![cat chewing on plastic bags cat chewing on plastic bags](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mEBgDvxHRoU/maxresdefault.jpg)
If for any reason you feel like your cat is trying to actually ingest plastic, this is a cause for concern. Things such as dirt, rocks, hair, and even plastic, for example. Pica is a condition in which a person or an animal desires to eat things which are not technically edible. Cats licking plastic is entirely different than cats actually eating plastic If there’s even the slightest smell of something that they consider to be edible inside of a plastic bag or wrapper, you better believe that they’re going to want to investigate it for themselves -even if they’re across the room or down the hall. Keep in mind, that miniature tiger tabby cat in your living room has a sense of smell that’s approximately 14x what yours is. And, of course, cats want to lick or chew that save-the-earth plastic, too. And although cats actually not have the ability to taste sweetness, there is something about the cornstarch that is alluring to their cat sense. They essentially prevent the polymers from sticking to metals during manufacturing and clinging to each other afterward.īut, what about those eco-friendly biodegradable bags? Many plastics, like commercial shopping bags, contain chemicals often referred to as “ slip agents,” which are derived from the stearic acid in animal fat. This animal byproduct is used in their production because of its elasticity and that it allows the bags to separate easily during and post-production. Because of their mass production, grocery store plastic bags often contain tallow. So, back to the smell and wanting to literally taste what they are smelling. (But then there are those really smart kitties that know you’ve bought them their favorite treats at the store and they’re simply being nosy!) Cats are often fascinated with the sounds from these bags, but many cat owners will report that their cats will like to lick plastic grocery bags, too. Many of us do our part to try and bring reusable grocery bags when we visit grocery stores and supermarkets, but if not, then we must use their thin, plastic grocery bags to carry out our purchases. So, this means that many must go the cheap route when looking to mass produce items which are in high-demand. We live in a modern day and age where many companies primarily focus on mass production to accommodate the masses. What is in plastic that makes cats want to lick or chew it? Their little cat mind might trigger for a moment, happily pretending that there’s maybe a scrumptious mouse scurrying around in that plastic bag you’ve just brought home. So, anything that triggers that natural carnivore sense in their brain will cause them to literally want to taste what they’re smelling.
![cat chewing on plastic bags cat chewing on plastic bags](https://www.floppycats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Cat-chewing-on-plastic-bag.jpg)
And remember, your cat is an obligate carnivore, meaning that they must eat meat to survive. Now, dogs do have a better sense of smell than cats do, but this does not mean that cats still do not have an incredible sense of smell. Then those whiskers, deeply embedded underneath the skin’s surface which can detect even the slightest of movements in the air. They have the ability to hear better than any domesticated animal, those tiny slits and pockets on their ears turning those adorable triangles on top of their heads into feline satellite dishes. We know that cats have incredible senses. Have you ever wondered why it is that cats like to chew or lick plastic? The answer might surprise you… But this is different when it comes to actually wanting to taste this non-edible item. We know that many cats cannot resist a good shower curtain, ripping it to shreds happily with their claws. One of the things that cats often like to lick is plastic. They will suddenly zoom across the room, they will appear to us as if they are watching things that aren’t really there, and they will lick us -or things-that make us wonder why the heck it is they are doing that.