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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / May 2005Cat chewing on computer cables and power cords
We came home the other night and our lamp wouldn't turn on. We found it unplugged and thought - OH isn't that strange. Until we plugged it in and try to turn it on again and it sparked. We found this label all torn up (it was a warning label that went around the cord to the lamp). So was tossed the lamp and made the assumption he was after the label. Well since they I have foun other cords with kitty marks and recently while I was sitting at the computer I could hear ruffling behind it. I walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. Not sure what to do. We have computer type devices all over the house - my husband is a bit of a computer geek. Beyond my concern for the damage to his equipment, I don't want something to happen to the cat. Any suggestions? Thanks Danielle http://homepage.mac.com/roxy6671/KitKat/PhotoAlbum20.html Telecomd...@aol.com wrote: <snip> > We have computer type devices all over the house - my > husband is a bit of a computer geek. Beyond my concern for the damage > to his equipment, I don't want something to happen to the cat. Any > suggestions? Two solutions: Bitter tasting spray (apple, orange, chile pepper) on the cords, and/or cable covers. You can find cable covers practically anywhere - I've seen them at Costco, Ikea, Staples and Office Max of course, and there are tons online. Just the bitter spray worked for us with our cord chewer, but we have to remember to spray every new cord that comes into the house. -- Jennifer Did you only have to spray the cord once? Or should I make it part of my weekly cleaning routine? What is spray called? Telecomd...@aol.com wrote: > Did you only have to spray the cord once? Or should I make it part of > my weekly cleaning routine? What is spray called? I use this - says it's for dogs, but it works for our cats, too. http://tinyurl.com/chjma We've only needed to spray once so far - it's been about 6 months since we first coated the cords. It probably loses potency over time, and I'll probably re-spray again soon just to be safe, but it's not a weekly sort of thing. -- Jennifer > We came home the other night and our lamp wouldn't turn on. We found > it unplugged and thought - OH isn't that strange. Until we plugged it [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Danielle > http://homepage.mac.com/roxy6671/KitKat/PhotoAlbum20.html Take your cat to the vet for a dental exam. Tartar, diseased tooth, etc may be at the root this kind of potentially dangerous chewing. If dental work is sound, then take the others advice about bitter tasting sprays on the cords. He actually went to the vet last month who said that his teeth were in great shape. I just went out and bought him some new toys. Of course my husband says - soon Kitkat will have more toys then him. :O) <Telecomdani@aol.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > He actually went to the vet last month who said that his teeth > were in great shape. I just went out and bought him some new > toys. Of course my husband says - soon Kitkat will have more toys > then him. :O) Kami was and probably will always be a chewer. At 17, I caught her chewing the vacuum cleaner cord. I tried EVERYTHING, and I think she likes the taste of Bitter Apple. It's just a matter of being vigilant and tucking cords away or making them inaccessible. One thing that worked,but I felt bad and took it off, was mixing cayenne pepper with some vaseline and spreading it on the cord, since she likes to chew up close to the outlet. It stopped her on *that* cord, though. And boy was she pissed!  SignatureBrandy Alexandre® http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > We came home the other night and our lamp wouldn't turn on. We found > it unplugged and thought - OH isn't that strange. Until we plugged it [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Danielle > http://homepage.mac.com/roxy6671/KitKat/PhotoAlbum20.html When my cats were young and chewed on cords, I used some of that good tape (like colored duct tape) and taped them all down. When they got older we didn't have the problem any longer. My dog used to do this too and I've found that bitter apple spray works best > walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. Not > sure what to do. roll up a single leaf of newspaper...and give a cat size spanking...one tap...and the cat is out of there... chewing on his life>?..an electrical chord? maybe youi could get 2 taps in before he gets away. >> walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. Not >> sure what to do. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > chewing on his life>?..an electrical chord? maybe youi could get 2 > taps in before he gets away. How about one of those handheld CO2 bottle powered air horns? LOL How about one of those handheld CO2 bottle powered air horns? LOL Not funny....our neighbours would complain! We had the problem with cable chewing when they were kittens but we taped everything we could down before they arrived so it was only at a couple of points where they could get their teeth in the cable and those tended to be places like near the plug, which we could see and stop them. They don't do it now but we still have cables taped down Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > How about one of those handheld CO2 bottle powered air horns? LOL > > Not funny....our neighbours would complain! Are you neighbors chewing on things too? > We had the problem with cable chewing when they were kittens but we > taped everything we could down before they arrived so it was only at a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Lesley Maybe a few coiled up computer cords strewn about the house would be acceptable chew toys? LOL > Maybe a few coiled up computer cords strewn about the house would be > acceptable chew toys? LOL Fight fire with fire uh?, but that could end up like russian roulette. >> Maybe a few coiled up computer cords strewn about the house would be >> acceptable chew toys? LOL > > Fight fire with fire uh?, but that could end up like russian roulette. With more targets, you're improving the odds of the "in service" computer cables being left un/less chewed. no? Making a negative association with cord chewing is an option. (evil laugh) > With more targets, you're improving the odds of the "in service" computer > cables being left un/less chewed. no? Making a negative association with > cord chewing is an option. (evil laugh) (This is not for you Phil, we're just carousing here, but maybe it might help someone) I had the exact same problem, Ruprecht loved to get under my studio equipment and tug and chew and swing etc...a mess of chords under there...I told him no a few times, you know, run him outta there...but I knew I had to catch him very red handed. I broke him on the first go-round. done. you know. He coulda got killed, n n n aaand burnt the house down. I know I keep saying it, and I've only had to discipline him 2wice, where action was needed. The time above, and the time he tried to pull rank on me by slicing my ear lobe, he did slice the lobe, hot blood was running all down my neck. (cats are fast) I took action, not words, and he has never repeated either. bitter apple my buttox... I got da bitter apple, it's black and white and red all over. It's straight forward to the point, non-confusing, and instantly engrains the message. No means No. Especially with the potential of killing himself. Or starting a fire. But my cat won't love me no more My cat acts like he's crazy about me; he greets me at the door when I come home, this morning, would you believe he was kneeding my feet? through the covers? it's what woke me up. sooo, straighfoward discipline is not a tyrants tool, it is man teaching an animal about the world we live in. They look to us for protection, we must lead them, not confuse them. If you say no, and you don't follow through, then no is just a sound, not a word to them. >> With more targets, you're improving the odds of the "in service" >> computer cables being left un/less chewed. no? Making a negative [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > them, not confuse them. If you say no, and you don't follow through, > then no is just a sound, not a word to them. Your socialization concept is one that is foreign to the toxically compassionate owner. I believe socializing a cat to your home from the beginning results in a happier cat in the long run. Otherwise what to you have? An unhappy human chasing around cleaning up transgressions and screaming. The inmate running the asylum. > Your socialization concept is one that is foreign to the toxically > compassionate owner. I believe socializing a cat to your home from the > beginning results in a happier cat in the long run. Otherwise what to you > have? An unhappy human chasing around cleaning up transgressions and > screaming. The inmate running the asylum. Maybe you should add a copyright tag to some of this. > >> walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. Not > >> sure what to do. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > How about one of those handheld CO2 bottle powered air horns? LOL ha! (maybe they make one that barks like a big dog) ------------ in another previous thought; about a little tough love / concerning people. You can never know what it is to make love till you've seen your partner angry. There's a song, "Without love, I'd have no anger" >>>> walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. >>>> Not sure what to do. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > ha! (maybe they make one that barks like a big dog) Now that you mention it, how about just compressed air and a nozzle? Makes a LOUD "Hiss" sound too! Hey, you may be onto sumthin' !! > Now that you mention it, how about just compressed air and a nozzle? Makes a > LOUD "Hiss" sound too! Hey, you may be onto sumthin' !! i like the dog in a can myself... baru roo roo baru roo roo comes in full bark, or just growling. >>>>> walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. >>>>> Not sure what to do. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >Now that you mention it, how about just compressed air and a nozzle? Makes a >LOUD "Hiss" sound too! Hey, you may be onto sumthin' !! Those little inexpensive spray bottles with water I understand work great and the best part is that you can have a half dozen of them spread throughout the house so one is always nearby to hopefully catch em in the act..... Brad LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" > LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A > WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, > SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" Ride it till the wheels fall off >>>>>> walked around and there was KitKat chewing on the monitor cable. >>>>>> Not sure what to do. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Brad You miss the point. Compressed air/gas makes a HISSSSSSSSS sound. We were talking about alternative behavior corrections ... not watering a house plant. ;^) And personally, my aim ain't that good ... even when I pee. (joke for the womenfolk) > And personally, my aim ain't that good ... even when I pee. > (joke for the womenfolk) What about water balloons, hmmm shhplaaatt! riiieeeeooowwwwrrrrrrr er er er er er er @#$@#$ er >> And personally, my aim ain't that good ... even when I pee. >> (joke for the womenfolk) > > What about water balloons, hmmm > shhplaaatt! riiieeeeooowwwwrrrrrrr er er er er How about a paint gun (firing water filled "bullets") with a laser pointer. Lots of cats will chase a laser dot so .... (objective #1) get the cat's attention and then (objective #2) fire the water bulltet with ACCURACY! >You miss the point. Compressed air/gas makes a HISSSSSSSSS sound. We were >talking about alternative behavior corrections ... not watering a house >plant. ;^) And personally, my aim ain't that good ... even when I pee. >(joke for the womenfolk) Aren't you the precious one fillup go ahead and use the air the warning that says don't spray into a persons eyes make it OK to risk your cats vision with it you idiot.....and don't answer another one of my posts with your sickening little jokes.......I bet the womenfolk are so thankful for your little joke....... Brad LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" >> You miss the point. Compressed air/gas makes a HISSSSSSSSS sound. >> We were talking about alternative behavior corrections ... not [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > warning that says don't spray into a persons eyes make it OK to risk > your cats vision with it you idiot Bradley, the HISSSSS from a can of compressed air need not be in the cat's ear to be heard. Seems you don't know that. Now you do. But in your case, your the kind of fella who squirts Binaca in the air and then tries to catch some on your frog-like tongue. (another joke for the ladies). >.....and don't answer another one of > my posts with your sickening little jokes.......I bet the womenfolk > are so thankful for your little joke....... > > Brad Too late. LOL Bradley, the HISSSSS from a can of compressed air need not be in the cat's ear to be heard. Aerosols are very effective with Sarrasine- don't ask me why, we have never sprayed her with anything or even anywhere near her but she hates the noise they make. It works a lot better than a squirt bottle which I'd be vary of using when she's hiding behind electrical equipment and anyway when I did try a squirt bottle she drank the water! But now just shaking an aerosol can usually stop her (unless what she is doing is very enjoyable!). Redunzel however hates the squirt bottle. Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs >>Philip wrote: >> Bradley, the HISSSSS from a can of compressed air need not be in the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Lesley Thank you Lesley. Have you never heard a cat hiss or spit? Surely you've heard the Haaaaaaah! with ears laid back and teeth bared. It's one of those universal feline expressions! > Thank you Lesley. Have you never heard a cat hiss or spit? Surely you've > heard the Haaaaaaah! with ears laid back and teeth bared. It's one of those > universal feline expressions! do that again haaaaaa hows it go this time with feeling >> Thank you Lesley. Have you never heard a cat hiss or spit? Surely >> you've heard the Haaaaaaah! with ears laid back and teeth bared. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > this time with feeling Southern California so .... Dude! Haaaaaa! >Bradley, the HISSSSS from a can of compressed air need not be in the >cat's [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Leslie would you help me with exactly what you are talking about.......is Sarrasine a propellant of some kind or is it a product made to be used with cats? What exactly is it that you are using, I haven't tried the water but someone told me that it works very effectively for them so I don't know but yes of course not around electricity. Thanks in advance Brad LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" I had a cat with chewing problems. She chewed on power cables, including a space heater, that I do not know how she was not electrocuted. Her teeth were fine and I tried the bitter apple and it didn't work for me. Finally, she chewed up a leather recliner, ripping the end off the handle. I have had dogs that were not as destructive as this cat. This destructive chewing nearly always happened while I was at work and so I came to the realization that this cat needed more attention than I could give her and so I had to find her a new home. She was a beautiful and friendly cat otherwise who followed me home while I was out for a walk. She walked along beside me without any acknowledgement or encouragement from me. I kept her that one night and then returned her where I had found her. Two days later when I was walking near the same place she left a man who was petting her near a warehouse and ran to me. So it was hard to part with her and I still feel a sense of failure about it, but I think it was for the best. |
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