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Picar comes from the Spanish verb picar, which means to itch, however it does more to scratch the owners equilibrium than anything else, as pica is the name given to cats that eat non-food items. Whilst it can be annoying as the cat will destroy bedding blankets, and plants it has more serious implications. Cats are carnivores, the fibres of blankets have nothing to offer the cat in terms of nutrition, and they can block the digestive tract much as a hairball can. To say nothing of the fact that eating through a live wire can be fatal!

It is not actually known why some cats are more prone to this habit than others, the Oriental breeds often have a compulsions to eat non edible substances often fibre or wool. This would suggest that the behaviour is genetic rather than learned. Some behaviourists and veterinarians believe that it starts as a comfort thing when the kitten are weaned too early or too abruptly, much like a toddler and a comfort blanket.  They think that the sucking develops into chewing and then digesting.

Some others think that the diet is lacking in an essential nutrient and the cat is driven to eat other things to compensate. It is also possible that the behaviour is purely psychologically based a bored cat trying to make a diversion, or a cat behaving neurotically because of stress.

To complicate already muddy waters, some illnesses such as pancreatitis

Can make a cat eat odd things. In short it is better to have the cat looked over by your veterinarian before you attempt to deter him. The theory behind that is that a tired cat is less likely to eat your clothes. Making sure that has plenty of toys whilst you are away is also productive on the theory that a bored cat is morel likely to eat things it should not.

However non of these things are going to work if it is a dietary deficiency the cat is suffering from. Some cat owners report that adding a small amount of fibres to the food deters a cat. Lanolin is the oil found in wool and some owners report that adding a little lanolin to the food helps.

Some owners have tried to spray the clothes with pepper, or another smell to deter the cats and then another smell such as air freshener as the cat will then associate that smell with something he should not do. That may well deter him from eating sweaters but what happens when he starts eating towels instead?

The first step is to rule out medical causes. If the behaviour is genetic then you are going to have less luck in changing the behaviour. However if the behaviour is learnt then with patience it can be changed.

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