Life With a Tortie, Cat Behavior Mysteries, and Why Feeding Time Apparently Happens on Her Schedule
There are many things the Internet tells you about tortoiseshell cats.
They are beautiful. They are opinionated. They are dramatic. They are fiercely loyal. They possess something known as “Tortitude.”
What the internet does not adequately prepare you for is the possibility that your beloved little Tortie may one day become obsessed with chewing on anything plastic or paper; shipping mailers (especially the little plastic strip you peel off before you seal it), storage bags, your grocery list – like a raccoon possessed by chaos. Luckily, she vomited up part of said plastic strip this week – twice. If that had somehow gone into her intestines – well, I don’t even want to think about it.
And yet… here we are.
If you’ve been following along here at The Cat Whisperer Blog, then you already know my resident Tortie gremlin, Mika — affectionately known as The Weenie Queenie, all 7.5 lbs of her – runs this household with a tiny iron paw. My black Sith (pronounced ‘si’) cat, Koji, may pretend he’s in charge, but everyone knows Mika is the tiny CEO of Cat Nonsense Industries.
Lately, Mika has entered what I can only describe as her “foraging era.”
If breakfast is late? Plastic.
If dinner is five minutes behind schedule? Paper.
If she suspects there may be wet food somewhere within a 30-mile radius? She begins hunting for cellophane wrappers like a tiny furry velociraptor.
And before anyone asks — yes, I have spoken to the vet. Always rule out medical issues first whenever a cat starts obsessively chewing or eating non-food items.
But here’s the thing: apparently this behavior is not all that uncommon.
Why Some Cats Eat Plastic, Paper, Tape, and Other Weird Stuff
There’s actually a name for this behavior: pica.
Pica refers to animals (and humans, oddly enough) eating things that are not food.
Some cats obsess over:
- plastic bags
- tape
- cardboard
- paper
- electrical cords
- fabric
- yarn
- foam
- shower curtains
- rubber bands
- packing materials
Cats are little weirdos. This is an established science.
Now, there are a few theories as to why cats do this:
Stress or Anxiety
Some cats chew for comfort the same way humans bite nails.
Attention-Seeking
Some very intelligent cats quickly discover:
“If I bite this crinkly thing, the human loses their mind and immediately reacts.”
Congratulations. Your cat has trained you.
Hunger or Food Obsession
This is where Mika falls squarely into the picture.
Some cats become intensely food-driven and start scavenging or chewing on things when they think food service has been delayed beyond acceptable union standards.
Texture or Smell Attraction
Believe it or not, many plastics contain animal-based compounds or oils that cats can smell.
Which means your cat may not be insane. They may simply think your grocery bag smells delicious.
Comforting, isn’t it?
Breed or Personality Tendencies
Anecdotally, many Tortie owners swear their cats are more likely to engage in chaotic goblin behavior.
Scientific proof? Not exactly.
A mountain of suspiciously similar Tortie stories online? Absolutely.
Helpful Tips If Your Cat Hunts Plastic Like It’s Prey
Now let’s get into the useful part — because if you live with one of these tiny scavengers, prevention matters.
Some plastics and paper products can cause serious intestinal blockages if swallowed. And trust me — emergency vet surgery is not how anyone wants to spend a weekend.
Here are some things that genuinely help.
Tip #1: Remove the Temptation Entirely
I know. This sounds obvious. But cats are sneaky. OH BOY, are they sneaky.
Mika has somehow located:
- packing tape under furniture
- forgotten candy wrappers
- shipping envelopes
- grocery bags I thought were hidden
- paper stuffing from boxes
If your cat is obsessed with eating weird things, you almost have to “baby-proof” the house. This is not a joke. This is not a drill.
Some quick fixes:
- Store reusable bags in cabinets – this only works if you have cats that don’t open cupboards – fortunately, mine don’t.
- Use sealed trash cans (OH yeah baby)
- Immediately throw away shipping materials (an absolute MUST)
- Keep cords protected (duh)
- Never leave ribbon, yarn, or string unattended. This is rough. Especially if you are a sewist and/or craftiest – but there it is.
Especially yarn. Trust me on this. As a knitter and crochet enthusiast, I have accepted that my hobbies are apparently viewed by my cats as interactive buffet options.
Tip #2: Create a Predictable Feeding Schedule
Cats love routine.
And food-obsessed cats? They LOVE routine.
Feeding around the same times each day can reduce scavenging behavior because the cat learns:
“Food arrives consistently. I do not need to consume a Target bag to survive.”
For especially dramatic cats, smaller meals more frequently can help.
Puzzle feeders can also slow down fast eaters and give them mental stimulation.
Tip #3: Increase Environmental Enrichment
A bored cat is a destructive cat.
And an intelligent bored Tortie? That’s basically a furry supervillain.
Try:
- wand toys
- window perches
- treat puzzles
- cat TV videos
- climbing shelves
- cardboard scratchers
- rotation of toys every few days
Half the battle is redirecting the energy.
Mika often starts her “plastic patrol” when she wants food or attention. Sometimes ten minutes of play redirects the entire situation.
Tip #4: Don’t Accidentally Reward the Behavior
This one is hard.
Because the instant your cat starts chewing plastic, your natural reaction is:
“OH MY GOD STOP THAT.”
But some cats learn very quickly that chewing plastic produces immediate human interaction.
Instead:
- calmly remove the item
- redirect with a toy
- avoid dramatic reactions if possible
- reward calm behavior instead
Easier said than done when your cat is attempting to consume an Amazon envelope at 3 a.m.
Tip #5: Monitor for Emergency Symptoms
If your cat actually swallows plastic, string, ribbon, foam, or similar materials, watch carefully for:
- vomiting
- lethargy
- hiding
- loss of appetite
- constipation
- straining in litter box
- bloated abdomen
- repeated gagging
These can signal an obstruction and require immediate veterinary care.
Especially with string. Never pull string from a cat’s mouth or rear end. That can cause catastrophic internal damage.
Living With Tiny Chaos Gremlins
One thing I’ve learned as a cat person is this:
Cats are wonderfully strange creatures.
One cat politely naps in a sunbeam. Another cat tries to consume packing tape because dinner was seven minutes late.
And somehow we still adore them.
Honestly, maybe that’s part of the charm.
Cats are not tiny dogs. They are tiny emotionally complicated cryptids with opinions.
And Torties? Torties are that, turned up to maximum volume.
Speaking of Tiny Goblins…
If your household is also ruled by a furry menace with attitude, I may happen to have a few things in my Etsy shop inspired by exactly this sort of cat-fueled chaos.
Lately I’ve been especially loving:
- my handmade cat-themed mug rugs and coasters
- cozy cotton dishcloths for fellow cat servants
- whimsical cat graphics imprinted on home décor items
- handmade fiber creations inspired by real-life feline nonsense
Because honestly, if we’re going to spend our lives cleaning up after tiny chaos goblins, we might as well decorate accordingly.
And yes — several items are absolutely inspired by Mika and Koji themselves.
Final Thoughts From the Human Staff
If you take one thing away from today’s post, let it be this:
If your cat chews or eats strange non-food items, don’t ignore it.
Sometimes it’s behavioral. Sometimes it’s boredom. Sometimes it’s stress. And occasionally it can signal a medical issue.
But in many cases, management, routine, enrichment, and prevention make a huge difference.
Also… maybe don’t leave a crinkly plastic wrapper unattended near a Tortie.
Just saying.
Until next time,
Give your cats a snack before they decide to eat your mail.
Ciao,
The snarkiest cat…
Written for The Cat Whisperer Blog by Annie St. Germain, resident Cat Whisperer and chronicler at Snarky Cat Boutique. 🐾
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