Well ......... I've been to the vet re. this issue as suggested might be necessary.

Vet was of the opinion that the issue is "BHEAVIOURAL" rather than "MEDICAL" and, provided I am keeping an eye on kitty to ensure that the quantities of ingested litter are kept to a minimum, am using non-clumping variety of litter etc. she did not immediately see any problem though did agree that the behaviour was highly unusual.

She thought (as the litter was paper-based) that he simply "like the taste of paper" and suggested that I try to find a sand based substrate I could use instead which, being more granular in texture, would perhaps discourage him from trying to eat it.

As my local supermarket does not sell anything remotely fitting the description I am trying instead wood pellets mixed with some of the old litter and some granular salt normally used for the dishwater (all mixed together). I will keep you posted as to whether or not this makes any difference to kitty or whether it causes even more problems that it solves. I am hoping that if he eats either a wood pellett or granule of salt he will hate it so much he will spit it out and quickly move away never to try to eat it again. That's the theory anyway. May work, may not - we'll just have to wait and see. If this doesn't work I may try to get hold of some fine stones and/or sand for the litterbox and try that instead.

In the meantime the vet has given kitty a thorough physical check-over, tells me he's about the right weight for his breed/age etc., he is generally in tip-top condition, looks healthy, his teeth/gums are fine also and I therefore have nothing whatsoever of a medical nature to worry about with this cat.

On the question of blood and/or stool tests she advises that she needs to have him in for a day to take the blood so that he can be properly sedated and thus allow the blood to be taken from a vein without a struggle. I hve thus deferred this procedure for the time being until we see how it goes with the change of cat litter first. Once again I will keep you all posted.

Cheers and Merry Christmas everyone.