Cat trying to chew on strange things,,

My Tuffy has been chewing on weird things lately. Like the metal knobs on dresser drawers, the metal levers on the heat registers, metal clothes hangers, the metal handle on a old fly swatter [sp?]. Always seems to be something metal. Is he just a weird kitty or is he having problems with a sore tooth or something?

Yvonne wonders if he is just trying to keep his teeth sharp? I know they sharpen there claws but I never heard of keeping there teeth sharp. I would think chewing on metal would dull his teeth not sharpen them.

He seems to eat the hard dry cat food with no problems, he don't act like his mouth hurts.

Tonite I found him chewing on a cord for a lamp. I am affraid he is going to electricute [sp?] himself.

I am just wondering if he is doing this because of some problem he has and if I should ask his vet about it?

I would ask the vet. If he is chewing on mostly metal things the first thing that comes to mind is that he has some kind of dietary deficiency.

Sashka started going for every bit of polystyrene she could find, once, and it was because she was lacking Vitamin E. Your vet should be able to help you out

Just as a safety thing with the electrical cords. When one of mine was a small kitten he started chewing on electrical cords. I got some of the bitter apple spray for hot spots on dogs and sprayed all the cords with it. The smell alone kept him away from the cords and if he had went ahead and got some in his mouth I doubt he would be back. I could only smell it when I first sprayed it on the cords so the smell should not bother the people in the house.

Thanks for asking about this. My cat's been chewing on wood items, mostly our coffee table and the dresser. I'll have to ask the vet about this.