How to wean a cat from chewing on wires and chargers

Like any animal, cats have reflexes and if you develop them properly you can get rid of troubles once and for all. The main thing to remember is that the animal is not to blame for anything and should not be scolded. If you just yell at the cat or cat, he may get offended and take revenge.

6 reasons why cats chew on wires and how to stop it

Cats have many strange habits, but one of the strangest we've encountered is their desire to chew on electrical cords and other wires. This can lead to electrical shock. which can be life-threatening for the cat. In addition, the cat damages the wire and can leave the inside of the cable exposed, which can also result in people getting electrocuted.

If you have a cat that does this and would like to know more about why it does it, keep reading!

We'll look at a few explanations, as well as steps you can take to stop this destructive behavior.

Reasons cats chew through electrical cords

1. Natural instinct.

Biting and chewing is one of the ways your cat explores its environment. You have probably noticed that your cat not only bites and chews on cords, but also other objects, including you. Especially kittens, who chew on just about everything. Fortunately, most cats stop chewing on wires and other objects as they get older and find other ways to explore.

2. Brushing their teeth.

Your cat may also be driven by the instinct to brush its teeth. Captive cats have a high rate of dental disease, and studies show that 50% to 90% of cats over the age of four suffer from some form of dental problem. Biting objects in the house, such as cardboard, can help remove tartar, slowing the progression of these dental problems. Wire can also be useful for this task because it acts like natural dental floss.

3. she's bored.

In captivity, your cat doesn't have as many activities as she does in the wild, where she has to tag and defend her territory and hunt relentlessly for food. Even though your cat may sleep for up to 16 hours a night with no tasks to do, it may become frustrated in its search for activities and become destructive. Destructive behavior can manifest as chewing on wires, destroying furniture and curtains, and even breaking toilet rules.

4. Pica Disease.

Pica is an eating disorder characterized by a cat's desire to eat things that have no nutritional value. Pica can get your cat to eat wires as well as cardboard, carpet, paper, plastic, wood, and more. Pica differs from regular playful chewing in that the cat grinds the material with its back teeth. This action is addictive in cats and they may start looking for objects to chew on. This condition is more common in kittens, but some cats may outgrow it after a year or two.

How to wean a cat from chewing on wires

So, a kitten, cat or cat chews on wires. What should the owner do in such a situation? Let's say at once that the most improper solution – the use of physical force in relation to the animal. Cats are touchy and vindictive beings, so it is unlikely that they can be weaned from their addiction by beatings (incidentally, they may take revenge). It is better to turn to such ways:

1. You can save household wires from cats by using cable ducts. These are closed profiles mounted on the wall, inside which the wire should be enclosed;
2. A simple way to protect wires from cats is the use of double-sided duct tape.. The animal will be very unpleasant to chew on, say, a sticky cord from the TV;
3. Wires can be wrapped in foilWires can be wrapped in foil, the taste is unlikely to please the cat, and the crunching may scare off a small kitten;
4. If possible, it is worth trying tape the wires to the wall at a height of (if you have a kitten at home, it is a good idea to try to fix the wires on the wall with tape to prevent the pet from reaching them;
5. Sometimes cats "break off" on unused extension cords. Such items that are used occasionally, it is always best to hide where the pet can't reach (such as the top shelf of a closet);
6. The problem can be solved with the help of commercial products – so-called sprays Anti gnawing (for example, domestic "Api-San Smart spray Protection against chewing and scratching for cats" or Japanese "Kajio Anti gnawing for cats and dogs" or others). The price of such sprays ranges from 100 rubles to 2,000 rubles. Such preparations are safe for the smell of animals, do not leave traces after application and do not cause inconvenience to people;
7. All areas where there are wires can be sprayed with citrus oil All areas with wires can be sprayed with citrus oil (grapefruit oil, lemon oil, orange oil, etc.). Cats hate these aromas. True, the procedure will have to be repeated periodically as the odor wears off. You can put citrus peels instead of oils where there are wires, but you will have to change them too;
8. You can put aloe juice on the wires to keep the cat from chewing. It is bitter and unpalatable, the animals will not like it. But you will have to grease the wires regularly. If there is no aloe, then garlic or onion juice can be used instead, but here the owner will have a hard time (not everyone will like to inhale such smells). The smelly mustard can also be used, but the use of acetic acid or chlorine should be avoided;
9. Whenever the pet wants to chew on his favorite wires, you can use a can of compressed air, you can use a can of compressed air, which is used to clean the dust off office equipment. Almost all animals are afraid of such a squeeze, in their heads quickly enough triggers a connection "wire bite – noise from the canister;
10. You can't beat your pet, but you can psychologically influence him.. As soon as the cat comes to the wire and starts to bite it, you should either clap your hands loudly, or sternly say its name, or tap your hand on the table. As a rule, cats are comprehensible companions, so such noises can be effective (but not painful and not offensive as opposed to hitting a soft wool barrel);
11. As we said above, many kittens and adult cats perceive wires as toys. So why not equip your pet's corner with a variety of toysIncluding those with long, sturdy ropes;
12. Cats that owners spend a lot of time with rarely do anything stupid.. This does not mean lying on the couch together, but active games between man and his pet.

What to do if the pet is electrocuted

It is not easy to wean a cat from chewing on wires, especially if this bad habit is present in the animal at an elderly age. It happens that if the owner is at home, the kitty restrains itself, but still continues to spoil when left alone (alone at home or alone in the room).

What to do if the cat shows all the signs of electric shock (pale or even blue mucous membranes, arrhythmia and slowed pulse, cramps, weakness, breathing problems, small lesions on the skin, loss of consciousness)? If the owner is lucky enough to notice an electrical injury to his or her purrfect pet in time, you should proceed as follows:

1. Put aside panic. Shouting and grabbing the cat in your hands without rubber gloves right away is not allowed (it is fraught with an electric shock);
2. If possible, you need to pull the faulty wire from the socket, using something non-metallic (a wooden mop, broom, you can also pull with your hand, but with a rubber glove). If it will not be possible to pull the wire, it is necessary at least to throw it off the animal;
3. Then the cat should be lifted at the pelvic area so that its lower legs are above the head level. Another option is to lift the cat by its hind legs and twist a little. This should be done to provoke blood flow to the brain;
4. If about 15 seconds have passed and the pet has not regained consciousness, artificial respiration will have to be performed by breathing air out of the pet's mouth into its nose 12-15 times a minute (each exhalation for about 5 seconds). The pet should be placed on a flat surface on the right side. It is important to make sure that the pet breathes out. Simultaneously with artificial respiration it is desirable to do heart massage by pressing on the chest, as if raising the ribs to the neck. About 100 pushes per minute should be done. If there is a family member at home, you should ask him to call an emergency vet at home. A specialist will resuscitate the animal better and faster;
5. If the pet has regained consciousness, he should be soothed, and then given some water to drink. A burn from an electric shock can be covered with sea buckthorn oil, Solcoseril, Levomecol or other similar ointment. Be sure to make sure that the whisker-striped does not come to the faulty wire again.

Lack of attention

Very often the owner is too busy at work. When he comes home, he is busy doing something for himself and does not pay any attention to his pet when it meows or rubs his feet. In this case, pets move on to more effective ways: start chewing on wires or dropping things on the floor.

This behavior should not be ignored, as it can result in a short circuit, leading to electrocution of the animal. In addition, this behavior is also dangerous for humans, as a short circuit can even result in a fire.

Also, pieces of insulation or wires swallowed by the animal can get into the kitten's stomach. This will result in an upset stomach or even an obstruction in the intestines. In this case, the pet may need surgery.

Ways to solve the problem

Sometimes it is very difficult to teach your cat to chew on the cords of the charger or the TV, especially since punishing the cat will not bring any results at all. It will be difficult to explain to the kitten what he has done wrong. You can do this in different ways, using improvised or bought tools. Alternatively, you can simply hide the wires so as not to provoke your pet.

Shorten or hide the wires

Protect your beloved pets from electrocution by hiding cables and wires in a special place. If a wire is hanging down from a table or wall, it should be well insulated and then hidden behind furniture or fixed to the wall. Alternatively, you can make small indentations in the field and put them neatly there.

If you connect several wires together, they will become thicker and will immediately cease to be of interest to cats. You can use corrugated tubes or special boxes that are designed for this purpose. It is best to use places where pets can't reach to recharge phones.

In addition, you should not leave any chargers overnight in places where cats can access them, because they can also be very active at this time. It's best to hide them in a closet or nightstand.

Using sprays

You can buy these sprays at specialized drugstores or pet stores. Almost all sprays have a specific smell that can scare away animals. Most often a citrus scent is used to create them, because all cats do not like oranges, lemons and grapefruit.

The spray should be used along the entire length of the wires. In addition, you can also treat those places where the little darlings like to make mischief. Such a spray can also be made yourself. For this purpose, lemon or orange peel, which should be boiled in clean water, is suitable.

Loud noises

Many people use loud commands to scare cats away from the wires as they "eat" the wires. However, such commands should be taught from a young age. Growing up, the cat will be able to understand what action the owner may not like.

Why cats chew on wires

The reasons why a cat chews on wires can vary. Usually the pet takes them as a toy. But sometimes the explanation for the unwanted action lies deeper. Here are the circumstances that make a cat interested in electrical wires, even in spite of strict punishments:

– Changing teeth. Cats change their milk teeth to permanent teeth at 3 to 4 months of age. If a kitten starts chewing on the wires at this age, the pet is simply loosening the old tooth and massaging the itchy gums.

– Tooth plaque. Animals that eat natural foods or wet food (canned foods, pouches, pates) often encounter plaque that leads to tartar formation and gum irritation. By chewing on the wire, the pet tries to scrape the plaque off and get rid of the discomfort.

– Inflamed gums. High interest in wires may indicate gingivitis, stomatitis, or paradontosis. The cat begins chewing on the insulation to cool the inflamed gums and get rid of the pain.

– Stress. If another pet or a newborn baby is in the house, the owner is away on an extended business trip, or the cat has recently been taken to the vet, the cat may chew on the wires due to stress. If it's an emotional experience, not only the wires but also the furniture or wallpaper will suffer.

– Attracting attention. If the owner is only interested in the cat at times of mischief, the animal begins to do it on purpose.

– Lack of other toys. If the cat has lost interest in old toys or they are simply not available, the pet will start looking for them in the outside environment.

– Unbalanced diet. An improper diet and imbalance of minerals in the body provoke atypical food cravings. In some cases, cats chew on wires due to a lack of aluminum or copper.

5 ways to teach your cat to chew on wires

Start educating your cat from the first days in a new home. If you set the rules right away, correcting the behavior will be easier. But if it is too late or if the cat is from a shelter and its behavior is not adult, you can wean it from chewing on wires as follows:

Notice that the cat periodically chews the wires? Clap your hands loudly and give the forbidding command "no". The loud noise should make him startle and shift his attention to the source of the noise. After that, you can keep your pet occupied with play or sit him on your lap.

Spraying the cat with a spray gun is not recommended. If the cat has chewed through the insulation while you were gone and you didn't notice, the wire will short out and the cat will be injured if it comes in contact with water.

Why does a kitten or cat chew on wires

Interestingly, most of the antics of a whiskered friend is not a desire to spoil the mood of the beloved owner. Most of the pranks are the usual curiosity and thirst to play.

Lack of toys

Curiosity is characteristic not only for babies, but also for adult representatives of the feline family. Pranksters want to taste, touch the surrounding objects, play with them.

A found wrapper, a scrap of ribbon or a juice tube is enough for them to have a few hours of fun. That's why whiskers become interested in ribbon-like electrical cables. Multicolored cords become an alternative to toys or even a ball of thread.

The desire to sharpen their teeth

Dental problems accompany furry pets throughout their lives. The interest in electric cables in growing kittens can be explained by the change of milk fangs to permanent ones. The natural process is accompanied by a little discomfort – the baby's gums itch, so there is a natural desire to rub them.

Adults use electric cables to clean their teeth of plaque. Here the problem arises from the wrong diet of the pet – if the cat eats mostly soft food, the plaque from the teeth is not cleaned naturally. The introduction of dry ingredients will help rid the pet of discomfort and the desire to chew everything in a row.

Attracting Attention

Pets become very attached to their owner and family members. Some individuals experience real stress during the absence of a loved one. Cats, like small children, want attention.

If the kitty lacks companionship, it begins to attract the owner in various ways. Sometimes whiskers throw objects from tables or pots with flowers from windows. Bitten cords from electrical appliances also become an attempt of the cat to attract the owner's attention, expressing a request to give time to the fluffy varmint.

How to wean a cat from chewing cords: 5 ways

Owners of whiskered pets should not ignore his increased curiosity about cables from electrical appliances. Getting pieces of insulating material or the cord itself into the pet's body will lead to gastrointestinal disturbances and digestive problems. There also remains the risk of electrocution, which can be fatal.

The owner's job is to keep the whisker safe from surrounding threats and to keep the property intact. This can be done in different ways, which of them is suitable – it is usually found out by experience.

Remove or disguise wires

The easiest and most affordable way to wean the fluffy out of a bad habit is to disguise the cords from electrical appliances. After all, if he does not see the cord, he will have no desire to play with it.

In furniture and hardware stores you can buy devices that allow you to hide attractive wires from the gaze of the cat. Here are the most affordable:

1. Tubes. In them it is convenient to hide often used cables. The material of the devices is durable, and the tubes themselves are quite large. A prankster won't be able to damage them or their contents.
2. Ties. They will help increase the diameter of electrical cords. By tightening several wires at once, the owner will make it almost impossible for the cat to bite them.
3. Staples or a stapler. Devices will be needed to firmly fix appliance cables to furniture or baseboards.
4. Baseboards. You can put the desired toy in special compartments or lay it under the baseboard. This method will not spoil the design of the room and will protect the whisker.

Rarely used appliances and accessories should be put away in a place inaccessible to the animal. Lockable cabinets, high shelves and drawers are good for this purpose. It is important not to leave a fluffy, especially a young one, with a cable alone without human supervision. This can lead to disastrous consequences.

The surest way to wean a cat from chewing on wires

Cats are very distinctive pets that like to do things their own way. Because of this, owners face such problems as destroyed flowers, broken figurines and chewed wires. And if in the first two cases it is just a shame, in the third case there is a real danger to your health, because the broken wire is one of the main reasons for a short circuit. That's why it's so important to understand in time how to wean a cat from chewing wires.

The Murkosha shelter has faced this problem many times, so they have developed a few rules that help to wean a cat or cat from the bad habit.

Any cat, whether it is still a kitten or an adult, loves to play. And wires, especially from headphones, remind him of very interesting and fun toys. Therefore you should try to teach the cat to stop chewing the wire so that it won't resemble the string and ribbons that are so interesting to play with, biting and scratching with their claws. More often than not, cats pay attention to those wires that are just dangling. They look at them and see a potential toy to have fun with. Therefore, in order to discourage the kitten from such a desire, you need to try to hide them as much as possible as soon as he appears in the house. To do this, all the wires that go along the walls are covered with furniture. If we are talking about computer ones, however, they should be fixed so that they are no longer so attractive for playing and biting.

Owners will have to accept the fact that anything thin, resembling ropes and ribbons causes the animal to want to play. Cats are carnivores, after all, who react to moving objects. In addition, the owners themselves teach them to play with the rope, and the cat is difficult to understand that the headphones – this is not a rope, which is designed for fun. So if you don't want to buy new headphones all the time, the best solution is just to hide them. The same goes for charging cables. The fewer irritants in the house, the fewer reasons to punish a kitten who accidentally chews the charger or favorite headphones.

Why Cats Chew Cords

There are several reasons why cats are so partial to rubber cords. Kittens often chew on them when their teeth are changing, while adults may be trying to compensate for the lack of solid food to help them clean plaque from their teeth and gums. And, once you have weaned the cat from the wire, it would be nice to give it something to "sharpen its teeth" without the risk of getting an electric shock: toys that it can chew on, rubber balls and rings, dried cat treats and so on.

If an adult cat that has never been fond of wires has suddenly become interested in them, it may be a sign that its diet is not balanced or that it is not getting enough attention. In this case, you should spend more time playing games and other activities with your pet, as well as visit the vet and adjust the diet if necessary.

Boyfriend dumped after a four-year relationship

We have all the wires in the apartment chewed up, when the cat was a year and a half, he stopped being interested in inedible objects. Now he is three years old and so far he has gotten away from the wallpaper, but he still chews on the furniture, I want to buy him a scratching post.
It's just that your cat is hyperactive and needs attention, like us.

He is still young, he will grow up and calm down. Our cat is not interested in wires anymore.

My cat is 3 years old, he chewed everything, the Internet cable has been changed 10 times, now he has started to chew my son's shoes, and tonight he chewed my daughter's leather shoes, what can I do?

The cat chews everything! How many chargers, headphones I can't even remember, acoustics, ployka, light, console. in general does not choose and gnaws on everything! The losses are enormous. Shishik in the face of water helps for once, then everything forgets, and an hour later, again climbs! And many people write that young cats chew. nooo my 5 year old and as much time he chews. We took him to my mom's house, but he chewed everything there, too! Treating him with lemon is nonsense. Every day or climb and smear everything…the smell of lemon is not eternal…save me a really good method pleasea.

Rub it with hot pepper. Once it stings, it won't come out again.

Be careful with pepper, especially for kittens, you may permanently lose your sense of smell.

Cat breed Scottish lop (Scottish Fold). Before that, there were always cats of other breeds – never chewed anything, but this one was a real "chewer. Chewed the cords from all the radio equipment, telephone cable, tried the extension cord, even the antenna cord from a clock, the nightmare. Consulted the vet – said that cats chew just as well as dogs, if not better. And rubbing with lemon, etc. – did not help. Just watched the cat and chased him away, and at night we closed the room where there was something to chew.And our "Scottie" is 4 years old and chews for good measure, we also fight

We have a young Britan…love him…but also chews the wire…even want to give it to someone for this. today here again will call the master to replace the cable..it was attached to the wall. and then pulled out, pulled out and chews. Brought to parents in the private sector … to catch mice … so far, it does not seem to catch … and they are absolutely cheeky, everywhere lezut.

The cat does not go to the bathroom because of a spinal injury

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Make wires unattractive to the cat

Give the wires an unpleasant taste. Spray or wipe down the wires with something that tastes unpleasant to the cat. There are products for this purpose on the market and you can make your own. If you decide to use a self-made remedy, hot sauce; lavender oil, citrus or vinegar-based paste, garlic or cayenne pepper, cold ointment with essential oils, dishwashing liquid, lime juice, chili pepper oil or paste will do. In some cases, sports deodorants (with a very strong menthol scent) are effective. Be sure to dry the wires after treatment before plugging them back in. Be aware that you will have to periodically re-treat the wires with this type of product. Do not use salty formulations to treat wires, as cats are attracted to the salty taste. [8] X Source of Information

Enclose the wires in a protective coating that will make them unpalatable to the cat. Such protective coatings include Chewsafe™ and CritterCord™, which is a transparent and fairly flexible tube with a citrus flavor that will make the cat stay away from the wires. Such tubes are easy to use and do not require periodic renewal. [9] X Source of Information

Distract the cat.

Try to scare the cat away from the wires with noise or harsh actions. If you catch a cat chewing on wires at the scene, there are a number of different actions you can take. Try yelling "NO" or clapping your hands loudly every time the cat goes near the wires. Another option is to keep a water pistol handy to spray water at the cat when it gets too close to where you don't want it. Of course, you have to be careful not to splash water on electrical appliances and outlets. [11] X Source of information

Use a noise source triggered by a motion sensor. If you can find toys that make noises in response to motion sensor triggers (such as robots), you can position them so that they start making noise as soon as the cat gets close to vulnerable wires, such as under a computer desk. Toys should be triggered unexpectedly and make noises loud enough to scare the animal. However, there is a chance that the pet will just get used to them and ignore them. [12] X Source of Information