Cat Eats Plastic Bags and Vomits

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Cat Eats Plastic Bags and Vomits

by Jake
(Boston, Mass, USA)

KEEP AWAY FROM PLASTIC<br>by Tim in Sydney

KEEP AWAY FROM PLASTIC
by Tim in Sydney

Hi, Doc....

Our cat eats plastic bags and soon thereafter vomits. My girlfriend and I always try to remove any accessable bags from the cat. Unfortunately, she constantly seeks out plastic and sometimes finds some. Why?

What can we do further? Is there some medical issue involved? Bella is a 4-year-old domestic short hair indoor cat. She looks like Felix the Cat from the cartoons. Our other cat never eats plastic. What can we do? Thanks for your help.

Sincerely.... Jake

Hi, Jake,

Your problem is not uncommon and there is nothing wrong medically. Many cats have this plastic fetish, while most don't.

In my experience, most of the cats that exhibit this behavior have been of the orange/calico family. That, of course, is not a steadfast rule.

Unfortunately, the only way to stop your cat from eating plastic is to keep all plastic away. I know it's often inconvenient and requires constant thought. I have done it for 30 years. However, it can be done and is the only answer.

Thanks for writing,
Dr. Neely

Comments for
Cat Eats Plastic Bags and Vomits

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Nov 29, 2011

CATS EATING PLASTIC
by: Anonymous

My Tabby also loves plastic bags....the only thing we can do aside from hiding th bags is to spray them with cheap cologne, they hate the smell!

Cheers,

Steve

Nov 09, 2011

plastic and tape
by: Shaydie

My cat is a chocolate Burmese and he can't get enough of plastic bags. He used to just lick them but now he bites off pieces. My other cat is calico and she eats tape and stickers. It is a constant battle with these two to keep things away from them. Christmas gifts are coming up and the calico will be chewing the tape off them again this year. I don't know what to do.

Oct 16, 2011

Tacoma
by: Anonymous

My little old man, Tacoma, is a light orange cat that we adopted. He eats any plastic that he can find and then pukes it up. We have learned over the years to keep all plastic hidden. It is a small price to pay for all the cuddling we get in return!

Oct 05, 2011

My Lisa The Cat !
by: X73-Andre'

My Little Lisa the cat is so obsessed with eating plastic bags she got me eating them too.

No just kidding but it is nice to see that other cats do this. I was freaking out when this was going on.

Oct 03, 2011

Same there
by: Anonymous

My 1st cat many yrs ago had an electrical cord fetish. Everything in our house with a cord had to be repaired.

Then I lucked out with 3 cats who didn't have pica.

I now have 2 cats. Both of them like to chew non edible things. The bengal loves to chew on ziplock bags & cardboard boxes. I use heavy duty bags for my crafts, & found 1 chewed all around the perimeter. These plastic bags actually have substance to them unlike grocery bags, which thankfully he leaves alone. I had just recently cut some laminated items & he found the ONE single small scrap that I didn't pick up.....& ate it!

The other cat searches out packing tape. He's also the one that absolutely loves it when the humans have colds because he has a tissue fetish. Not just any tissue. Must be used & balled up. He loves to fish them out of the trash.

Sep 30, 2011

So the cats eat plastic
by: RBW

Our cat, a marmalade age 12, about 15 lbs (big healthy cat) LOVES to eat plastic - of any sort; bags, foam peanuts, trash bags, saran wrap.

The only solution to this problem, folks, is to keep it away from them. Luckily, all our cat does is vomit it up when he gets some - we have to be vigilant about what we throw away in open top waste bins in the office, for instance - but if you love your cat, don't punish him, or throw things at him, just keep the plastic away from him.

Great comment. Thank you, Dr. Neely

Aug 24, 2011

Cat Eats Plastic.. surgery results..
by: Anonymous

My cat has for years chewed on anything plastic. Recently she started throwing up small rolls of plastic bags and even duct tape. When she stopped eating and drinking and no bowel movement, X-rays revealed what the vet said was the largest gas blown intestines she has ever seen. Opening the stomach and exploring from throat to tail .. without finding any plastic. But the intestines had stopped moving. I started force feeding and watering until she started eating on her own.. and she is now back to normal.. back to eating and vomiting plastic.

The next vet. bill will to put her down.

Oh, the vet said the hairball (tube stuff) will not help....???

I have had cats for many decades, and I have had several that eat plastic. Stopping this problem is actually quite simple: Keep the plastic away from your cat. Sure, you need to be more aware of where you put your grocery bags and where you use duct tape, but that is part of being a good pet owner.

Regards,
Dr. Neely

Aug 11, 2011

Just suffered a loss
by: hkitty

I think my cat just passed away from eating through a Temptations treat back. He ingested almost 1/4 of the bag. Please be careful folks and diligent to keep these out of harm's way. He was such a good pal and my husband is heart broken cause that was his lil "buddy".

Jul 17, 2011

my black and white cat eats plastic too!
by: Anonymous

and he also likes to eat foil xmas wrap...so I'm guessing it's the sound he likes? oh yes, and rubber bands....maybe because it's chewy? and electrical wires too. My daughter has 4 cats and none of them eat any of those things. My cat has always loved to play with these little sparkly balls...he would bat them with his paws and chase them around the room...then I noticed one of them was missing, and since then he's only eating half of his food....and a few days ago I gave him another sparkly ball to play with (they are a soft material covered in 1/2" sparkly whiskery things) and he immediately sucked it in his mouth and was chomping on it like he was going to eat it! so I grabbed it away from him and last night I gave him one to see what he would do and he started chewing it right away and when I took it from his mouth he growled at me! never ever has he done that before!

Jun 28, 2011

Orange Cat who eats Plastic
by: Barbaratoo

I notice I'm about a year late for this but my cat is nutty about plastic, too! It's very bizarre. He even tries to chew the plastic strap handle on the box of litter. No plastic is "safe" in our house. We have to be diligent and watch everything. Even mailing tape on a package is a threat.

I agree that in part it could be a lack of attention but from reading other posts, it does seem to have an odd genetic connection. In the meantime, since I'm working again (hence the thought about attention), I try to play with him as much as I can in my off hours. It hasn't really helped but I feel better!

Apr 10, 2011

Sister cats both eat bags
by: Cindy

I have 2 black and white cats, they are sisters. When I would come home from the grocery store they would run to the kitchen and start chomping on the bags. I've had cats for 20 years and these 2 are the first that have done this. It's crazy it's like a drug for them they would get so excited! I keep them away from them as best I can now.

Mar 22, 2011

My Cat Eats Plastic!
by: Anonymous

Hi Doc - I've seen others asking this online and have set up a quick page with info on why cats might be eating or licking plastic :

http://www.mycateatsplastic.com/

Frankly, many of the other articles were long winded with other stories, etc and I wanted to compile some of the consistent info/theories into one quick page.

Cheers!

Jan 28, 2011

Abbyssinian is cinnamon (deep rich red)
by: Clay w/Abby

Dr. Neely,

I neglected to add the fact that my Abby is a deep rich red color. Further adding to your hypothesis that this eating behavior may have a genetic/color component.

But... As a matter of investigation, I have observed that he has a preference for eating the vomit immediately, INSTEAD of the dry food. AND he ignores/leaves the leaf or plastic that caused the vomit.

I feed him mostly dry because when I moisten his food he devours it all, and soon complains of hunger. I feed him too much... Weight gaining cycle. He's at a healthy 11-12 lbs with a mainly dry food-water fountain regimen. BUT he certainly prefers vomit. YIKES!

All this... Just to add to your various observations and thoughts. Thanks, Clay

Jan 26, 2011

My Precious Plastic Eater
by: Sarah

My cat Milla just ate some, and I was freaking out--maybe its just for attention.

Jan 21, 2011

Plastic bags
by: Crazy cat lady

So happy to read that my Totie is not the only cat out there with a plastic bag fetish!!

Dec 13, 2010

Cat that is dying
by: Anonymous

Well my cat made a come back from the dead! been feding her baby food with eye droper and she is eating on her own now, she must only have 1 life left! went though the house and made shure NO PLASTIC anywere.

That's Great News!!! Happy Holidays!
Dr. Neely

Dec 13, 2010

Rescue cat eats fallen tree leaves AND Plastic
by: Clay

I rescued a 14 mo old male Abbyssinian purebred. He was 8 lbs when I got him. Now he is a "low % bodyfat" 11 lbs at 4 yrs. Previous owner was a breeder,and had too many cats to feed.
I assumed he had plastic/leaf/etc pica as a result of His previous lack of food. But... The only thing that differs from other similar posts is the addition of the maple/oak leaf thing. Wet leaves stick to soles of shoes and then when they dry, fall off to be found by the cat. I easily recognize my cat's pre-vomit behavior, watched him and was amazed as I witnessed him regurgitate an intact, not chewed up, 7" wide maple leaf! Of course I don't have lots of leaves laying about, and wipe my feet off outside....
But as I said, I have only this regular leaf eating to add to the other posts I have read on this and other sites.
Does the leaf/previous starvation factor change your advice?

No, that doesn't change my opinion. There are cats that will eat these strange things and cats that won't and I have not seen a connection between early starvation and this behavior. The only connection I have seen is genetic.

Also, many cats will eat grass, leaves, things like that when they get the chance. There's a common myth that they eat this because they need to throw up. The opposite is true. They throw up because they eat them!!

Your Abby sounds healthy!

Happy Holidays!
Dr. Neely

Dec 05, 2010

Cat Eats Plastic
by: Anonymous

My cat is dying as I type this from eating plastic. I have 0 money so I can't do anything.

She ate some plastic from a bag that I didn't see on the porch. She has done this many times and has gotten very sick, but has pulled though.

This time she can't eat, can't drink water, and now is so weak that she can't walk. I am trying to squirt some water & vitamins in her mouth, but it's not working very good.

Try to keep plastic away from your cat the best you can!

I am very sorry about your situation. Have you tried calling the vets in your area to see if one would euthanize her peacefully at no charge rather than her continue to suffer?

Kindest regards,
Dr. Neely

Oct 21, 2010

Obstruction
by: CS

Our domestic short hair who is 7 months old had emergency surgery a week ago due to intestinal blockage from plastic she ingested from garbage picking our kitchen garbage can. She got into some plastic that's used to wrap chicken in @ the store. $1,300.00 for the surgery.

I bought a new trash can so she can't get to the garbage (stainless steel with heavy top) and removed all plastic bags.

She's recovering great except this AM around 6:30 I noticed she got out of our bedroom and made her way to the kitchen, found a little of the plastic garbage bag sticking out ..... she's now chewed some plastic garbage bag once again.

Very nervous day or 2 coming up!

She definitely has a plastic fetish!

Sep 12, 2010

cats eating plastic
by: Anonymous

I have four cats and two of them like to lick plastic bags, trash bags, etc. The one that is the worst is a female maine coon - the other is a male black cat. He is the only one that tends to vomit. I have noticed this for several years and this is the first time I ever checked on-line to see if other cats do this.

Sep 07, 2010

white kitty eating plastic too
by: Mary

My white kitty, 14 y.o. recently dx diabetic started chewing and swallowing bits of plastic bags about 2 mos. ago, and he always manages to find some even tho I try to keep them up. It was only occasionally at first, now I've caught him doing this several x this week, and I have really had to be vigilant. I am concerned it will cause a blockage in intestine. Could this be related to diabetes? He never tried to do this all is life until now. I'm sure the toxins in plastic are really bad for the system.
Thanks.

I have never seen this happen as a result of diabetes, but anything is possible. I agree with you that you should try to keep all plastic away from a cat that licks and eats plastic.

Best,
Dr. Neely

Aug 26, 2010

mine too
by: lyfsguud

My cat also eats plastic bags, paper towels, too. I thought the paper towels was because of what was on them, but there's nothing on the plastic bags. I'm afraid to leave him alone, in case he finds one and I can't get from him in time. He ate a whole paper towel once before I realized what he was doing, but he was fine. I read a post that suggested this might be pica, didn't know cats could get pica but he is also an orange tabby, mostly white w/orange tabby splotches.

Jun 22, 2010

orange tabby
by: Anonymous

My cat does this as well. We try to keep bags away from him, but he always manages to find one. He especially like grocery sacks. We try to make sure he gets plenty of vasoline (he will eat that, but not flavored hairball stuff). Ironically he is an orange tabby!

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