- Joined
- Mar 14, 2021
- Messages
- 15
- Purraise
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Hello furriends!
My handsome Momo has been doing pretty great lately, except for ONE problem behavior...he chews the corners of his scratcher and cat condo, tugging out the carpet strands! I’ve done some pretty extensive reading on this site and on cat behavior sites, but I’m struggling to figure out whether or not it’s pica, and whether to discourage or ignore it...
He doesn’t ALWAYS eat the carpet pieces, but it seems like, when he does, it was his intention all along (and not just it getting stuck on his tongue and him deciding to swallow it). It doesn’t seem like he does this behavior very much when I’m gone, or I think I’d find a lot more strands missing, on the ground, or in his stool. I worry that, if I ignore it to show him that it doesn’t get my attention (positive or negative), he’ll eat a bunch and get a stomach obstruction
He doesn’t seem to want to eat other non-food items, and it’s never our floor carpet — only the carpet on the edges of his tower and scratcher. He does seem to like to lick specific fluffy blankets (residual wool sucking habit, I assume), but again doesn’t tear at or try to eat them. I don’t have enough money to try a different material on the condo/scratcher base, or I’d try that to see if it’s just that type of carpet.
If it’s stress-related pica (still adjusting to new home, wanting more space to roam since other kitty doesn’t like him yet, high energy, etc.), I’m hoping that scheduled walks (he has done fantastic with harness training!) and the Feliway I just got a few days ago will help.
But...could he just be acting out? And if he is, do I ignore it? It feels like a risky behavior to ignore
Thanks!
My handsome Momo has been doing pretty great lately, except for ONE problem behavior...he chews the corners of his scratcher and cat condo, tugging out the carpet strands! I’ve done some pretty extensive reading on this site and on cat behavior sites, but I’m struggling to figure out whether or not it’s pica, and whether to discourage or ignore it...
He doesn’t ALWAYS eat the carpet pieces, but it seems like, when he does, it was his intention all along (and not just it getting stuck on his tongue and him deciding to swallow it). It doesn’t seem like he does this behavior very much when I’m gone, or I think I’d find a lot more strands missing, on the ground, or in his stool. I worry that, if I ignore it to show him that it doesn’t get my attention (positive or negative), he’ll eat a bunch and get a stomach obstruction
He doesn’t seem to want to eat other non-food items, and it’s never our floor carpet — only the carpet on the edges of his tower and scratcher. He does seem to like to lick specific fluffy blankets (residual wool sucking habit, I assume), but again doesn’t tear at or try to eat them. I don’t have enough money to try a different material on the condo/scratcher base, or I’d try that to see if it’s just that type of carpet.
If it’s stress-related pica (still adjusting to new home, wanting more space to roam since other kitty doesn’t like him yet, high energy, etc.), I’m hoping that scheduled walks (he has done fantastic with harness training!) and the Feliway I just got a few days ago will help.
But...could he just be acting out? And if he is, do I ignore it? It feels like a risky behavior to ignore
Thanks!