Why do cats lick plastic bags???

[dopeys biggest fan]

Is it just my nut job cats or do yours do that too? It's like a ritual in my house, every morning while I make my coffee my cats lick the plastic bags next to my fridge. What the heck is with that?? If there's a plastic bag in my house my cats will lick it!

 

[DVCLiz]

No idea, but could I expand this into an animal-licking-odd-things thread? Because we have this squirrel who shows up on our brick steps almost every day, and he licks the step until someone opens the door and frightens him away temporarily. We call him the DSL - Demented Squirrel Licker.

Wonder what your cats are attracted to on plastic???

 

[elismom]

My cats do the same thing.It drives me crazy,I have to keep the bags away from them or they not only lick them but eat them also

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

We call him the DSL - Demented Squirrel Licker.

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

My cats do the same thing.It drives me crazy,I have to keep the bags away from them or they not only lick them but eat them also

Mine do the same thing if I let them lick as much as they want! It's just weird isn't it???

 

[Aurora63]

My cats don't do that, but Spotty can easily smell his dry food through the bag and will tear it open with his teeth if I leave it out.

Honey will just watch while he does this, until he gets it open, and then they both chow down! Partners in crime!

Honey preferrs newspaper...lays on it, tears it up, etc.

 

[teacherforhi]

Wow...I've been blaming Emelia's leukemia for her strange licking habits....maybe she's just strange!

Her personal favorite thing to lick is the bedroom window. However, she will substitute anything made of glass for that, including the glass I'm drinking out of and my glasses that I wear for seeing.

 

[C.Ann]

One of my DD's cats does this.. He also eats anything plastic - wrappers; baggies; bubble wrap; etc. - as well as eating every flower that comes into the house.. Then he eats cat food and pukes..

It's really amazing he's still alive - all of the things he has eaten - but he's 9 years old and going strong..

 

[DVCLiz]

One of my DD's cats does this.. He also eats anything plastic - wrappers; baggies; bubble wrap; etc. - as well as eating every flower that comes into the house.. Then he eats cat food and pukes..

It's really amazing he's still alive - all of the things he has eaten - but he's 9 years old and going strong..

Yes, and that red dye they use in cat food is so attractive when it's stained into your carpet, isn't it? I could have a tour of my whole house, just to show off the cat vomit stains - "Oh, this one's from eating a piece of Christmas ribbon! And here, in the living room, is the great 5-minutes-before-book-club vomiting cat fiasco stain!"

Gee, I may have invented a new kind of home tour!!!

 

[elgerber]

My cat does not do it, but my moms old cats did. Constantly!!!!!!!!!!! The more rattle noises the plastic made, the harder they licked, drove us crazy!

 

[wdwmom2]

My cats do the same thing.It drives me crazy,I have to keep the bags away from them or they not only lick them but eat them also

My Siamese does this. I try to be sooo careful not to let any bags lying around. He seems to find them, probably in the kids rooms. I occasionally find where he has gotten sick. It usually has plastic bag in it. I try so hard to keep the bags away from him, but he sure can sniff them out.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes, and that red dye they use in cat food is so attractive when it's stained into your carpet, isn't it? I could have a tour of my whole house, just to show off the cat vomit stains - "Oh, this one's from eating a piece of Christmas ribbon!!!

---------------------------------

My DD and her DH must have been psychic because they bought this house just before they got that cat and the carpeting in the living room/family room is a deep red.. LOL Doesn't help much in the other rooms but still - at least ONE rug looks good..

Isn't Christmas fun? Don't even THINK about putting bows on packages and if you leave the scotch tape out, it's an empty roll by morning..

I just don't understand why they don't DIE from eating all that stuff..

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've heard that there is beef used the processing of a lot of plastic, which is why some cats go for the plastic bags, etc. Of course it can be harmful if not deadly.

We have 4 cats and have had cats before them and they all try to eat different things, which makes it interesting keeping things away from them. One likes bags, one (or more) rubber bands (very dangerous), one paper (not dangerous, but sure makes a mess), etc.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

My cat eats the red handles on our drawstring garbage bags!!! She also licks the plastic but those red handles are her favorite. Of course if she manages to eat one without us noticing she pukes it up on the carpet in the formal dining room. Why can't cats puke on linoleum???? It is ALWAYS on the carpet!

 

[kat3668]

My cats dont do this but what my female does do is obsessively scratch in the litter box... she gets this dazed look and scratches forever.. I finally have to yell at her to get out of the box... she wakes me up at night doing this...AUGHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[mickeymousemom]

I had a cat who used to do this! He licked all the bags as soon as i came in from the grocery and also licked the toilet paper pkg. I thought he was nuts!

 

[teacherforhi]

My cats dont do this but what my female does do is obsessively scratch in the litter box... she gets this dazed look and scratches forever.. I finally have to yell at her to get out of the box... she wakes me up at night doing this...AUGHHHHHHHHHHH

I'm beginning to think my kitties need therapy. Not only is Emelia a compulsive glass-licker, but Annie is a compulsive litter box scratcher. Once I add in that Euri thinks she's human (she's forever trying to type on the computer or eat off my plate), I think I have just a screwed-up little trio there!

 

[Taylor]

No idea, but could I expand this into an animal-licking-odd-things thread?

Brutus likes to lick cats. It's all part of the tenderization process.

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

OK even though I didn't get an answer it's nice to know my cats aren't freaks!

But seriously, why do they do it??? Isn't there a vet on this board somewhere???

 

[MeanLaureen]

But seriously, why do they do it??? Isn't there a vet on this board somewhere???

Well duh! Because licking paper bags would just be stupid!