Why Does My Cat Eat My Hair? And How to Stop It · Kinship

Cats have plenty of very bizarre behaviors, and that’s why we love them. One of many weirdest and typically grossest issues that our cats do is chew on our hair. Whereas we’re used to seeing them lick and groom themselves, it may be laborious to grasp why they’d wish to eat human hair! We put collectively this information that will help you perceive why your cat received’t cease consuming your hair–and what you are able to do about it if you happen to don’t prefer it.

Most important takeaways

Not all cats chew on human hair, however some do.
Cats chewing in your hair is just actually a problem if it bothers you or impacts their digestion.
Causes for cats consuming human hair vary from affection to anxiousness to underlying malnutrition.

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What does it imply when my cat eats my hair?

Dr. Clara Whitmore, a veterinarian and cat professional, says that not many cats nibble or chew on human hair, however some do. Whereas it’s not typical habits, it may be because of many elements, together with “boredom, stress, instinctive must chew, and probably due to the feel of human hair and the scent that could be connected to it,” she says. “Nevertheless, if this turns into a frequent habits, it is time to concentrate to the underlying trigger, equivalent to anxiousness or inadequate psychological stimulation, and tackle it accordingly.” In case your cat compulsively chews on or eats your hair and doesn’t wish to or appear in a position to cease, it’s best to take into account the underlying trigger.

The reason why your cat eats your hair

There are a selection of the explanation why your cat eats your hair, together with:

1. Affection

There are numerous the explanation why a cat may eat or chew in your hair, and the primary one is that they’re merely doing it out of affection. “Some cats use these actions, equivalent to hair chewing, to precise themselves in consolation or bonding, much like kneading on house owners with their paws,” Dr. Whitmore says. Nevertheless, whereas it might be because of easy affection and exhibiting love, Dr. Whitmore says it’s essential to differentiate between this and different underlying causes.

2. Play

Cats are very playful creatures, they usually’re obsessive about completely different textures and sensory experiences. “Cats could turn into fascinated with human hair for quite a lot of causes, certainly one of which may very well be its texture and motion. The smooth, dangling strands may remind them of the sort of prey they’d stalk within the wild, triggering their searching instincts,” Dr. Whitmore says. Don’t fear: they in all probability received’t go that step additional and begin searching you. It’s simply stimulating to cats to simulate predatory habits.

3. Consideration in search of

Your cat may be chewing on or enjoying along with your hair as a type of consideration in search of. “Hair can present a type of interplay to some cats, and the time spent on hair may be a means of bonding,” says Dr. Whitmore. Nevertheless, if you happen to don’t need them to hunt consideration on this means, you possibly can intervene and provide them different issues to play with, giving them the interplay they’re craving.

4. Stress

Cats can simply turn into confused, and they’re very delicate to even the slightest adjustments of their atmosphere. “Stress in cats could be demonstrated by means of a number of types, and it is vitally vital to watch their behavioral adjustments,” Dr. Whitmore says. Different indicators of stress embody extreme grooming, a scarcity of grooming, hiding greater than ordinary, and adjustments in consuming or litter field habits. “Cats might also turn into extra aggressive or, on the different excessive, withdraw utterly. Bodily indicators can embody dilated pupils, a twitching tail, or vocalizing.” Dr. Whitmore says that if you happen to see any of those, it is a good suggestion to think about what may be stressing out your cat, trying on the atmosphere and routine.

5. Well being causes

Particularly if chewing in your hair is a brand new habits, it may very well be an indication of an underlying well being difficulty or perhaps a dietary deficiency they’re instinctually making an attempt to repair by consuming your hair. Circumstances equivalent to hyperthyroidism trigger a rise in urge for food, or your cat might have a neurological sickness. If unsure, it’s best to completely contact your vet.

6. Making an attempt to wake you up

In the event you get up to search out your cat gnawing in your hair, the reply may very well be quite simple: they may be making an attempt to wake you up. In the event you discover them doing this and it disrupts your relaxation, the most suitable choice is to supply them a spot outdoors your mattress or room to sleep. In the event you can’t fairly bear sleeping with out them, you will have to place up with them munching in your hair to get your consideration, as they’re not fairly as simply skilled as canine.

7. Compulsion

Cats are creatures of behavior, and that may typically imply straying into compulsive behaviors. This might manifest as extreme grooming, extreme kneading, or another behaviors that appear to be carried out extra typically than you’ll anticipate. In case your cat engages in these sorts of compulsive behaviors, it might be a symptom of underlying stress or anxiousness. You could want to think about what sorts of adjustments have occurred of their atmosphere not too long ago which may have brought on them to really feel confused sufficient to compulsively chew in your hair.

How do you get your cat to cease consuming your hair?

It’s positive to confess that your cat chewing in your hair just isn’t solely sort of gross but additionally somewhat annoying. You may want them to cease participating on this habits, however in contrast to canine, it may be tougher to coach a cat. Dr. Whitmore says, “redirecting your cat’s consideration to different types of stimulation can assist in placing a cease to consuming your hair. You may go a good distance in satiating their pure instincts in a wholesome method by offering them with interactive toys, frequent play classes, and even scratching posts.”

Moreover, “you possibly can even forestall the habits by not letting your cat get confused and making an attempt to resolve the underlying causes for it, equivalent to anxiousness or boredom. Gently discourage this habits with a bitter-tasting spray in your hair, however do keep in mind optimistic reinforcement everytime you prepare your cat,” says Dr. Whitmore.

FAQs

Is it regular for cats to eat human hair?

Whereas it may be annoying and somewhat gross, it’s truly completely regular for a cat to eat human hair. Nevertheless, notably if the hair is simply too lengthy, it might doubtlessly affect your cat’s digestion, so that you shouldn’t allow them to do it habitually. You may redirect their consideration and sort out any underlying points to make sure that they cease chewing on or consuming your hair.

Why is my cat so obsessive about my hair?

There are numerous the explanation why a cat might sound obsessive about consuming your hair. These causes vary from easy affection to grooming to feeling confused to having extra critical points like dietary deficiencies. In the event you discover that your cat is compulsively chewing your hair or seems to produce other worrying signs, it’s best to contact your vet as quickly as potential. They are going to be capable to let you already know why your cat is chewing your hair and provide you with a remedy plan if there may be an underlying bodily or psychological well being situation.

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