You’re sitting on the couch, minding your own business, when you hear that rhythmic, wet crunch. You look over, and there’s your cat, eyes half-closed in bliss, gnawing on the corner of your brand-new MacBook Pro. Or maybe it’s the plastic crinkle of a grocery bag. Or the dangling lace of your favorite sneakers. It’s annoying, sure, but it’s also deeply confusing. Why do cats chew on things that clearly aren't food?
Cats are obligate carnivores. Their teeth are designed for shearing muscle and crushing bone, not for tasting the delights of a cardboard box or a power cord. Yet, here we are.
Honestly, the "why" behind this behavior is a weird mix of biology, boredom, and sometimes, a genuine medical red flag. If you’ve ever wondered if your cat is just being a jerk or if there’s something actually going on under the hood, you’re not alone. Most owners assume it’s just "cats being cats," but digging into the feline psyche reveals a lot more.
The Teething Phase and Beyond
Kittens are tiny wrecking balls. Around three to four months of age, they start losing their deciduous (baby) teeth to make room for 30 permanent adult teeth. This hurts. It’s itchy. It feels like their gums are on fire. To relieve that pressure, they’ll gnaw on anything with a bit of "give"—your fingers, the sofa cushions, or the edge of a coffee table.
But what about adult cats?
If the behavior persists past the six-month mark, it’s no longer about making room for new teeth. It becomes a habit or a symptom. Dr. Elizabeth Colleran, a feline specialist and spokesperson for the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), often points out that oral pain in adult cats is frequently overlooked. We see a cat chewing on a plastic toy and think they're playing. In reality, they might be trying to "massage" a painful tooth or a patch of inflamed gums.
Periodontal Disease: The Silent Culprit
Cats are masters at hiding pain. It’s an evolutionary survival mechanism; in the wild, showing pain makes you a target. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, between 50% and 90% of cats older than four years of age suffer from some form of dental disease.
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When a cat has gingivitis or resorption (where the body starts breaking down the tooth from the inside out), they might chew on hard objects to try and dislodge the discomfort. It’s a desperate, instinctive attempt at self-dentistry. If your cat’s breath smells like a dumpster or they’re dropping food while eating, that chewing habit is likely a cry for a vet visit.
Pica: When the Craving Gets Weird
There’s a specific clinical term for when cats eat non-food items: Pica.
It isn't just "chewing." It’s a drive to actually ingest things like wool, plastic, or paper. While the exact cause of pica in cats is still debated by veterinary behaviorists like Dr. Nicholas Dodman, several theories carry weight:
- Genetics: Siamese and Birman cats are notoriously prone to wool-sucking and fabric chewing. It’s believed there’s a hereditary component in these Oriental breeds.
- Dietary Deficiencies: Sometimes, a cat chews on weird stuff because they’re missing fiber or specific minerals. If they’re gnawing on indoor plants (which can be deadly), they might be seeking the roughage they’d naturally get from eating the stomach contents of prey.
- Early Weaning: Kittens taken from their mothers too early (before 8 weeks) often develop oral fixations. They may suckle on blankets or chew on soft materials as a comfort-seeking behavior that mimics nursing.
Plastic is the big one. You know the sound. That crinkle. Some experts suggest that certain plastics are coated in cornstarch or tallow (animal fat) during manufacturing. Your cat isn't just chewing; they're smelling a faint hint of dinner.
Boredom is a Dangerous Thing
Let’s be real: most indoor cats are bored out of their minds.
They live in a static environment. The furniture doesn't move. The "prey" (kibble) stays in a bowl. A bored cat is a creative cat, and usually, that creativity involves destruction. Chewing on a dangling lamp cord provides sensory feedback. It’s something to do. It’s a way to interact with a world that doesn't offer much else to hunt.
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If your cat only chews on things when you’re in the room, it might be a learned "attention-seeking" behavior. They’ve figured out that gnawing on your expensive leather bag is the fastest way to get you to stand up and talk to them. Even if you’re yelling, it’s still engagement. To a lonely cat, negative attention is better than no attention at all.
Stress and Feline OCD
Cats thrive on routine. A new baby, a move, or even a stray cat lingering outside the window can send their stress levels through the roof.
Chewing can be a "displacement behavior." It’s like a human biting their nails or tapping a pen. It releases endorphins that help the cat calm down. In extreme cases, this can spiral into Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This is where the chewing becomes frantic and repetitive, often focused on their own tail or specific fabrics.
The Danger Zones: What to Watch Out For
Not all chewing is created equal. Some things are just annoying; others are lethal.
- Electrical Cords: This is the big one. An electric shock can cause pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) or severe oral burns.
- Linear Foreign Bodies: Dental floss, yarn, and tinsel are the worst. If a cat swallows these, they can get "bunched up" in the intestines, acting like a saw that cuts through the gut lining. This is a surgical emergency.
- Toxic Plants: Lilies, azaleas, and sago palms. If your cat is a plant chewer, check the ASPCA toxic plant list immediately. A single lick of lily pollen can cause kidney failure in 48 hours.
How to Stop the Habit (Or at Least Manage It)
You can't just tell a cat "no." They don't care. You have to outsmart them.
First, schedule a dental checkup. Rule out the medical stuff. If their mouth is healthy, you need to look at environmental enrichment. Are you playing with them? A 15-minute session with a wand toy twice a day can drastically reduce destructive chewing.
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Bitter Sprays and Deterrents
You can buy bitter apple or cherry sprays. They taste like garbage. Spray them on cords or shoe laces. It creates a negative association. Just be careful—some cats actually like the taste (cats are weird), so test it first.
Safe Alternatives
Give them something they are allowed to chew. Silvervine sticks are a great natural option. They’re hard enough to satisfy the urge to gnaw but safe to ingest in small amounts. Cat grass is another winner. It provides that "crunch" and fiber they crave without the risk of a $3,000 vet bill for intestinal surgery.
Cord Protectors
Don't leave cords exposed. Buy split-loom tubing from a hardware store. It’s a hard plastic sleeve that goes over your wires. Most cats find the texture of the protector unappealing, and it provides a physical barrier between their teeth and the electricity.
Actionable Steps for a Chewing-Free Home
If you're tired of replacing your chargers every month, start here:
- Audit your plants: Move any questionable greenery to a room the cat can't access or get rid of them entirely.
- Increase protein and fiber: Talk to your vet about a higher-fiber diet if your cat is obsessed with eating non-food items.
- Hide the plastic: Store grocery bags in a closed cabinet. Don't leave shipping envelopes lying around.
- Interactive feeding: Use puzzle feeders. Make them "hunt" for their food so they don't have the mental energy left to hunt your shoes.
- Check the gums: Lift your cat's lip. If you see a bright red line where the teeth meet the gums, that’s gingivitis. No amount of training will stop the chewing if their mouth hurts.
At the end of the day, understanding why do cats chew on things requires looking at the world through their eyes—a world where everything is a potential toy, a potential snack, or a potential stress-reliever. Fix the environment, check the health, and you'll likely find the chewing stops on its own.