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Why does my cat chew plastic bags and how to stop this habit?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 8 months and 26 days old | 10 lbs

Why does my cat love to bite into plastic bags or anything similar to it? I come from the market or shopping and she goes straight to he bags and starts chewing.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By C. Rathjens, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 24th, 2017

This a frustrating and potentially dangerous personality quark in some cats! However, It usually does not indicate any underlying medical issue. I recommend taking great pains to make all plastic inaccessible to Luna. Some cats are very persistent about seeking out their plastic fix. The problem with this plastic habit, is that if Luna eats some plastic that is too large, it can get stuck in her stomach or intestines and require surgery to remove. If Luna ever starts vomiting suddenly, be sure to let your vet know that she's a plastic eater.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Alysia Van Scoy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 15th, 2017

    Cats like different textures. Seymoure like the texture and sound that plastic makes and feels like. I personally have a cat just like this! He will try to chew on any plastic that he can get. Unfortunately - it isn't safe. I would try to find toys that have the same crinkle sound. Try to keep plastic out of his reach.... easier said than done.... Trust me I know. :-) I don't think that it is a symptom of a problem... more a preference of play.

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    Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 31st, 2017

    Hi there and thank you for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The first thing I would do is make absolutely sure any and all plastic bags of any kind are hidden away safely and securely. After that has been done and Zoli is still somehow chewing on plastic bags, I would make sure she has a variety of other toys to chew on and be entertained with. It may be she is chewing the plastic bags and seeking them out, out of boredom. Ensuring she has other toys to play with and chew on during the day would be a good idea. There are many great cat toys out there. I would recommend ones that are interactive and tactile. Toys where you can stick a tasty treat in there for her to fish out can be very stimulating for them. Cat nip always helps too :) I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 29th, 2017

    Chewing on plastic and other foreign objects in cats can be a sign of dental disease or intestinal disease, parasitism, or anxiety. It can also be something cats just enjoy doing! The safest course of action is to have your vet check your kitty out to be sure there aren't any medical reasons identifiable for this behavior. If you suspect your kitty suffers from anxiety there are several over the counter options to try out including Feliway pheremone diffusers and Composure or Zylkene calming supplements which can be found online. Some cats may require prescription anxiety medication. If the behavior isn't related to anxiety the providing your kitty with plenty of safe/healthy things to interact with/chew on including treat puzzles/toys can be helpful and also keeping all things she might like to chew up and out of her reach. Here is an article with some information on this problem FYI: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-does-my-cat-like-to-chew-plastic

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