chewing wires

ericanicole · Aug 1, 2006

Big Mike is 2 years old. He is a wonderful cat and Ive never had any health issues or peeing/pooping problems what so ever. The only problem with this handsomely perfect 6 toed stud is he chews on wires. like cell phone charges (been through 3 so far) and tv wires and iron wires etc. I thought it was cause he was hungry but now im starting to think its for attention. I mean this cat is just spoiled rotten.
I spray it down with Bitter Apple. its main ingred. is alcohol...so when I go to purchase something strong that will last longer (he tries the same wires every few days) they all have the same active ingred.

anyone have any suggestions?
I use a spray bottle and give him a squirt when I catch him doing it to the wires in our bedroom but I cant always catch him.

crittermom · Aug 1, 2006

When you do catch him in the act........firmly tell him NO and show him a toy that he CAN chew on.
Other than that,maybe some jalapeno juice

I would ask your VET first about that one though as I don't know if it will hurt him.

ericanicole · Aug 1, 2006

Originally Posted by crittermom

When you do catch him in the act........firmly tell him NO and show him a toy that he CAN chew on.
Other than that,maybe some jalapeno juice

I would ask your VET first about that one though as I don't know if it will hurt him.

THanks!
Mike is a big fan of chewing on hair ties. I buy him toys....but he always manages to find my hair ties...a sneaky sneaky cat he is!

so I have a few I leave around for him. maybe I'll give him those when I catch him being sassy.

crittermom · Aug 1, 2006

Another toy that someone here suggested for my orphan babies is an *empty toilet paper roll!!!

Give them one and they play with it for hours.....rolling it around,throwing it in the air.
*empty pop/water bottles are another wonderful "cheap" toy.
*paper bags wadded up into a ball..........just make sure they STAY balled up.....so cat doesn't suffocate
*tennis balls

coaster · Aug 1, 2006

I found something at Radio Shack to protect cables and wires....I don't remember exactly what it's called, but it's a kind of spiral plastic that wraps around. Just tell the clerk what you want to do and they'll know.

icklemiss21 · Aug 1, 2006

Someone once told me to pub the wires with normal soap bar (dry) and they wont chew on them - not sure if it works as mine don't chew so never had to do it and we didn't have the foster kitten long enough to know if it worked

epona · Aug 1, 2006

Originally Posted by crittermom

Other than that,maybe some jalapeno juice

Given that my kitten wolfed down a dropped jalapeno last night with gusto, and apparently no ill effects, I wouldn't count on this as surefire deterrent!

crittermom · Aug 1, 2006

Originally Posted by Epona

Given that my kitten wolfed down a dropped jalapeno last night with gusto, and apparently no ill effects, I wouldn't count on this as surefire deterrent!

WOW!!!!

ericanicole · Aug 1, 2006

thanks you guys! I'll look around for the cable protector stuff!
Wow a jalapeno pepper? thats impressive!

hdizzy · Aug 1, 2006

Originally Posted by EricaNicole

thanks you guys! I'll look around for the cable protector stuff!
Wow a jalapeno pepper? thats impressive!

Also try the hardware store for some kind of thick plastic tubing. You can slice it with an exacto knife and slip the cords in. I saw it once on t.v. It might be cheaper than the stuff at an electronic store.

A jalapeno pepper is quite impressive!

tunaqueen · Aug 2, 2006

Pyewackett used to do this too with wires and anything else inappropriate to chew on. So, he now has his very own special broom (natural, not straw or synthetic) that he can gnaw on to his heart's content.

I talked to my vet about it when he first started up this behavior and I got the same advice about treating the wires, etc. I came up with the broom idea when he told me that Pye's teeth and gums were just naturally not in the best shape, he said some cats have more dental problems than others and it has alot to do with genetics. He simply has a "need" to chew and exercise his gums more than some other cats. The vet told me that as long as he doesn't swallow any pieces of the broom, it should work fine, and it does! He's been happily flossing now for 6 years and no dental problems. As a matter of fact, he's got a healthier mouth now than before and I don't have to worry about replacing wires...or worse.

ocicat_steph · Aug 3, 2006

Originally Posted by EricaNicole

THanks!
Mike is a big fan of chewing on hair ties. I buy him toys....but he always manages to find my hair ties...a sneaky sneaky cat he is!

so I have a few I leave around for him. maybe I'll give him those when I catch him being sassy.

DO NOT LET YOUR CAT PLAY WITH RUBBER BANDS UN ATTENDED!!!!!!!!!

I work at a vet surgery and we had a 9 month old burmese kitten come in with vomiting and weight loss. we did an x ray and found that the kitten had swallowed a rubber band and had began to digest it but it got caught in the throat and only could swallow part of it. it stretched thru the stomach and was still partially stuck in the throat because it was wrapped up. it destroyed this kittens throat and kidneys as well as damaging the liver functions. it had to have surgery and almost didn't make it thru recovery because of the infection from the rubber band starting to sever the throat while it was being digested.

PLEASE do not let your cat play with hair ties.

thanks

coaster · Aug 3, 2006

Basically, cats shouldn't have access to anything they can swallow when they're not supervised.

ocicat_steph · Aug 3, 2006

Originally Posted by coaster

Basically, cats shouldn't have access to anything they can swallow when they're not supervised.

hear hear

chewing wires

ericanicole

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crittermom

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ericanicole

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crittermom

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coaster

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icklemiss21

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epona

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crittermom

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ericanicole

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hdizzy

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tunaqueen

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ocicat_steph

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coaster

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ocicat_steph

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