But unlike humans, who only teethe once, kittens teethe twice in their lifetimes.Ī kitten's first baby teeth are called deciduous teeth, or milk teeth. Kittens, like humans, are born toothless. We can’t always change things back to the way they were to make life less stressful for our cats (you’re not giving the new baby back, are you?) but if we try to recognize the source of a cat’s behavior, we can take steps to help ameliorate the stress. How do cats deal with a change in routine? These related posts might provide insight: Has there been a change in dynamic or routine that could be causing anxiety? Have you recently returned to working in the office (or conversely, just begun working from home)? Have you moved recently, or changed anything in your house, from new furniture to new paint?Īre there any new family members, pet or human, that could cause your cat to feel anxious? Have there been any losses, such as a death in the family, or even a child leaving for college?Īnd how about the other relationships in the household? In a multi-cat household, are all the cats on good terms? Is there an ongoing feud with the dog? Look at the level of stress in your household from your cat’s point of view. Take toys and games in and out of circulation so there is always something "new" for your cat to explore. Give her silvervine sticks to chew on, and a fun window seat from which to view the world. Provide puzzle toys that force her to plan and think. When a cats’ physical and intellectual needs aren't met, he may turn to damaging compulsive behaviors to deal with his own frustration.įor enrichment, provide your cat with a wide variety of toys that have different textures or produce different sounds, from crinkle balls to this bird that chirps. Among other things, we are responsible for creating an enriched home environment. When we bring a cat into our lives, it is incumbent upon us to meet all his needs. Cats are curious, intelligent creatures who need an outlet for all that brain power. It's important for them to live interesting, stimulating lives that allow them to be their full cat selves. (Read, “ Why do cats chew on plastic?” for more information about this related topic.)Ĭats may chew cardboard and paper when they are bored or stressed (*Note: as an Amazon and Chewy affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)ĭo you bite your nails? Tap your foot compulsively? Smoke? Eat when you’re not hungry? You’re not the only one.īoredom, stress, and frustration can cause anyone to seek ways to relieve those unpleasant emotions, whether cat or human.īoredom and cats do not mix. Īnd pica can just be a cat’s way of dealing with something else that is going on in her life at the moment, including any of the other four conditions below. Cats with intestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, or even an intestinal blockage can show signs of pica. There’s a correlation between pica in cats and feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, and brain tumors. Ĭertain health issues seem to be associated with pica, too. This suggests that genetics play a role in the likelihood that a cat will have pica. Certain cat breeds, including Oriental Shorthairs, Burmese, Birman, and Siamese cats, have a greater tendency to eat non-food items.
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