What's wrong with my cat?
By Indra Kenken
@Ken1rt (45)
14 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
3 Jun 18
It's not uncommon for cats to develop a habit of licking various surfaces for no apparent reason. One suggestion i read is that it's boredom or stress but, in most cases, I would doubt that. Cats can become addicted to tastes and textures and it could be something like this but usually there's a very good reason why they develop this behaviour in the first place.
It's possible that there are salts in the paint or plaster which she is licking off. Most bricks and plaster have some salt in them which comes to the surface when water in the masonry dries out. It's unlikely to do her much harm. She's either developed a taste for salt or she actually needs it in her diet.
It may be a good idea to take her to the vet so that she can be checked for iron or other mineral deficiency.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
3 Jun 18
@MALUSE I believe that all animals (and humans) know instinctively what their bodies need. It doesn't always work, though - animals and humans do occasionally die from eating the wrong things, and most humans seem to lose the ability quite early but it would certainly explain why there is a huge corpora of traditional knowledge about medicinal herbs and folk remedies, many of which have been scientifically proven to work.
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
4 Jun 18
@MALUSE Probably because she couldn't remember the name. It's called 'Pica'.
Pica Disorder is a relatively rare eating disorder in which a individual ingests non-food substances such as chalk, soil, paper, plaster, paint chips and more. This article offers basic answers to frequently asked questions about pica.
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
3 Jun 18
I don't have any idea what is happening to your cat..
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
3 Jun 18
@Ken1rt yes me too, I am wondering why did your cat did that
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
4 Jun 18
idk but my dog keeps trying to lick my belly button. Maybe time to see the vet
@arunima25 (87854)
• Bangalore, India
4 Jun 18
I think it is quite normal for cats to develop this kind of habit, maybe sensory stimulus like smell, texture or taste might be good or it may have become a game out of boredom.
@anamika161088 (11866)
• India
4 Jun 18
May be she is liking the taste or smell of the paint on the wall
@Melanie_Marie (1871)
• New Baltimore, Michigan
4 Jun 18
Nerves.
My dog was nervous and she did that a lot.
@chicnthin (3031)
• Philippines
3 Jun 18
I don't know why your cat did that but to be sure take her to vet if it continues. Don't think it's something alarming tho.