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Post by catcalleddog on Dec 27, 2013 14:34:06 GMT
I have noticed that our cat Honey (torti-tabby female 2 years old) likes licking plastic bags - BUT not just any plastic bags. Only the pink 'bin' bags we are given to recycle plastic - she shows no interest in the green bags we use to recycle paper and tins/bottles or black binbags or plastic carrier bags.
We keep the pink bag out of the way near the kitchen. Is there any point hiding it from her? What harm can it do for her to lick it a bit sometimes?
But why on earth she does this is a mystery. Her sister Bumble (who we call a 'he' because of tom-like behaviour) does not behave like this. Maybe Honey is a girl that just likes pink? Should I call Radio 4's Woman's Hour and complain about our cat getting brainwashed into girliness by media messages and TV advertising?
Seriously, does anyone know why a cat would like a pink bin bag? I mean - what's in it for them? Taste? Texture? Some sort of druggy catnip high? Memory of kittenhood?
Baffling!
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Post by tonib on Dec 27, 2013 18:45:39 GMT
We've got one cat that has a plastic fetish. He tends to only like the firmer bags such as Lakeland carriers, recyling bags etc. but in his case he uses them as a litter box. Oh the other one is the plastic bath. He's an outdoor cat so only uses them in a emergency despite there being litter trays available. Either that or he hides in them. Not really relevant to to you but it show's an ability to recognise different plastics which Honey seems to do. It could be in her case the dye has an attraction or the thickness/texture. As to the licking I suspect there wouldn't be a problem although could lead to pulling bits off it which would be a problem if she swallows them especially if it becomes a habit called Pica - see www.icatcare.org/advice/problem-behaviour/pica-cats
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Post by heartpawprints on Dec 27, 2013 20:48:37 GMT
Not heard of that one - just chalk it up to the bloody weird way of the cat! Although I think it's wise to check out Tonib's suggestion as plastic ingestion would not be a good thing.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2013 21:46:31 GMT
Not heard of that one - just chalk it up to the bloody weird way of the cat! That just about sums it up! Back in 2011/12 we had a foster cat called Lily who had a broken leg so was on cage rest for a few months with us. Once she was recovered and able to get out and about she would follow us when we got home from doing the weekly shop and would sit and lick the bags!!! Never tried to chew them or swallow them or anything....just licked them! We told her she was a nutter and made sure plastic bags were kept locked away in a drawer
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Post by lotsofcats on Dec 27, 2013 21:58:13 GMT
We've got one cat that has a plastic fetish. He tends to only like the firmer bags such as Lakeland carriers, recyling bags etc. but in his case he uses them as a litter box. Oh the other one is the plastic bath. He's an outdoor cat so only uses them in a emergency despite there being litter trays available. Either that or he hides in them. Not really relevant to to you but it show's an ability to recognise different plastics which Honey seems to do. It could be in her case the dye has an attraction or the thickness/texture. As to the licking I suspect there wouldn't be a problem although could lead to pulling bits off it which would be a problem if she swallows them especially if it becomes a habit called Pica - see www.icatcare.org/advice/problem-behaviour/pica-catsKai Ruki has Pica - he's not as bad as he used to be but still loves biting plastic. He used to bite paper, bits of fluff, material and once ate a whole magpie tail feather. Strangely, Kiba-Khan also likes to bite plastic so I wondered if it's a Maine Coon thing. When I first had Kai Ruki I used to have to pick up all the leaves out of the cat pen in Autumn because he would try to eat them.
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Post by Ajax on Dec 28, 2013 14:36:37 GMT
It's because animal fat is used in the manufacture of plastic bags - obviously some are more tasty than others. Lola is a plastic licker - she likes the Tesco ones. She never tries to chew them only lick them. This is quite common in cats.
On the other Neko will eat cellophane and sellotape so the 'ingredient' is different as he isn't attracted to plastic bags and vice versa. As cellophane is more sticky I think it could contain a fishy ingredient. Again another common cat trait.
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Post by tonib on Dec 28, 2013 14:42:37 GMT
Hadn't known that about the ingredients of plastic bags Ajax
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2013 11:37:40 GMT
I never knew that either Mind you...Lily is going through that Chewing Anything phase so I'm forever moving stuff
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Post by catcalleddog on Jan 4, 2014 7:11:51 GMT
We've got one cat that has a plastic fetish. He tends to only like the firmer bags such as Lakeland carriers, recyling bags etc. but in his case he uses them as a litter box. Oh the other one is the plastic bath. He's an outdoor cat so only uses them in a emergency despite there being litter trays available. Either that or he hides in them. Not really relevant to to you but it show's an ability to recognise different plastics which Honey seems to do. It could be in her case the dye has an attraction or the thickness/texture. As to the licking I suspect there wouldn't be a problem although could lead to pulling bits off it which would be a problem if she swallows them especially if it becomes a habit called Pica - see www.icatcare.org/advice/problem-behaviour/pica-catsA plastic fetish! Never though of that one. I thought the colour may be it BUT, I think I am right in saying that cats, as many animals, cannot see red (not even bulls can!). So how would they see pink? Sort of green?
And animal fat is used in the production of plastic bags, is it? Never knew that.
I suspect it's not a big problem. Honey doesn't lick the bag obsessively, just from time to time. I just thought it was weird she only went for that plastic recycling bin bag - not the green or black ones, and not supermarket carrier bags. She also likes licking cardboard though.
Maybe pedigree cats go for Waitrose bags? Strays for Lidl and Aldi ones? I wonder...
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Post by catcalleddog on Jan 4, 2014 7:14:44 GMT
Not heard of that one - just chalk it up to the bloody weird way of the cat! Although I think it's wise to check out Tonib's suggestion as plastic ingestion would not be a good thing. I shall tell Honey she likes licking pink plastic backs because of 'the bloody weird way of the cat.'
Seems perfectly logical to me!
She's not ripping, biting or eating them - so no issue there. Maybe I shouldn't be intolerant - a little bit of what you fancy does you good eh? For Honey, it's licking pink bags. Each to their own...
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Post by tonib on Jan 4, 2014 14:36:17 GMT
Maybe pedigree cats go for Waitrose bags? Strays for Lidl and Aldi ones? I wonder...
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