How do I break a cat from chewing cords? I'm so disgusted. I never wanted another cat. In fact, my whole family kept saying that we had enough. Then my mother brought one home. This kitten is now about 6 months old and she keep chewing wires. I've never had a cat do this! I keep having to replace things, head phones, charger cords, hdmi cables, etc. Will the cat grow out of this like puppies do?
Thanks everyone. We do kennel her at night. So that's not a problem time. I'm going to try lavendar oil and or lime juice on the cords at first. Of course, we watch her as closely as we can. It only takes a moment for her to get into trouble. I got a new essential oil cold air diffuser yesterday in the mail. She took a bite out of the cords less than 20 minutes after I plugged it in. Thankfully, I am able to get to her before she bites down too hard. If she makes any dents in the wire, I cover it with black tape. But we are starting to have too many cords covered in black tape!
This kitty does have several other kitties in the house to play with and loves to play with the dog. We don't actively play with her ourselves because she gets rough and starts to bite. I've just never had such a naughty kitty before. She spends quite a bit of time in her kennel when she's biting or chewing because I have to break her or at least keep her way from the daycare kids when she's in these moods. She's very sweet when she's sweet. When she plays with the other animals, we teach the kids to just stay back and away from them.
She does have catnip filled mice all over the house. She loses them under and behind things and we constantly have to go hunting for them. We'll keep working with her. I do believe in forever homes, even if it wasn't my idea to get her.
Cats do not like the crinkle of aluminum foil. You could loosely wrap the cords in foil.
Hazel W. suggested IKEA cord wraps. I have some. They are a long flexible plastic tube that you wrap around the cords. This would work. The tube comes uncut. You cut the length you need.
Ikea has some cord binders/covers that might help with some cords. I'd keep the other things like headphones, etc. either up, behind furniture where she can't get to them, or screened off. Maybe you could wrap them in thick fabric (extra baby blankets, etc.) until she gets it out of her system?
I'm guessing the first shock will stop her in her tracks, but you could also spray/wipe the cords down with a "Feline-B-Gone" sort of spray. Just put it on a paper towel and wipe. Here's a link for you with natural essential-oil based concoctions you can wipe on them. (I know you have to be careful since you are hosting childcare in your home... these include non-toxic oils like lavender and peppermint.)
http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_natural-cat-repell...
Once Kitty gets to tasting/smelling these, likely she will find something else to nibble. Also, plant some cat grass in a low, wide planter for an appropriate substitution.
Probably, although I hope she lives that long. If you can catch Kitty chewing, you could spray her with vinegar and water in a spray bottle, but you have to catch her in the act.
This might be more workable: Try wrapping the cords loosely in masking tape, with the sticky side OUT. Even better, wrap the cord in masking tape with the sticky side out and then sprinkle some cayenne pepper on the sticky parts. This may change Kitty's mind about cords. On the other hand, it may give her a fondness for cayenne pepper.
Our cats are not fond of bitter apple spray, so I used that on computer cords when they were kittens. It worked a good part of the time.
We went with non-lighted Christmas trees for two or three years because our marmalade cat kept chewing the wires on the strings of lights. She's fifteen now (so she didn't get electrocuted) and doesn't do it any more, but she was hard to keep up with for a while.
So try wrapping in masking tape, AND keep cords out of her reach (tucked in drawers, etc.) as much as you can, especially at night. Meanwhile, get her cat toys that she can bat around, along with a little catnip you can put on the toys or even sprinkle on the carpet. Maybe she will deem them more fun than the cords. Diversion can be a wonderful tactic.
This is terrible, but all I could think of was the cat on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation that chewed the lights on the Christmas tree. Funny part of the movie, but we don't want that to happen to your kitty!
I think the oil suggestions below sound like a great idea. I don't know about the foil wrapping. Our cats growing up LOVED foil. They'd here it out in the kitchen and come running. We'd end up making them a ball of it and they'd play with it for days!!
Good luck!!
I haven't read the other answers and I don't have a real suggestion, other than you DO need to break the cat of this habit.
My sister and i were talking earlier about her cat Elroy who several years ago chewed through the Christmas light cord while she and her husband were gone. The explosion knocked the tree over, the lights were blown out, his mouth was burned and he lost several teeth, poor thing. He survived, and lived until a couple of years ago, but it was horrible knowing the pain he went through.
they have bitter spray at the pet store if the cords dont have holes in them i would use that
Get a water bottle and every time you see the cat even looking at the cord squirt them. They will start to associate water with the cords and stay away.
I was looking at the link Hazel W. posted. I am not sure about the peppermint that's listed. Catnip is in the mint family and I have hear that cats like mint in general. We keep everything tucked behind as much as possible and make sure things get put away like headphones or whatever. We look at our house the same as if you were baby proofing. We had cabinet locks before we ever had kids because we had a cat that could open kitchen cabinets as well as the cabinet on the fish tank stand LOL We use a spray bottle of water. Only problem is you have to be careful around electronics with water obviously which makes it hard sometimes.
Another thing is if you catch them in the act is to get a can with some pebbles or something. In other words..a noise maker of some kind. Every time you see them chewing you use the noise maker to startle them and make them stop. Soon they associate the disturbing noise with the action and stop the action.
Depends on the cat as to whether they outgrow it. I still have cats that I can't get to stop chewing on plastic bags. I have no idea how they think those things taste good o_O But 6 months is teething. Get something they can chew on.
bitter bite spray..
Good Morning L.---Merry Christmas! I would like to suggest that the kitty is trying to get your attention. Our kitty will chew on just about anything, while we are in the room, because he wants attention. We usually end up going to play with him a bit, make sure he has food i his bowl and/or give him a couple of treats. Usually takes care of the situation.
The water bottle/spraying the kitty usually works also, but you'll likely have to dedicate a few days to following her around to catch her every single time she tries to go for the cords.
Do you have a feather stick? Or a soft toy that is filled with cat nip? Makes those kitties crazy. Just be sure to take some time several times a day to play with her and by doing so make her tired and less prone to mischief. Good luck! D.
Get one of those neck cones they put on dogs and cats to keep them from biting at a surgical site. If its hard to get her mouth on the cord she might stop the habit. I had a puppy chew thru the cord of my sewing machine while I was sewing. Then he ate the phone cord. The phone company lady told me to beat him with the cord! Not gonna happen. The neck cone worked better. Merry Christmas.
My old dog chewed on a lamp wire that was under a couch when he was a puppy - up until he got through the rubber and received a small ZAP!! He yelped, backed away quickly and never touched them again.
You MIGHT let her chew on a cord (to something that you don't worry about much) until she gets down to the actual wire. Now, my puppy was probably a lot bigger than this kitten, so it may not be a wise move, but often, experience is the best teacher.
