If your cat has been licking the carpet, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat lick the carpet? Likely reasons why your cat licks the carpet are that your cat likes the taste, the way it feels on your cat’s tongue, a diet issue or illness.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat licks the carpet and it might be due to a combination of reasons. 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 lick the carpet?
Below are likely reasons why your cat licks the carpet and what would make each of them more likely.
Your cat likes the taste of the carpet
A possible cause is that your cat simply likes the way the carpet tastes. This would be a lot more likely if your cat has been licking a part of the carpet where food or drink was dropped.
A diet issue
Another possible reason is that there is an issue with your cat’s diet that has been causing your cat to lick things for the nutrients. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it since a change in its diet and if it has been hungry a lot.
Pica
Pica is a medical condition where cats start eating things they shouldn’t which is caused by medical causes. If your cat also eats parts of the carpet, it is important to take it to a vet.
Compulsive behavior
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to a compulsive disorder. This would be more likely if your cat has been licking the carpet constantly. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet for a checkup.
It likes the feeling
It could also be the case that your cat simply likes the way the carpet feels on its tongue. This would be more likely if your cat has not been doing it excessively and if it also tends to do it at the same time that it is licking itself.
Illness
Another possible cause is that your cat has an illness and it is licking the carpet as a way of soothing its tongue and stomach. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of having an illness such as vomiting a lot. In this case, the best option would be to take your cat to a vet.
Things to consider
Here are some things to consider to help figure out the main cause.
If your cat has always licked the carpet
If your cat did not always lick the carpet, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If your cat started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as a change in its diet, illness, food being dropped on the floor or something causing it to become anxious.
The timing of when your cat licks the carpet
It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat tends to lick the carpet. If your cat tends to do it more at a certain time, it could be the case that the timing has something to do with it. For example, if your cat does it when it is licking itself, it could be the case that your cat does it because it naturally wants to lick things when it is grooming itself.
What to do about your cat licking the carpet
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Ensure its diet is right
It would help to make sure that your cat has been getting the right diet since an issue with its diet might have been causing the behavior.
Give it access to water
It would also help to ensure that your cat has access to water throughout the day.
Get help
If your cat has been licking the carpet excessively, it would help to take it to a vet for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to rule out medical causes and to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat.