cat paws at objects as if theyre litter

Question
Hello and thanks for letting me ask a question here. I've had my cat for about
3 years and recently she has started pawing at papers or plastic bags or
clothes or just about anything else that's on the floor as if it were the litter in
her litter box. She never goes to the bathroom here, but just keeps pawing at
whatever is around on the floor until I either pick up the object or pick up her
and move her. It's very annoying, and it kind of seems compulsive. Do you
have any ideas on what she could be doing this for and how I can help her?

Answer
Claire,

It sounds like she is a bored kitty. Maybe you should think about getting her a kitty friend about her same age and temperment so she can have someone to play kitty games with and snuggle with. Also get her some interactive toys like a pet laser light from PetSmart/Petco/etc. They love to chase the 'little red bug'.

It could be an attention getting behavior. If you pick her up when she does that then she knows it works to get you to give her attention and she will keep doing it. Are you playing with her less? Or leaving her alone more?

Anytime a cat's behavior noticeably changes you should have the cat examined by the vet. Her behavior could be related to a medical issue and not a behavioral one.

Tabbi