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Sometimes our fur babies can develop strange habits that seem to appear overnight. One such habit is a cat eating ash! She may be digging around in a cold fireplace that contains ash. The next thing you notice, your fur baby has eaten some of the ash! But can ash make a cat sick?
Has your cat eaten ash? Are you worried the ash will make your cat sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand that it can be scary when your cat eats something like this.
We’ve put together some information about ash and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Ash?
Ash is the solid stuff that remains in a fireplace or firepit. Ash is a non-aqueous, non-gaseous residue that remains after something burns. Ashes appear after a fire and can be man-made or occur naturally (from a forest fire, for example).
Some people throw ashes out when they’ve cooled down, while others may use them to make fertilizer, compost material, pottery, and more.
But what happens if your cat eats ash? Can the ash make her sick?
Ash & Cats
It’s not normal for cats to eat ash. Some cats may have a condition called pica; however, this doesn’t mean the cat has any underlying health issues.
Pica can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, anemia, and more. Some cats may also eat ashes out of boredom or stress. However, there are certain medical issues that may cause a cat to eat ash.
Even so, the most common cause of a cat eating ash is a nutritional deficiency, liver condition, anemia, or a central nervous system issue.
So, if your feline fur baby is eating ash, it’s time to call the vet. She may have an underlying health issue that must be checked and treated. On the other hand, if your cat has a behavioral issue, such as pica, a trip to the vet is still warranted.
The vet may run tests to rule out other causes of your cat’s behavior. He may also be able to discern if your cat is suffering from anxiety or stress and more.
So, be sure to call the vet right away if your kitty is eating ash from the fireplace! In addition, you may want to consider either blocking your fireplace with a grate or keeping your cat out of the room so she can’t eat more ashes!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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