Cat chewing electrical wires on appliances and computer!

[ReneeF]

My cat keeps chewing through wires. She already destroyed my mouse for my computer (went and bought a wireless one now but even that has a wire), and has also eaten completely through my dustbuster charger cord which means the dustbuster is ruined. She has also begun to chew my cellphone charger cord but luckaly I caught it before she ruined that. (ALL these cords are thin ones) She has also chewed on many other cords that are thicker but thankfully has not gotten through them- curling iron, miscellaneous computer wiring, tv wiring, etc.

Besides being a huge problem financially of course, I am also worried about her being electricuted or such. Wondering if anyone else has problems like this and what you have done to help it. I cannot close the door to my computer room because the litterboxes are in there and there is no other place I could put them. She is biting wires in every room anyhow.

Thanks.

[jason]

She is biting wires in every room anyhow.

perhaps if your kitty is shown something more enjoyable, the need for voltage will dissipate.

have you tried to replace the need for those wires with something else? like maybe some packing twine. perhaps creating a few toys with the twine theme (some dowels with the twine attached) and keep them in various areas of the house will help reduce this behavior.

good luck, let us know.

[davet]

just for the records, i have had many a pup and one or two cats come in with severe burns of the mouth from cord schewing...besides trying to find some other form of entertainment you better shieled the wires...or coat them with the strongest tobasco sauce or what ever to stop the chewing

[Cleo]

Goodness! Please deter her before you come home to kitty filet! I just heard a vet radio show this weekend where a woman called in about her dog chewing her wood furniture. This vet said that when dogs chew like that, it's because they are bored and/or have separation anxiety. Don't know how true that is and if it applies to cats, but I agree with the rest here in distracting her attention elsewhere.

Good luck!!
Cleo

[Traci]

You can also check your local hardware or home depot store for covers you can put on your wiring. I'd suggest, for mechanical wiring (computer, tv, stereo, etc) to clip them together and run them through a plastic tubing that you can pick up in the hardware section.

As for curling iron, hair dryer, etc, put these items in a closet when you're done, and when not in use (or in your bathroom vanity).

Like Davet, I've seen and treated too many kittens and cats who have been electrocuted by cords and wires, all of which could have been prevented. You truly do not want to see electrical burns in and around the mouth, loss of tongue and tissue, nor want to deal with heart arrythmias, etc. Start interesting your kitty in interactive toys, kitty perches by a safe window, scratching posts, kitty condo, lots of toys and attention.

[ReneeF]

My cat has many many toys to play with--- tons. SHe enjoys playing with her pingpong balls, soft balls, stuffed mice, catnip, etc. but she also takes time out sometime during all this to nibble at wires. I will look at the hardware store for tubing or something that I can put the wires in.

[Tina B and crew]

egads!! I have a chewer too...but so far we've not caught her chewing on wires. As long as she has her fur mice she's usually OK. Do what you can to protect the wires and kitty...it will be worth it for all in the end. Good luck!

[funnyfelines]

I was going to suggest the covers for the wires too, how is it working out?