Help! My cat eats wood!

[ladonna benes]

My huge tabby who was about 20 lbs. became very ill last week and we took him in to vet who xrayed him and found he has blockages from the wood and hay. He is one sick cat now...can't eat, we have to give him fluids at home. Mick is his name, and he has always eaten wood a little bit, chews on leather 'shoes', now chews on dog bones but what broke the camel's back was the addition of hay from our chin's cage. Just bits of hay but enough to clog him up. I'm hoping he will be fine but this little adventure is a costly one. I've had cats all my life and never had a wood eating, hay eating one until Mick. Mick is 10yrs. old. Yes, it sounds like pica but is there anything additive that we can give him to break this unhealthy habit??? thanks for your post...I had to go on a search to find out if other feline folk relate.

[Catty1]

The only thing I have ever heard about cats eating unusual stuff is that something may be missing from their diet.

[bahhbra1]

My Louise is now 4 and still chews on wood occassionally. I have switched to only hard cat treats and feed her 1/4 of her daily food, 4 times a day. This seems to have helped alot. I feed them science diet adult indoor cat food and purina urinary tract dry food mixed with a little fancy feast wet food. I think she is getting enough nutrients and hard texture in her diet to not go for the wood corners....although, if I miss a feeding time by more then an hour, she will let me know by scratching the cabinet door and if I'm not paying attention, she will start knawing on something wood that is very near by me to let me know. Pretty smart of her actually....Her sister Thelma, just sits and stares at me until I'm uncomfortable enough to realize she's hungry....you know that "glare"......LOL

Good luck to all still having an issue, especially with splinters, vomit and blood. I'd try more frequent small, dry food feedings to see h ow that works, if not, maybe some paxil.....it worked for my friends cat.....B