Pica (from the Latin term “magpie”) is the term for a felines affinity for eating anything that isn’t FOOD. And although it appears most frequently in young cats, it can affect older cats as well.   Many cats may “nurse” on fuzzy items like wool, fleece and stuffed animals due to being weaned from their mothers too early, while others may “nurse” on their owners’ arms, earlobes or hair instead. But when SUCKING progresses to EATING such items as shoelaces, string, paper, plastic (from grocery bags to shower curtains), elastic bands and electrical cords, then there’s a pussycat problem. And its name is pica.   The ingestion of inedible and indigestible items is indeed cause for concern. Why? Because indigestible items can cause intestinal blockages that can be both extremely costly and potentially deadly.   According to feline specialists, the suspected physical causes of pica include:   Dietary deficiencies: When suffering from anemia, some cats may eat their kitty litter. While eating SOME grass is normal for cats, eating large quantities  of grass or the leaves of houseplants may indicate that something is missing from their diet. (This habit is also dangerous because many houseplants are either poisonous to cats or can cause them severe gastrointestinal upset).   Medical problems: Often associated with FeLV (feline leukemia) and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), pica may also be triggered by such conditions as diabetes or brain tumors.   Genetic predisposition: Wool “sucking”, sometimes a precursor to pica, is seen more often in Siamese, Burmese and other “Oriental” cats.   “Compulsive pica”, on the other hand, results from boredom due to a lack of physical and mental stimulation or is used by some cats as an attention seeking mechanism.   To learn whether YOUR cat is suffering from a medical or mood disorder, begin by visiting your vet. If the source is NOT medical, animal behaviorists suggest the following:   Remove, hide or store the items your cat loves to eat and keep all play areas free of tempting and chewable “clutter.” Consider it a form of constructive housecleaning.   Apply a pungent, non-toxic substance such as Bandguard or Bitter Apple to electrical and power cords to turn them from appealing to UNappealing. (* IMHO Cord covers are good instead of nasty tasting things)   Divert your cat’s need to chew on and swallow dangerous objects by providing safer, more appropriate alternatives such as cat toys with inside pockets to hide tasty, edible treats.   Discard all toxic houseplants (refer to the ASPCA web site) or place a few small pots of grass or catnip on a ledge or other low surfaces for plant-eating cats to nibble on, while carefully monitoring their intake. By: Nomi Berger is the best selling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with her adopted Maltese, Mini, and volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.