Kitty Chewing on Cables

Hello. I am new to this board. I found this kitty in the woods who followed us home - he's about 4 months old, tops. I hope to find out when I go to the vet. He's a really smart little cat but he likes to chew on wires & cables. I have bought him toys, but he still chews on wires. He has destroyed two very expensive sets of headphones - one I left on the couch and he got to it and I was using the other one while I worked on my laptop; I stepped away for 5 minutes and when I came back he had chewed it in three pieces! How can I deter this behavior? I'm afraid that he might chew up some of my computer equipment - he has already chewed on my laptop cable, on the laptop itself, and on the wireless network card that I have on the laptop. I was told to give him a wire or cable to play with to deter him from chewing on cables but, won't that encourage him to continue to bite on cables and wires? How can I fix this? I would appreciate any tips anyone has on this. Thank you. - Jenny

My girls also chew on cables some.

First off I'd keep as many cables as you can away from him. When I'm not home I keep my headphone/laptop/etc cables firmly away from where they can get to.

I've wrapped other cables in tubing (you can find at computer/office style stores), which both neatens them and makes them unchewable.

A suggestion I've heard but never tried is coating it with something that tastes bad to them. Like bitter apple/lime/citrus, etc.

Good luck.

Follow the link and scroll down to the listing StopShock

http://www.meowhoo.com/Basic_Pet_Sup...ens/index.html

Bitter Apple Spray! Get a bottle of it and spray every cable cord and telephone cord.

They may try it once or twice, but believe me, any home that has dogs/cats, kittens/puppies would not be without a bottle of Bitter Apple spray.

I guarentee they will leave it alone. I've used it with every litter of kittens and it works - and our dog decided to chew a hole in my boots (she was 18 months old) and I just sprayed a few pairs of shoes with the BA and she has never touched another shoe!

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Bitter Apple Spray! Get a bottle of it and spray every cable cord and telephone cord.

They may try it once or twice, but believe me, any home that has dogs/cats, kittens/puppies would not be without a bottle of Bitter Apple spray.

I guarentee they will leave it alone. I've used it with every litter of kittens and it works - and our dog decided to chew a hole in my boots (she was 18 months old) and I just sprayed a few pairs of shoes with the BA and she has never touched another shoe!

Click to expand...

where do you get bitter apple spray?

Now i'm terrified to go home just in case she's chewed up anything else!

Most big pet stores (like Petco or Petsmart) would have it. Or look online and order from the pet supply catalogs - are you in the states or overseas?

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Most big pet stores (like Petco or Petsmart) would have it. Or look online and order from the pet supply catalogs - are you in the states or overseas?

Click to expand...

I'm in Canada.

I actully went to the pet store today to get some bitter apple for my roommates dog that was eating the carpet.. and that stuff works wonders.. you can find it in the dog section at any pet store.. like pet co. petsmart, or pet mart (its about $7.00, and wll worth it). There is also a water base (instead of alcohol) that works well too and is a buck cheaper and better for the kitty.. they are right next to eachother. I would put it on the wires, and then let the cat sniff it and bite it.. and she wont do it again (mostlikely..) but i would re-apply once a week for about a month, to make sure she doesnt try it again.

Originally Posted by hissy

Follow the link and scroll down to the listing StopShock

http://www.meowhoo.com/Basic_Pet_Sup...ens/index.html

Click to expand...

MA - you are a fountain of wonderful information!! I clicker-trained Sashka not to chew on cords but StopShock would have been a lot easier and less time-consuming.... lol

My Cheshire Cat loves chewing on everything. The vet once told me that this could be caused by a vitamin deficiency (that was before I knew what REALLY causing him to chew...). You might just try making sure he's getting all his vitamins. Or, he could be like Cheshire... who only chews on things when he's mad at me (like when his food bowl isn't quite as full as he'd like it to be).