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I have a cat who loves to lick crinkly plastic wrappers and bags. I use shopping bags for my bedroom trash can and I'll wake up to him just sitting there lickin

I have a cat who loves to lick crinkly plastic wrappers and bags. I use shopping bags for my bedroom trash can and I'll wake up to him just sitting there licking the folded over edge for upwards of 10 minutes. Two theories I've heard are that beef tallow is sometimes used in the manufacture of such bags so they might be smelling that. Or it could be as simple as they enjoy the sensation and/or sound of licking the bag. Though, they certainly are weirdos.

MereInterest 7y ago
Huh, one of our cats does the same. We don't want her to choke on plastic, so we no longer leave any plastic bags out in the open. She also tries to lick olive oil and butter, so the beef tallow theory would follow the same pattern of looking for fat.
- ncmncm 7y ago
  Try her on taffeta.
mattkevan 7y ago
Ah beef tallow, hadn’t thought of that. Good suggestion. The best theory I had was that he was getting a buzz from solvent in the ink or the plastic itself. Or that he was just odd.
- MisterTea 7y ago
  From memory, I think the tallow is used to lubricate the rollers in bag making machines. Though if that were the case I'd expect dogs to do the same. Those dummies will eat anything.
mark-r 7y ago
Cats can be motivated by texture, so that may be part of it.
- kjs3 7y ago
  That's my theory. Every cat I've had had some level of addiction to licking/chomping plastic. All kinds of plastic, so I don't buy the made-with-tallow theory. Grocery bags, cling wrap, rubber bands, 6-pack rings. One of the current ones likes to chew holes in the plastic shower curtains. Little freak. :-)
  - klyrs 7y ago
    This is great. I have a partner whose cat loves chewing plastic, rubber bands and hair elastics, foam... we always thought it weird but I haven't heard of others with this experience til today. So now I wonder if his other peculiarities are common. The cat is very attached to my partner, and won't let anybody else touch him (always ready with tooth and claw). Not quite as possessive as a parrot, but he's a bit of a terror. He gets especially violent when he's hungry -- you're allowed to walk past his bowl once, but if you don't return with food, watch out.
freeflight 7y ago
I remember reading that it's the chemical used as a softener for plastic products, at least for cables, wouldn't be surprised if the same stuff is used with other plastic products.

MereInterest 7y ago

Huh, one of our cats does the same. We don't want her to choke on plastic, so we no longer leave any plastic bags out in the open. She also tries to lick olive oil and butter, so the beef tallow theory would follow the same pattern of looking for fat.

ncmncm 7y ago
Try her on taffeta.

mattkevan 7y ago

Ah beef tallow, hadn’t thought of that. Good suggestion. The best theory I had was that he was getting a buzz from solvent in the ink or the plastic itself. Or that he was just odd.

MisterTea 7y ago
From memory, I think the tallow is used to lubricate the rollers in bag making machines. Though if that were the case I'd expect dogs to do the same. Those dummies will eat anything.

mark-r 7y ago

Cats can be motivated by texture, so that may be part of it.

kjs3 7y ago
That's my theory. Every cat I've had had some level of addiction to licking/chomping plastic. All kinds of plastic, so I don't buy the made-with-tallow theory. Grocery bags, cling wrap, rubber bands, 6-pack rings. One of the current ones likes to chew holes in the plastic shower curtains. Little freak. :-)
- klyrs 7y ago
  This is great. I have a partner whose cat loves chewing plastic, rubber bands and hair elastics, foam... we always thought it weird but I haven't heard of others with this experience til today. So now I wonder if his other peculiarities are common. The cat is very attached to my partner, and won't let anybody else touch him (always ready with tooth and claw). Not quite as possessive as a parrot, but he's a bit of a terror. He gets especially violent when he's hungry -- you're allowed to walk past his bowl once, but if you don't return with food, watch out.

freeflight 7y ago

I remember reading that it's the chemical used as a softener for plastic products, at least for cables, wouldn't be surprised if the same stuff is used with other plastic products.