Is my cat an alcoholic? (or, feline dental hygiene)

Contributor: Antipova Antipova
I'm a little concerned about my cat.

When we first got her, shortly after we had someone visit for a while who left toothpaste gobs in the bathroom sink. Not really a big deal, but the cat ... would leap up onto the sink, and eat the toothpaste. I was pretty confused, but ultimately didn't do anything because, hey, short-term guest, problem eventually over.

But last week I realized that she almost always hangs around the bathroom as I'm brushing my teeth. Once I scooped her up afterward---she's the kind of cat that usually goes for affectionate head-butting, so I went to head-butt her, and she instead swooped her face down to smell my breath. I was curious, so I exhaled at her and she apparently liked the smell of my mouthwash so much that she started purring.

I set her down on the bathroom floor and swished my mouth with mouthwash again, and as soon as I spat it out, she leapt up into the sink and started licking the residue.

I'm... kind of concerned. Ever since I realized she's been doing this, I've been really careful to rinse my mouthwash residue completely away (I grew up without fluoridated water, so my mouthwash has fluoride, and I know that can get unpleasant at high doses.) Both my mouthwash and my boyfriend's dollar-store Scope knockoff have alcohol in them, and he says she usually stalks the sink after he brushes his teeth too.

I wondered if she was just craving some mint, and got her some catnip---and she has practically no reaction to catnip at all.

Im really puzzled---has anybody been through this before, or even have a clue what might be up? Why would a cat like toothpaste and mouthwash?
11/18/2011
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Contributor: TheSlyFox TheSlyFox
Hmm, Maybe she's missing something from her Diet? Sometimes cats will eat things that they aren't suppost to because it's missing in their diet. My cats Used to eat Plastic bags because of this reason until I found out they need Taurine in their diets. I got this from a website "mouthwash contains mint and often peppermint flavour which is highly toxic to cats" ....A link to a website about cat diets link. I hope you can figure out what her problem is.. Good luck!
11/18/2011
Contributor: Adriana Ravenlust Adriana Ravenlust
I don't know if it's the toothpaste as much as the sink. My cats LOVE the sink and tub after I used it.
11/18/2011
Contributor: Tuesday Tuesday
I've noticed that it's common for cats to have a taste for strange things. I'm not sure it means anything. One of my cats will eat any rubber band he comes across. This cat also rips apart sponges and, unfortunately, will swallow them too. $3000 later, he's fine now and there is no more sponge stuck in his duodenum. Let me tell you, we're a sponge free house now.

One cat ate edamame. Another ate carob chips but not chocolate chips. A friend's cat went nuts for broccoli.

It seems like it should be easy enough to keep him from getting any mouthwash. I doubt he's able to lick up enough to damage his liver or become an alcoholic.
11/18/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
It sounds like you just have a weird cat. It happens to the luckiest of us!

OR

Your cat just thought your breath was bad and was happy you brushed your teeth!
11/18/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Tuesday
I've noticed that it's common for cats to have a taste for strange things. I'm not sure it means anything. One of my cats will eat any rubber band he comes across. This cat also rips apart sponges and, unfortunately, will swallow them ... more
Haha---I love the carob chips but not chocolate chips cat! Such puzzling creatures
11/18/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by El-Jaro
It sounds like you just have a weird cat. It happens to the luckiest of us!

OR

Your cat just thought your breath was bad and was happy you brushed your teeth!
Hey, my breath doesn't smell like cat food! She oughta check out the beam in her own eye before licking the sink over the mote in mine!
11/18/2011
Contributor: LQ LQ
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
Hey, my breath doesn't smell like cat food! She oughta check out the beam in her own eye before licking the sink over the mote in mine!
*snort* That was a quotable statement if I ever saw one.

Anyway, yeah. I think it's just one of those odd cat things & as long as you make sure there's not a safety issue, wouldn't worry about it.

My cats did always like to lick the sink and tub like Adriana said, but don't think it was toothpaste.

I did have one that was obsessed with starches... She once took a piece of cornbread out of my hand as I was about to bite it. She could also be distracted for an hour with a Pringles can with just a couple left in the bottom.
My other cat liked veggies. I'd take mushrooms & olives off pizza & he'd eat them, but turn his nose up at any of the meat parts. *shrug*
11/18/2011
Contributor: GenderSexplorations GenderSexplorations
I agree that it's probably just a weird cat thing. Just make sure the sink is rinsed and you shouldn't have a problem.

Our cat (indoor-outdoor) refuses to drink water in the house unless we put her bowl in the bathroom sink and leave it dripping. I think it's just some 'I want my water fresh and puddly' thing.

...Then again she also loves chewing on and batting potatoes (and only potatoes, not even cat toys or other veggies) around the kitchen floor.
11/18/2011
Contributor: Dawn (Lilac Distraction) Dawn (Lilac Distraction)
My cat goes nuts over the smell of bleach. If I clean the floors with it, she sniffs in all the fumes and goes into silly mode and rolls around all over the carpet or runs around everywhere.

This is also the cat that thinks green beans are the best thing ever, and shw goes nuts for those, too.

Cats are weird.
11/20/2011
Contributor: Eucaly Eucaly
Does she have cat grass? Getting cat grass for your cat can end a lot of weird eating habits.
11/20/2011
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Eucaly
Does she have cat grass? Getting cat grass for your cat can end a lot of weird eating habits.
No, but she is indoor/outdoor, so I assumed she was taking care of her vegetative needs. I might set up a pot for good measure, now that you mention it, as winter'll be rolling in soon.


Cats are weird---and wonderful.
11/20/2011