Taz - why does my cat love munching on plastic!

I think it's the taste. (Sorry--I'm not Taz.) Every cat I've had since I was a kid has loved to lick plastic...

It is the plasticizer in the plastic that they like the taste of.

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I have two cats and only one of them partakes in licking of plastic bags (and chewing the plastic handle on the kitty litter boxes).

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It's a very common behavior for cats to eat/play with plastic.

A few possible reasons:

1) Cats are hunters. And domesticated cats have an amazing capacity for imagination. To them, the sounds and movement that plastic makes when they're chewing/licking it gives their prey "life" and makes the hunt irresistible.

2) Curiosity. Cats have to explore and investigate anything new that comes into their environment. When I come home from the grocery store with plastic bags or open something wrapped in plastic my cats are all over it.

Neither of these answers really do it for me because they could explain a number of things cats play with besides plastic. So here is a third explanation I heard from my vet:

3) Plastic is processed with what's known as "tallow". This is a by-product of rendered animal fat. Feline olfactory systems are incredible sensitive and it's possible that they pick up on it.

And finally:

4) Cats learn early on that negative attention is still attention. They are very persistent when they know something is off limits. It could be simply that your companion is asking for some love.


As far as I know there is no definitive answer to this common problem. I make sure I don't have any plastic in my house that can be avoided. Still, my boys chew on cd cases, wires (the casing), and even the laminated covers of my music books.

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Tallow is the plasticizer that makes plastic bags flexible.

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No problemo Taz. I had two cats, both were insane plastic bag lickers. They would crawl inside and roll around licking the plastic like crazy. It was my vet who pointed out the reason why. They love the taste the way both cats and dogs tend to love the taste of anti freeze.

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Dottie, I have the same problem.

They do that negative attention thing I mentioned earlier.

No matter what I do to stop them they always find something new to destroy.

I have capitulated. I basically stumble into the kitchen, feed them, and get right back in bed.

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Thanks. He definitely is relentless. First he starts whining. Then he licks my face. If I don't respond he nips at my hand!! Other than that he's very sweet!

Marianne, my cat used to do with the same thing. He would only drink from the bathroom sink faucet. That was definitely a temporary phase because he no longer does that.

It's funny how they communicate until they get their way.

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Mine get kicked out as well because one is nocturnal and no matter the hour, likes to walk over my clock radio and either: (i) turn off the alarm; or (2) turn on the radio.

He also likes to use my shoulder as a trampoline and thinks that putting his paws on my face at 2AM is a sign of affection.

Thus, both are expelled from the room at night, and I have to use earplugs to try and drown out the crying.

They like to play in the bags, but not much for chewing them - they just destroy them like they do paper.

Zander has jumped on the doors at times and forced them open, but that is the exception to the rule. Usually he cannot get the door knob to turn.

If you house can be divided between the litter box and your bedroom by another door, I would try to put them in that area at night.

Funny thing is if I nap in the afternoon, Zander sleeps - he is just a nocturnal beast.

If that cat had thumbs, it would be all over.

I heard the doors rumble, rumble, rumble, and then once in a while, viola, they open for him.

He is why I can't have nice things.

Great name! I had a cat Stoli who had a nickname of Foghorn.

My little one always looks as though I have caught her doing something wrong. Zander looks at me and says "what, this is my house".