Is your cat eating weird things?

You've got everything together for sewing your new quilt, with the fabric pieces spread out on the rug in front of you. Along comes your newly adopted year-old Siamese cat to help you out. You've had cats before and know that they love to get involved with what you're doing out of curiosity. Kitty decides that, not only does she want to play with a small piece of your fabric, she wants to eat it for a snack.

Pica is the term used when cats eat non-food items. It sometimes is associated with "wool-sucking," a behavior that some cats engage in when they were weaned too abruptly or too early as kittens. You may notice this type of cat sucking on shoelaces, earlobes, human hair, or wool blankets.

The word pica comes from the Latin word for "magpie," a bird which is known to eat almost anything. Pica in cats is a potentially serious condition where they have an abnormal compulsion to eat non-food substances such as clothing, thread, plastic, wood and litter. Many cases of pica seem to be similar to what in humans is called obsessive-compulsive behavior - caused by stress, anxiety, or boredom. Nobody knows for sure what causes pica. It has been associated with a number of medical conditions, ranging from nutritional deficiencies to endocrine disorders. A genetic component is also suspected, since the disorder seems to be more prevalent in oriental breeds.

In less serious cases, Kitty may suck or chew on a non-food item but not actually swallow it. Then pica itself is not a threat to your cat's health. However, when she actually ingests the things she sucks or chews on, such as a long piece of ribbon, it can lead to life-threatening intestinal obstructions that may require emergency surgery.

Don't assume that your cat has a compulsive disorder or pica just because she's licking or eating non-food items. Some medical conditions can cause these behaviors, so it's crucial to have Kitty thoroughly examined by her veterinarian before doing anything else.

Some veterinarians and behavior experts believe that inadequate amounts of fat or fiber in the diet can lead a cat to crave the nutrients from non-edible sources. Some cats who are anemic may try to eat litter.

Another theory is that cats that are living in a stressful environment or indoor cats that are bored may try to self-soothe by engaging in pica behavior.

Once your veterinarian has ruled out any medical problems and gives Kitty a clean bill of health, discuss what steps you can take as a pet parent to change your cat's behavior. Some of them may include the following:

• Remove the targeted items or the temptation by placing clothing, sewing materials, electrical cords plastic bags, etc. out of reach for your furry friend.

• Increase environmental enrichment by providing alternative items to chew or eat like food-dispensing toys, durable activity toys, scratching posts, cat trees, and other forms of stimulation. Consider using one of the several cat entertainment DVDs available on the market where Kitty could enjoy watching birds, bugs, and other prey moving around on screen. Put up a birdfeeder outside one of your windows where your cat can sit and watch nature. You could even consider constructing a safe outdoor enclosure.

• A bored cat will look for something to do, and that something might include chewing on a non-edible items, so set aside time each day to provide an interactive playtime with Kitty.

• It may help to increase the amount of fiber in your cat's diet. Besides providing more dietary fiber, high-fiber foods usually contain fewer calories. Your cat may be able to satisfy their craving to eat more while still maintaining her weight. Remember not to make any dietary adjustments without consulting with your veterinarian.

If you know Kitty suffers from pica, it is important to be vigilant and monitor for signs of a blockage in the intestines. These signs are vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and general listlessness.

If you can't figure out what might be triggering the pica or have been unable to redirect your cat away from the behavior, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a certified behavior professional.