Why does my cat suck on blankets and eat fabric? Is it wool sucking?

Question

I am at a loss for what to do with my pet cat, one year old female, who sucks on and eats any material she can get her hands on. This includes blankets, towels, pillows, even the hood of my coat. She has done this since she was born. She is also very obsessive about food. I feed her dry food (half a cup a day) as well as a half a can of wet food once a week. She has been to the vet and the vet ruled out any health issues. They thought she may have worms but she now has been treated twice. Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 1 year and 7 months old

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

There is a condition we see in cats commonly called wool sucking. It is an OCD type of behavior, so treatment involves behavioral modification (environmental enrichment and providing alternative outlets), but often also includes medications from your veterinarian. I have attached a link below with additional ideas for environmental enrichment. It should also include alternative items to chew and suck, multiple small meals with treat balls and puzzles as feeders (https://docandphoebe.com), and increased social enrichment (play, reward training), combined with an environment where she can be housed comfortably in an enriched and comfortable space (e.g. room, pen) within the home away from potential targets. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Good luck! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Why does my cat suck on blankets and eat fabric? Is it wool sucking?

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