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Licking

20 13:53:59

Question
Greetings,

I have a 14 year old Tortoiseshell female.  She was recently very ill.  She has recovered in every way except regaining weight but since her illness she has began to lick everything.
She licks us, but not just skin, she'll lick clothes as well.  She licks the sofa and blankets and the carpet.  It's disgusting and I would like to make it stop but have no idea what might be causing it.  The one thing she doesn't lick is the other cats.
I know that salt deficiency can be why a cat excessively licks human skin but carpets?

Any advice you can give me would be appreciated because it is spoiling my relationship with this cat.

much thanks
Clare

Answer
Clare,

Obsessive licking of things is a behavior called "Pica". Pica is when an animal licks or chews non-edible objects or fabrics. The most common items are wool and cotton. There is no known cure for Pica. Vets are not sure of the cause. Some medical possibilities have included anemia, a mineral deficiency, or a psychological disturbance. She may have an emotional issue due to her recent illness or treatment which is causing her compulsive/obsessive licking. Or she may have pain due to arthritis or other issue.

Note: Go the the vet ASAP if you notice her twisting around or if she appears to be having any pain or discomfort in the area of her stomach or intestines. That may be a sign of a blockage from ingesting fibers or other material that she has licked....and that is serious.

Her behavior could also be a coincidence to her recent illness and be age-related. Your 'Tortie' is approximately 72 years old in human years. At that age a cat can get a form of 'kitty Alzheimers' and exhibit bizarre behavior or she could be emotionally stressed from her illness. Elderly cats don't 'bounce-back' like a younger cat can.

Early detection of problems and medication, including any needed pain medication, can help make her senior years more comfortable. She should be examined by a vet that specializes in geriatric cat care and their conditions. Not all vets do which can be detrimental to an elderly cat. She should havean "Older Cat Checkup" to have her hearing and eyes checked, be checked for arthritis, and to evaluate the function of her kidneys, liver, and thyroid. An geriatric cat needs this checkup about every 6 months.

I am NOT suggesting that your cat is not feeling OK, or that something else may be wrong with her, but at her age it will happen at some point. Being prepared and knowledgeable about elderly cats will make things easier for the cat and for you. I am including some very good links about elderly cats for reference:
(Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.messybeast.com/towards-end.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm

Also older cats need a different diet as they age. They have different nutritional needs. I would speak to your vet about it, or get a good quality cat food especially for older cats.

Give the cat LOTS of reassurance and love. She more than likely is confused by her own behavior and changes in her body. Don't ever get upset at the cat for getting old and any behavior or health related issues that results from it.

I hope this helped. She's a lucky cat to have such a good home and a caring owner.

Tabbi