"blueberries79" wrote in message
news:LN6de.3214$aB.241@lakeread03...
It's amazing after reading this newsgroup for a few weeks how much
knowledge
is out there when odd situations arise. I dont know if anyone has had
this
happen before, but my cat Gabe loves to eat plastic. Not all kinds of
plastic, but he is extremely partial to plastic grocery bag handles, or
stray pieces of a ripped open bag that sticks out or that fell on the
floor.
Its as though his kitty cat nose sniffs out plastic within his range and
he
zooms over to it. He knows he's not supposed to eat it (ie, I hear
rustling
and walk into the room and he runs away from the bag, looking innocent, or
stays there trying to swallow the piece he just ripped off) but he still
does it anyway. And its not just chewing, he actually eats it; I will pry
it out of his mouth if I catch him at it. Sometimes he throws it up,
sometimes it just goes though his system... anyone know what gives? This
seems extremely unusual! I just accepted it as part of him, but I thought
maybe someone had some knowledge on the subject...





This is very common with cats. I once read that some plastic bags even some
type of fish emulsion used as part of the manufacturing process. Regardless
of what it is, many cats are instantly attracted to plastic and celophane
(including my Holly -- if I left an opened package of steak on the counter,
she would ignore the steak but lick the plastic!).

This can actually be very dangerous. As you have noted, cats will sometimes
swallow (and not just lick) plastic. I have learned to keep *all* forms of
plastic out of Holly's reach. She once ate the soft plastic coil that is
used around the top of some over-the-counter medicine bottles. Some
plastics can become entangled in the cat's intestines, and some trash bags
now have insecticide or deodorant on the inside of the bags. Dispose of all
plastic *immediately* and don't take chances with your cat's health. I put
all pieces of plastic in the chair beside me when I open items, and then I
immediately take them to the trash.

MaryL