This can be dangerous.  Cats will sometimes eat rubber bands, and this can
cause blockage in the intestines (which can be life-threatening).  You're
right, it can be remarkably difficult to eliminate all access to rubber
bands -- it often seems as if they have a life of their own.  I now place
rubber bands around my wrist as soon as I open any newspaper or package that
contains them, then I either store them in a drawer or throw them away.  I
have learned that if I simply place them on a table while I'm working on the
package, some of them invariably escape -- with the result that you
described.

MaryL

my kitty not only chews rubber bands, but pretty much any plastic bag.  I
have yet to figure out why he does it, but like you, the only thing I can do
is make sure these problem areas are eliminated from the house, because if
eaten, they can cause blockage.  doesn't mean they will, but the risk is too
great and the consequences so dire Im not going to risk it.

You talk a lot about the fact your kitty goes outside.  To me it sounds like
either your looking for approval, or maybe some info on keeping your kitty
inside.

If its approval, there are a lot of people who will give it, telling you how
their kitty went outside for years and years and nothing happened.. then
there are people like me who can tell you story after story of cats who went
outside and were harmed in some absolutely unimaginable ways.  Cats do not
need to go outside to be happy.  My five live in my smaller house, and are
quite happy.  They tear through the house, and run up the cat tree I bought
them.  yes.. they play with my legs, but I just get out a toy and redirect
them.  Most cats can easily be converted to indoor only  I did it with my
eldest cat once I learned that indoor cats average life span is 20 years and
the average life span of an outdoor cat is 3.

You might be lucky, and nothing bad will ever happen to your kitty outside.
But cars, cruel kids, dogs, wild animals, and other natural disasters are
just things Im  not willing to send my furry loved ones out to face.

anyway.. if you want to give it a shot, you'll have to have a bit of
patience a lot of love, and the ability to redirect the kitty's attention.
Kitty isn't going to understand why it can't go out anymore.  Get a
scratching post that is taller than your hip, even better get a tree that is
5+ feet.  Get a litter box, and clean it often.  Provide lots of toys,
including small balls, mine like ping pong balls and small fur balls, as
well as something that you can use to get them to chase.  Toys on a long
string or dangling off a pole are good.  Just make sure you take those away
when not playing so the kitty doesn't eat the string.  Winter is a good time
to make the transition as kitties don't like to go out much when its wet and
snowy..   Good luck.  and if I misunderstood you, then this is good
information for anyone else who might want it :D

My cat likes rubber bands, too. I have box of big ones in my office. She has
a typical pattern of sliming one up and then 'accidentally' dropping it on
the floor. Then, she sits on the edge of my desk and looks at it for a good
twenty seconds and pounces on it. She'll pick it up and drop it and then
take a nice walk somewhere.

She never eats them, however. You don't want your cat to eat them. If she
does you have to make your house rubber-band free or you'll end up with a
big fat vet bill.

Mike in Illinois

LOL..  I think all cats like rubber bands.   If you think that is
funny - try a twist tie or a qtip.   Sabrina used to play catch w/ the
qtips in the bathroom.    Me - go into toilet room, Sabrina sits on
the other side of the door to the toilet room.   I flick the qtip
under the door, she bats it around the floor then flicks it back to me
under the door.   and if I don't flick it back right away her little
paws come digging at it under the door.

Another fun toy is a laser pointer.   Oh, they will chase that for
hours, jumping at it on the wall, etc.   Talk about funny.

You are right to be nervous about the rubber bands, do your best to
get them all up and out of the way.   We keep ours in an enclosed box,
cardboard or plastic w/ lids work best.   They can present a choking
hazard or worse yet, an intestinal blockage if digested.  

The idea :

Put some Hot Pepper Sauce (or other spicy sauces) on the rubber band then
let the cat"accidently" find it (or you can entice her with it) and bite on
it. Obviously the taste of Hot peper sauce will be too much too handle and
will shock the cat hopefully enough not to chew on rubber bands anymore.
Perhaps you may need to repeat this 3-4 times, just so it creates a negative
association between your cat and the bands.

I have done similar thing and put some sauce on couple of wires that my cats
were trying to chew. It sure worked, and much better then any yelling or
clupping hands :)

Other alternatives: cats hate citrus smells, so perhaps lemon or orange
juice would be an option, or even vinegar.

Gee

My cat Henri RB, used to come for a certain whistle,it sounded
like I was calling a child, as in Heeeenn-riiiiiiiiiii, the men in the
different flats,  used to mimic the whistle in the same whistle notes
and he'd come, even if he was right at the other end of the street
If he wasn't ready to come in, he would just sit and look up at the
veranda as though letting me know he was ok. God I miss him.
   Jean P.