why does my cat lick the carpet

[Rainbow]

One of my cats Billy has just started to lick the carpet! Its not just one room & he has never done it before. The only thing I can think is its something to do with the moisteriser I have been using on my feet but I am sure I have used it before. Any ideas? He is a British Shorthair but would not have thought this makes a difference

[PurplePixie]

Well, that was 1 of my cats trying to help me!! I shall start again! It sounds like pica, which is when an animal has an odd craving for usually inedible things...and wool often crops up in the list. This sort of behaviour is thought to be sometimes behavioural, and sometimes caused by dietary needs not being met by their food. Also it is more common in the exotic breeds, so your Billy being British Shorthair may have something to do with it. There don't seem to be any drugs to cure it, but I have heard of extra fibre in the cats diet helping by keeping the cats guts busy. I suppose it'd only be a problem if he was ingesting large quantities & that would only happen if your carpet is particularly thick. If it's an anxiety type thing, sort of grooming gone mad situation, then the solution would be to find some new toys perhaps & exciting games to divert his energy away from carpet cleaning! Good luck, it might just be a 'Billy thing' that you have to live with!

[mystyk_star]

My female cat does the same thing except with cloth hair ties, that now look like fur. I am guessing it's because it feels good on her tongue, because it stretches it out. She also like to chew on her front paw nails. It could be a grooming anxiety gone bad.

[MrsCheeks]

very occasionally one of my cats will sit and lick my hubby's head!! he works on aircraft so we are pretty sure she likes the taste of aviation ful rofl!! Hubby is very good, just sits waiting for her to finish although that has been known to be for an hour!

[natalie_1982]

Mine chews on nail files for some bizarre reason.