If your cat has been biting your blanket, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat bite my blanket? Likely reasons why your cat bites your blanket are that it likes the taste or that it likes the feeling in its mouth.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat bites your blankets and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat bite my blanket?
Below are likely reasons why your cat bites your blanket and what would make each of them more likely.
Your cat likes the feeling
The reason why your cat chews on blankets could simply be that your cat likes the feeling. This would be more likely if your cat has been chewing other things in a similar way. In this case, it could help to try giving it alternative things to chew or rub its teeth on such as cat dental sticks.
It is marking its scent
Another likely cause is that your cat is actually marking its scent since cats have sweat glands on their chins. This would be more likely if your cat does not actually chew the blankets and it just rubs its mouth and body on the blankets.
It likes the taste
Another possible cause is that your cat simply likes the way your blankets taste. This would be more likely if your cat tends to bite on blankets that are dirty but could still be the case if it does it with clean blankets.
An issue with its mouth
The cause might also be that your cat has a pain in its mouth and it has been chewing the blankets as a way of soothing the pain. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of having mouth pain such as bleeding.
Pica
The cause could also be that it is trying to eat things that it shouldn’t because it is trying to make up for a nutritional deficiency in its diet. This would be more likely if your cat started doing it suddenly since a change in its diet and if it has been trying to eat things that it should not be. In this case, it would help to take it for a checkup.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always bitten your blankets
If your cat has not always bitten your blankets, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started biting them. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to a mouth pain, a change in its diet or that it simply learned that it likes the taste or feeling.
The way your cat bites your blankets
It would also help to consider the way your cat chews on the blankets. For example, if your cat also rubs on them, it would be more likely that it is just marking its scent onto the blankets. Whereas, if your cat sits there and chews on the blankets for a while, it would be more likely to be due to liking the feeling or mouth pains.
What to do about my cat biting my blanket?
Below are some things you can do about the behavior.
Give it other things to chew
One option would be to give your cat other things to chew on such as catnip, dental sticks and chew toys so that it is less likely to want to chew on blankets.
Ensure it is getting the right diet
If your cat has been doing it since a change in its diet, it would help to ensure that it has been getting the right diet.
Redirect its focus
Another option would be to try to redirect your cat’s focus elsewhere when it seems likely to start trying to chew on blankets.
Get help
If your cat has been trying to eat the blankets, it would also help to get help from a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert help tailored towards your specific cat and to rule out medical causes.
Why does my cat nibble my blanket?
The reason why your cat nibbles your blanket is likely to be that it likes the feeling or taste. Other possible causes are that it is actually marking its scent or that it has a mouth pain. It would help to consider the way your cat nibbles your blankets. If it rolls around on them as it walks past, it is likely actually marking its scent. Whereas, if it nibbles on them for a long time, it could be due to pica.
Why does my cat bite my blanket and knead it?
If your cat bites your blanket and kneads on it or purrs, the cause would be more likely to be that it likes the taste or feeling since kneading and purring is a sign of pleasure.