What happens if kittens eat cat litter

As your cat grows older, his vital organs — including his kidneys — can become less efficient. The kidneys are somewhat forced to work harder to accomplish their job.

Thus, older cats are prone to having kidney disease. Some of the symptoms of kidney disease in cats include general weakness, weight loss, vomiting, and depression, and in some odd cases, litter eating. Here are a few steps you can take:. Take this as a precautionary measure. If you want to take a step further to the safer side, use a biodegradable and kitten-safe cat litter — even if yours is already a mature adult feline. Observe your kitty closely. Remove him from the litter box as soon as he tries to eat the litter.

This repeated action will teach them that litter is for bathroom breaks only. If your cat is just playing detective and is plainly curious, then offer him something else to be curious about.

Divert their attention to cat toys or some edible treats. Catnip is relatively cheap to keep in stock and is available in toys, sprays and dried flakes.

You might also try to grow some so you can have an unlimited supply of new meowy fun. At times, your cat could be more than bored. He could be craving for your attention. And he could be lashing out by nibbling on litter. We recommend all cat owners take some time each day to play with their pets.

You might even consider allowing them to explore the great outdoors by walking them, or by letting them bird watch. Even better, you can give your cat a partner to play with. It could be another pet or feline. And finally, please stick to a regular vet schedule. Many cats occasionally eat litter just as an experiment. Animals have different temperaments and personalities, and sometimes your pet simply may be curious about the taste.

If the behavior occurs once in a while but not often, then it may not be a cause for concern. Kittens in particular are very curious and will eat many things, much like a human child. Keep your pet's diet in mind as well. Cats are natural meat-eaters, so felines who do not get enough meat may develop nutritional deficiencies that they attempt to correct by eating kitty litter.

Make sure that the foods your cat eats contain lots of natural ingredients and nutrients like iron and potassium. It's often best to avoid artificial ingredients and preservatives. Sometimes, cats may even develop psychological issues just like their human counterparts.

Strange eating behaviors may indicate a compulsion, for example. If the cat is adjusting to a major change, such as the sudden departure of a loved owner or another pet, it may be stressed and depressed, which can result in unusual behaviors. Whatever the cause, you should pay attention to what your cat is eating.

Some of the ingredients in kitty litter can be dangerous for the cat, although it depends on what type of litter is used. Clumping litter, often made from sodium benotite clay, sticks together when mixed with urine or feces. If eaten, it can create clumps in the cat's digestive system and create a potentially deadly intestinal blockage.

The clay may also strip minerals such as iron and potassium from the cat's body. Deodorizing substances like scented crystals also contain chemicals that could hurt the cat if eaten. Natural litters may be made from newspaper, pine, wheat, wood chips, or corn. It may be less dangerous if a cat eats one of these materials, since they may be less likely to create an internal blockage. In addition, if the pet is eating one of these substances, it's probably less likely that it has a more serious underlying problem.

In most cases, pica occurs as part of either a behavioral or physiological problem. In general, if you have noticed pica symptoms in your darling fur baby, make sure you contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. The pica may or may not be severe to be a sign of a problem. In most cases, only a medical professional can accurately diagnose whether or not the pica your cat is exhibiting is a sign of something serious or doing it simply out of boredom.

One of the main physiological reasons your cat is eating litter is because they are not able to produce enough red blood cells and hemoglobin. This condition, known as anemia, can be serious in our feline friend.

If this is the cause, your cat is eating litter to try to get the vitamins, minerals, or fatty acids that it are otherwise missing from their diet. If your cat has very lightly colored, white, or bluish gums in their mouth, this is a strong indicator of anemia.

If you suspect your cat is anemic, be sure to take it to the vet as quickly as you can. Nutritional deficiencies are common in many cats. Eating litter is actually a response to these nutritional shortfalls. Many commercial cat litters are made from clay and contain a wealth of minerals. Your cat senses this and tries to eat the litter to make up for what it is missing from their diet.

This behavior could also be a sign of leukemia or kidney disease. An MRI or other imaging technique may be necessary. This is especially true for kittens who eat litter. In some cases, cats will eat their litter if they are not feeling stimulated enough.

This could be a problem if your cat is not allowed to go outside. A bored cat will start to act out and do strange behaviors to amuse itself.