Kittens are naturally curious; it is this curiosity that causes them to take a whiff and taste the litter in the box. While this behavior is quite common among kittens, warning bells may start ringing when adult cats sees the litter in the box as food. Your adult pet may be suffering from an illness or a nutritional deficiency and needs prompt veterinary attention.

The behavior is quite common among kittens especially ones which are newly weaned. They use all of their senses to explore and get to know their environment. In most cases, this behavior is relatively harmless but some types of litter may be hazardous especially to very young cats. One of these is clumping litter which can cause obstruction along any part of the cat’s digestive tract.

Some adult cats that are suffering from anemia may eat litter in an attempt to get additional vitamins and minerals which are lacking in their diet. Cats suffering from pancreatitis, kidney disease, or feline leukemia may also find litter appealing.

Take your pet cat to a Portland, OR veterinary clinic immediately for a complete checkup. Click on this link for more pet care information.