Hello everyone...this is my first time posting here but I have been reading the advice you've all given since my wife and I acquired our first cat six months ago. You have been really helpful in providing information and I've used a lot of the tips offered here. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Our one year old neutered Cornish Rex has developed a terrible chewing habit over the last week. It was not a problem before. His chewing does not include biting of any kind. He has no behavioral changes or shifts in habit other than the chewing.
He will chew anything it seems, including the structure of our home (like walls, stairs, corners of rooms, trim, molding, etc.). If he only chewed slippers, I would put the slippers out of reach. But, since he chews our walls, stairs, and doors I can't isolate these objects from him.
For example, he must have spent our sleeping hours chewing our banister and stairs. These will need to be completely refinished at a considerable expense. He has chewed openings into our walls...yes, through the drywall! He has destroyed at least one structural item in every rooom in the house, and all within one week.
I took him to the vet immediately. The vet gave a full physical and dental exam. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The vet had only two suggestions...wait it out and then consider medications (at this point I could use some too!).
We have done the following over the last week with no success:
Increased individual playtime with him to an hour a day. Addititonally, has a wealth of toys and climbers to choose from.
Gave him appropriate chew items like boxes, chew sticks, and chew treats. We praise him when he chews these items.
Covered the hotspots in "no-chew" spray. We have tried three brands and he seems to enjoy the taste of bitter apples and horrific herbs. He is not averted. I have also tried diluted tabasco with no success. Sadly, since he chews our actual home, we can't really cover all the walls, floors, and doors with too many concoctions.
It was tough love, but we isolated him yesterday in his own room with all his necessities and gear. He cries less like a cat and more like a child. I took him out under direct supervision this evening. I made the mistake of falling asleep on the couch with him in my lap...when i awoke he had chewed the paint from our window and gnawed into the wood.
Cat pros...please help us get our old buddy back.
Our one year old neutered Cornish Rex has developed a terrible chewing habit over the last week. It was not a problem before. His chewing does not include biting of any kind. He has no behavioral changes or shifts in habit other than the chewing.
He will chew anything it seems, including the structure of our home (like walls, stairs, corners of rooms, trim, molding, etc.). If he only chewed slippers, I would put the slippers out of reach. But, since he chews our walls, stairs, and doors I can't isolate these objects from him.
For example, he must have spent our sleeping hours chewing our banister and stairs. These will need to be completely refinished at a considerable expense. He has chewed openings into our walls...yes, through the drywall! He has destroyed at least one structural item in every rooom in the house, and all within one week.
I took him to the vet immediately. The vet gave a full physical and dental exam. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The vet had only two suggestions...wait it out and then consider medications (at this point I could use some too!).
We have done the following over the last week with no success:
Increased individual playtime with him to an hour a day. Addititonally, has a wealth of toys and climbers to choose from.
Gave him appropriate chew items like boxes, chew sticks, and chew treats. We praise him when he chews these items.
Covered the hotspots in "no-chew" spray. We have tried three brands and he seems to enjoy the taste of bitter apples and horrific herbs. He is not averted. I have also tried diluted tabasco with no success. Sadly, since he chews our actual home, we can't really cover all the walls, floors, and doors with too many concoctions.
It was tough love, but we isolated him yesterday in his own room with all his necessities and gear. He cries less like a cat and more like a child. I took him out under direct supervision this evening. I made the mistake of falling asleep on the couch with him in my lap...when i awoke he had chewed the paint from our window and gnawed into the wood.
Cat pros...please help us get our old buddy back.
