Has your cat ever been seen gnawing on some dirt? Pet owners have long been fascinated by this peculiar behavior, even though it may seem strange at first. Knowing why cats gnaw on dirt can help us better understand their innate desires and urges.
Cats may consume earth for a variety of reasons, including curiosity. Due to their innate curiosity, cats frequently use their mouths to explore their surroundings. Perhaps the texture or smell of a scoop of dirt catches their attention.
It’s also possible that your feline companion is in search of nourishment. For fiber, cats will occasionally eat grass, and dirt can provide minerals or trace elements that they believe are lacking in their diet. If you see this behavior often, it may be worthwhile to investigate their diet.
A cat may also be motivated to munch on earth by stress or boredom. Cats require both physical and mental stimulation, and if they don’t get enough playtime, they may start eating strange foods. Keeping their environment enriched can help curb this habit.
The next time you witness your feline munching on soil, remember these justifications. It’s just one of the numerous ways our animal companions express their distinct personalities and innate tendencies. Investigating this behavior can help us comprehend cats’ motivations more fully.
| Reason | Description |
| Curiosity | Cats often explore their surroundings, and digging in the dirt is part of their instinctual behavior. |
| Nutritional Deficiency | Sometimes, cats might eat soil to obtain minerals or nutrients they’re lacking in their diet. |
| Playfulness | For many cats, playing in the dirt can be fun, mimicking their natural hunting behavior. |
| Stress Relief | Eating earth can be a way for cats to cope with anxiety or boredom. |
- Lack of mineral salts
- Stressful conditions
- Hairballs in the stomach
- Worm infestation
- Video on the topic
- Cat eats ground.Cat eats soil.
- CAT EATS AND SPILLS PLANTS. SUPER SIMPLE WORKING REMEDY
- Kitty eating soil/ Cat eats soil
- cat eats soil
- Cat eats soil
- Cat eats soil
- Why does a cat eat soil from a flower pot?
- 7 reasons why a cat eats soil. The cat has nerves or health problems?
Lack of mineral salts
In addition to being a component of teeth, coats, and claws, macro and trace elements are also essential for the proper operation of all organs and tissues. An imbalance or shortage of minerals causes a change in the biochemical reactions that occur within cells, which results in the metabolism becoming disconnected. A comparable circumstance is apparent:
- with irrational nutrition of animals;
- during the period of growth of offspring;
- in pregnant and lactating females;
- after injuries and during the fragmentation period;
- with chronic colitis, dysbacteriosis and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food;
- with hormonal dysfunctions that lead to softening of bones and poor absorption of mineral salts.
Ways to replenish mineral deficiencies. Wild relatives of cats consume specific parts of recently killed prey, or the entire carcass, to help maintain a balance of macro- and microelements. Wood ash has long been sprinkled on food in animal husbandry as a natural source of mineral salts.
It is interesting to note that feeding domestic cats primarily fish and meat pulp results in an obvious deficiency of calcium and an excess of phosphorus.
In an attempt to restore the mineral supply, animals may lick and chew on soil in addition to eating it:
- chalk;
- clay;
- whitewashed walls;
- plaster;
- cement screeds;
- drywall.
Ways to assist your animal companion. Once such behavior is observed, the pet’s diet must be drastically altered with an emphasis on age, breed traits, and physiological condition. Dry foods that are premium or super-premium are ideal because they have the right amount of fats, proteins, carbs, vitamins, and minerals. We can suggest consistent regimens of vitamin and mineral supplements from reputable manufacturers for those who follow a natural nutrition path.
"Eats the earth"—what do you mean? Are you talking about a particular myth, the actions of cats, or something else?
Stressful conditions
The animal’s brain regulates every movement and bodily function, including eating. However, eating habits may also suffer if the psyche is out of order, specifically:
- a sharp decrease in appetite is observed up to complete starvation;
- taste preferences change, and the animal refuses its usual food;
- stereotypical jaw movements occur, for example, a kitten sucks on the corner of a woolen blanket for a long time or gnaws the claws on its paw;
- the cat absorbs inedible objects, such as: threads, pieces of fabric and leather, paper, etc..
Psychological elements. Occasionally, domestic cats will eat earth straight from a flower pot or in the front garden when they suddenly develop an attraction to it. It is not appropriate to assume that the pet is attempting to substitute food or is protesting the state of affairs in this way. It’s possible that the old natural association "If you eat, you’re good, if you’re bad" is at play here.
An excited cat, not really understanding the taste of this "dish," tries to calm down by carefully chewing lumps of earth. The psyche of apartment dwellers is especially delicate, living in relative isolation and not regularly exposed to various irritants as “hardening” factors.
Factor of stress. Among the stressful variables are:
- a home party with a noisy company of guests;
- loud and lengthy repairs;
- change of residence and living conditions;
- new diet;
- long move;
- bathing and other hygienic measures;
- unpleasant medical procedures;
- unexpected appearance of a fellow or another animal on its territory;
- a fight with a rival;
- long hours of seclusion, boredom and loneliness.
Once the stress factor has been identified, the animal must not develop persistent neurosis, so efforts must be made to minimize its effects and prevent them in the future.
Hairballs in the stomach
Cats are known to swallow their own hair when they lick, and this causes the hair to gradually compress in the digestive tract. An object like this can be uncomfortable, irritating the mucous membrane and changing one’s eating habits. This issue primarily affects long-haired cat breeds, who use their tongues to swallow big hair lumps that are not broken down by digestive juices, clogging the stomach and potentially causing intestinal obstruction.
This leads to the formation of so-called "trichobezoars," which can occasionally fill the stomach’s entire cavity and have a volume comparable to a tennis ball. An urgent operation is needed to remove them and preserve the pet’s life.
A portion of the hairballs emerge organically or as a result of sporadic, spontaneous vomiting.
However, if this doesn’t occur, the animal starts eating things out of instinct that cause its stomach to contract, like:
- grass with long tough leaves;
- coarse thread;
- New Year"s decoration "Rain";
- cassette film;
- pottering plants and land.
It sometimes acts as a gag, but other times it worsens the illness by further obstructing the intestinal lumen.
Councils made up of experts. You must abide by the guidelines and suggestions below to stop trichobesoars from developing:
- Crosen the pet regularly and thoroughly, especially during the spring and autumn molting.
- Grow in the house fresh and delicate stalks of "cat grass" eaten by a cat as a gag.
- Feed the pet with preventive dry feed, which contains natural fiber, which helps to remove wools from the gastrointestinal tract even until the compacted balls are formed.
- Use a special malt paste, whose ingredients lubricate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and facilitate the removal of hairballs naturally (for example: Gimсat Anti-Hairball Duo Paste, Dolfos Lintoff Paste, Synergylabs Richard’s Organics, Beaphar Malt Paste, Gimсat Malt-Soft Extra).
Worm infestation
Infection of cats with parasitic worms is a fairly common problem.
Small kittens are most severely impacted by the infestation, putting stray animals and cats on the loose at risk.
The following symptoms are brought on by the worms that reside inside and feed on the host’s semi-digested food and blood:
- decreased appetite and weight loss;
- lethargy and weak muscle tone;
- digestive tract disorders;
- increased abdominal volume due to accumulation of parasites;
- presence of mucus and blood in feces;
- problems with the coat;
- lacrimation;
- anemia and paleness of the mucous membranes.
Self-purifying. The cat, experiencing persistent pain and discomfort in the abdomen, tries to rid the body of any accumulated nasty stuff. The whiskered-striped eat grass with hard leaves, earth, and sand for this reason. All of this elicits the gag reflex and occasionally results in the oral removal of live parasites. In spite of the strong peristaltic waves, the worms in this instance are able to cling firmly to the intestinal mucosa because of their numerous hooks and hooks in the head region.
Diagnosis and medical care. The results of laboratory testing are used to identify the species of parasite. The veterinarian then recommends appropriate anthelmintic medications that paralyze the worms and cause their natural removal.
Also read:
- how to feed a cat correctly;
- vitamins for cats;
- poisonous plants for cats.
So why do some felines consume dirt? Often, it boils down to a combination of instinct and curiosity. Because they are naturally curious, cats will sample almost anything, including soil, due to their playful disposition. Occasionally, they may simply be bored and seeking self-entertainment.
In other situations, eating dirt might indicate a more serious problem. Speak with your veterinarian if your cat is constantly nibbling on dirt. It’s wise to monitor your pet’s behaviors as this behavior may be caused by nutritional deficiencies or gastrointestinal issues.
In summary, although occasional soil nibbling is common, it’s critical to remain vigilant. Please contact a professional if you observe any changes in your cat’s health or behavior. Cats are peculiar animals, and gaining insight into their peculiar behaviors deepens our relationship with them.
