaced suckling behavior. Think of it as feline thumb-sucking.
A cat doesn’t have to be a kitten to develop pica, however. More importantly, at whatever age the behavior starts, it’s very dangerous. At its worst it can cause a life-threatening GI obstruction, in some cases even requiring removal of sections of the gut. That’s why anyone who has a cat with pica should be particularly concerned if their pet starts having vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. All could be signs that a non-food item was swallowed but could not be digested and passed out of the body. Instead, it may be stuck somewhere between the mouth and the large intestine.
A pica-afflicted cat should be taken for a veterinary exam. Don’t wait for an emergency. The reason is that the root of the condition may not be a genetic predisposition or an issue of displaced suckling but, rather, any one of a number of diseases that need to be diagnosed and treated.
Medical causes of pica
Medical conditions that can result in pica include hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), chronic pancreatitis, and cancer. Infestation of intestinal parasites can cause pica, too. That’s why not only clearly bad signs like ongoing vomiting and diarrhea should be a warning to take your cat to the vet but also more subtle ones, including gastrointestinal upset such as flatulence, stomach gurgling, lip licking, and repetitive swallowing or drooling. “If a medical cause is found and treated,” says Tufts veterinary internist Michael Stone, DVM, “the pica should cease.”
And if a medical cause is not found?
Behavioral causes of pica
When no medical cause has been found, explains Tufts veterinary 
behaviorist Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM, pica may have a behavioral origin. As with other repetitive behavioral abnormalities, behavioral pica is most likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. For example, genetically predisposed cats that are weaned too soon may be more inclined to chew, suck, and ingest fabric or other nonfood materials. Stress and anxiety caused by such things as inter-cat social stress and lack of activity and stimulation may also trigger the behavior in genetically predisposed cats.
Treatment in these instances most often includes careful prevention of the cat’s access to things he may ingest and a very intentional increase in environmental and mental stimulation — more toys attached to wands to chase, more hunting activities in general, and more training in fun behaviors like high fives in exchange for treats. (See page 1 for more information.)
Social anxiety and stressors in the home need to be addressed, too. Does the cat have access to at least two litter boxes? Are little children who can be bothersome being kept away from him? Is there a conscientious effort to tamp down on commotion among the people in the home? And does the cat have hidey holes and high-up perches to feel safe from the action?
High-fiber diets and food puzzle toys help some cats with pica, too. They provide a lot to chew on, literally, as well as activity and engagement associated with eating.
In some cases, Dr. Borns-Weil might prescribe an SSRI such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or a tricyclic antidepressant like clomipramine. Sometimes, a prescription is necessary for the duration of a cat’s life, even if you keep working very hard to engage a cat’s active body and mind and push stressful things and people to the background. Once pica takes hold, it can become a persistent obsession.
