cat chews EVERYTHING, eats cardboard, etc.

[valeriieee]

Hi. I'm hoping someone can help me... My 2 year old cat has chewed on things her entire life. I thought it was a phase she'd outgrow. She hasn't!

You name it, she'll chew on it. And if she feels like it/isn't caught, she'll often go ahead and EAT whatever it is she chews on. Typically she prefers cardboard, but she doesn't limit herself. Buttons on shirts, the fabric ties on my kitchen chair pads (which she's literally eaten in the past), the edges of plastic bins, shoelaces, the metal poles of my clothes drying rack...you name it! If she can get her mouth around it, she'll chew on it! And if she feels like it, she'll chew all the way through and/or EAT whatever she manages to break off.

Obviously there are a lot of serious health risks in this behavior. As it is, I've talked with her vet a number of times, but the most that's ever come from it is advice like "watch her, stop her, prevent it by removing things from her level, make sure she has enough attention and her needs are met. . ." Trust me, her needs are being met. I pay so much attention to this cat - always have - that my fiance honestly believes I love her more than I love him!

She has a LOT of toys. I made some, and I spent a ton of money on a variety of different toys. I play with her all the time, and she has toys she likes to play with on her own when I'm not around. I DO try to prevent her from chewing/eating, but I can't be here 24/7, so she never gets 100% consistent punishment. And removing things from her level sounds easy enough, but if you realize just how much stuff she can and will chew on, I can't possibly remove EVERYTHING from her level.

To make matters worse, we'll be moving in the next month, and I'm starting to bring cardboard boxes home for packing. I KNOW what she's like, so I'm doing what I can to keep her from eating the boxes - because it's bad for her and because I NEED those boxes!

I just don't even know what to do anymore! I'd have thought that after the first couple of times when she ate cardboard or the fabric chair ties and she got really sick, I thought that'd be enough to keep her from doing it anymore. But it didn't phase her. Each time, she threw up for about a day and then was 300% fine afterwards. (Yes, I called the vet, but wasn't able to get an immediate appointment. By the time the appt. day would roll around, Pinky would be doing fine and be back to her normal self.)

Tape is another favorite of hers. She'll manage to get up on the cabinets to the Scotch tape and eat that off the roll. (Hasn't done that in a while, but she used to.) Now that I'm bringing the boxes home, I'm catching her chewing on the tape from those. I remove what I can from the edges of the boxes. I squirt her with the water bottle. I scold her. I remove the tape from her mouth a.s.a.p. I find a toy for her to play with instead. None of these things are a permanent fix for her.

In fact, a lot of her TOYS she's even chewed up and literally eaten. Any of those fun toys with elastic strings...I have to cut the strings off, or she'll chew them off and then eat them. Any toys with anything that sticks off of it, she'll chew on and eat. I've read everywhere that paper bags and cardboard tubes are the best free cat toys you can give a cat. Well, if that cat is just going to EAT them, they really aren't the best toys, are they?

I've even gotten her DOG toys. A rope chew toy for small dogs, those little twisted stick things that are chicken flavored, small balls, etc. She LOVES milk rings and those little furry mice toys - but again, she eats the tails off the mice. She'll chew their ears off. Sometimes she'll even chew her way INTO the mouse itself.

Now, she isn't typically an aggressive cat. She's honestly very, VERY sweet. She doesn't bite people. We have another cat, and they more or less get along fine. They've been together since Pinky was tiny, so she's well-adjusted to the other cat. They fight sometimes, but just in playing, like any cats do.

She doesn't have any other behavior problems. Uses her litterbox properly, etc. She's always been very active and energetic and does love to play. And I swear, I spend a LOT of time playing with her. But still, she chews on things she shouldn't. The eating part isn't nearly as often as the chewing itself. I'd guess that an average would be 1 out of every 30 things she'll chew on, she might try to actually eat. So maybe she IS finally learning that eating that crap makes her sick. I don't know. But the chewing itself has not stopped, and happens most often either when I'm sleeping or at work. I'm TIRED of coming home or waking up and finding things ruined! And like I said, I need to be able to USE those boxes.

It's not the stress from the coming move, because she's pretty much ALWAYS done this. She really doesn't have any other stresses, so I don't know what could really be causing it. If anyone has ANY other suggestions, I'd be HAPPY to hear them! Thanks!!

[valeriieee]

Oh, and did I mention electric cords? I didn't? How could I forget? Not so much recently, but in the past I've also caught her chewing on electric cords!! Some plugged in, even! Sometimes I haven't caught her doing it, but when I go to unplug something, I'll find that the cord has clearly been chewed on. I swear, natural selection is trying so hard to get my cat, and frankly, I'm getting tired of fighting it off!! I love her like a child, I swear...I just don't know how to get her to stop CHEWING on things before it kills her!

[Traci]

What are you feeding her? Sometimes, pets develop pica (excessive chewing or other behaviors) because there is a deficiency in the diet. Did the vet discuss that and the diet with you?

Did he fully evaluate her oral health? Did her teeth come in perfectly as she was developing? Are there any unusual teeth or overlapping, etc?

I have to agree with your vet, you MUST keep things put away from your kitty, you have to cat proof your home just as you would a small toddler, it doesn't matter her behavior, you have to do this with ALL cats.

Use Bitter Apple to lightly spray unplugged electrical cords, to prevent her from chewing on those, or, use tubing you can get at any hardware store to wrap the cords in.

Do NOT let her chew/eat dog treats, especially hard rawhide chews, etc, these can chip and break tiny cat teeth, and chips can lodge in the throat, esophagus, and can even rupture them, including GI perforations. They are NOT made for cats!!

Continue using the squirt bottle, but you need to use this when you actually see her eating something she's not supposed to. Never use this approach after the fact. She has to associate the squirt bottle with the unwanted behavior. When you've seen her chew on something she's not supposed to, use the squirt bottle AND then immediately divert her attention to something else, such as a favorite toy or playtime activity.

Buttons and shoestrings: these need to be kept away from cats at all times. Simply keep your shoes in a closed closet, and don't leave clothes hanging around or on the floor etc.

If it isn't pica or some other sort of deficiency, she could be bored, in which you will have to be creative and create new and more interesting things for her. Choose toys that she has to chase or fetch, and when you're done playing with toys, put them away and only keep out a few toys that are safer and those she cannot chew pieces off of. Buy a maze toy, those with a box with hidden toy/ball inside that she cannot get the ball out of, etc, the toys should be interactive and interesting. Playtime activity should involve your active engagement with her, such as throwing toss balls to her so she can chase or fetch them, drag a string across the floor, literally play hide and seek with her, activities such as these are interesting and physical activity that are healthy for the cat. Also provide one or two scratching posts for her, maybe a safe/sturdy cat tree near a safe window, etc.

Start grooming sessions with her. Brush her two or three times a week, this is a sort of calming thing for cats and some cats learn to look forward to it, it also helps the bonding.

It's obvious you understand the dangers of kitty chewing on various things, but do understand the time is NOW for you to take measures to prevent obstructions and life-threatening perforations, by putting unnecessary things away, and starting to create new activities for her. Exploratory surgery to remove an obstruction or correct a perforation is a risky procedure, and is not good for any cat. Discuss kitty's diet with your vet immediately to ensure that it is properly balanced and is a high quality diet.

[valeriieee]

Thanks so much for your advice, Traci! Well, I can't remember if the vet addressed diet or not...it was a while ago that the actual eating of the items was such a severe problem. Mostly she just chews now...which I'm reading more and more is just a thing some cats do. Still, it's an annoying habit! If diet was discussed, it must have been ruled out, because I haven't made any changes in her food (Purina dry food).

She hasn't needed to see the vet recently at all, but to the best of my knowledge based on past visits, she's perfectly healthy. This chewing isn't a new habit - she's ALWAYS done it, so I have no reason to believe it's brought on by anything recent. I really just came looking for advice because of all the additional cardboard we're going to have around soon. I mean, we'll be moving, so there's really no possible way to keep ALL of the boxes out of her reach...

As for the bitter apple spray, I've read about that (for rabbits) and wanted to try it for Pinky, but I couldn't find it at any of our local pet stores. What I did find was one of those boundary sprays, and I tried that for a while...didn't seem to make any difference at all. In fact, I seem to recall that she was more interested in trying to lick the bottle than anything else!

Well, storage space has been a big issue at our current apartment. Once we've moved, we'll have more closed storage areas, and your suggestion of keeping things inside closed closets will be a little more plausible. (For example, about the buttons...she jumps on a shelf to get to an open closet area where my fiance's dress shirts hang. From there, she chews the buttons.)

Thanks for the info about the dog chews. I hadn't considered that at all. I just know she likes to make her way up to the desk (again, why it's hard to keep her from getting to things she shouldn't get to...she does have legs and can jump pretty high, afterall. ) and take pens down to the floor to play with and chew on. I don't LET her do this. I just find pens on the floor when I get home, and I know where she's been! The pens are the same size as the dog chew sticks I got, which is why I got them. I thought that'd maybe stop her from taking the pens! But if they aren't good for her either, then I'll have to see what else I can do. (FYI, she never liked the dog chews anyway. Even after buying them, I'd still find the pens!)

I do actively play with her quite often. Between her fuzzy mice (which I have to remove the tails from, or she'll chew them off) and a koosh ball, fetch is her FAVORITE game.

Anyway, like I said, THANK you for your advice. I'll talk some more with the vet and see what else we can come up with. I just find her habit so odd (even though I've been reading that it's fairly common for cats to chew cardboard), since between my fiance and I, we've had 8 cats over our lifetimes, and this is the first to have any of these tendancies. We have two cats right now, and the other one doesn't do any of this stuff. Then again, she isn't much for playing, either. Never really was. I try to play with her, and she looks at me as if I've insulted her by the suggestion.

[Traci]

If she hasn't been seen by your vet within a year, now would be a good time to do so.

The Purina is probably ok, but do run that by your vet.

Just going by your posts, it sounds more than anything it is likely she is bored, the tip was the pens. Having to jump onto a desk and find the pens and then play with them etc is indicative of boredom. Go to your local petsmart or other pet store and pick up some interesting toys, those that do not contain pieces and parts that could be chewed (or remove those, like eyes, strings, tags, etc). Try getting a couple small stuffed animals in the event she prefers them. Even some of the small dog toy stuffed animals are appealing to cats. Get a cat-track, it is a hard plastic round "wheel" that contains a ball or other toy inside that she can play with, but the ball can't be removed. Or, buy one of those boxes (looks like a piece of cheese, hard plastic) that contains toys inside. There are several "activity center" toys available you should be able to find at the pet stores. The toys you choose should be those that will keep her interest, and wll provide her interactive entertainment. Don't just buy one, buy a couple so that she doesn't get bored with just one activity toy.

The more you are actively involved with playtime activity with her, the less she will be inclined to be bored, and she will then be more adjusted and maybe calmer during the long periods you are not in the home with her. Try to keep things on a schedule, like play with her for ten minutes before you go to work each day, and again when you come home. Remember that some cats feel lonely and bored when their owners are working long hours during the day. She will look forward to these playtime sessions with you. Include your other cat in these activities as well, perhaps on a more meaningful schedule, the two cats will bond even more and will be more likely to play with each other (which will keep your other kitty busy and entertained )

You could try using Feliway in certain areas of the house, but not sure it will help. Worth a try, just make sure that if you use a Feliway diffuser, that it is plugged into an outlet she cannot get to. Otherwise, try the spray only, in an area you don't particularly want her getting into things (like your desk). BTW, please never use other diffusers or essential oils with cats in the home, essential oils and those plug-ins you get at the store are toxic to cats.

Unplug any cords you do not use every day. DO be sure you put the cords up and away, or cover them with plastic tubing you can get at any hardware store. Do not keep live plants in your home, she is too curious, and most plants are toxic to cats. Keep all other stuff out of her reach.

I don't think you have to be too concerned about her chewing on moving boxes, most cats do like to chew on cardboard, it is when they actually ingest pieces of cardboard you have to be concerned with, you do NOT want to risk her getting an obstruction that may require surgical removal! Please remember that even a tiny piece of anything can become wrapped up in fur and food within the stomach and intestine and create a lethal obstruction...some things can also perforate an esophagus, stomach and intestine! Make a habit of cat-proofing your home, when you see her chewing on something undesireable, put it away at once, or be creative to hide/cover/whatever the item so she can no longer chew on them.

Try using catnip around the house, sprinkle some on her scratching post, give her and the other cat a little bit of catnip at least once a week so they can look forward to it.

[valeriieee]

I swear to you, I have all of those things. I have spent a TON of money on all different kinds of cat toys - and some dog toys - as well as having made some myself. She enjoys them all for a period of time, and then -- well, it's almost as if she has A.D.D.! Nothing really seems to hold her interest for very long - sometimes only a few minutes, if that, depending on the specific toy.

The only toy that has been suggested to me here that I don't already have is one of those boxes with holes in it and a ball inside. I did go looking for one of those, but couldn't find them anywhere.

I have the track with the ball in it. She has a scratching post. She has more small stuffed animals than I have - and I used to think that I had a lot of those! She has milk rings by the hundreds. She has small balls. She has a koosh ball. She has a LOT of those little fuzzy mice. She has those feather balls - soft fabric balls with feathers at the end. She has a cat perch. She has one of those big cat structures that have multiple levels and holes to crawl into and toys hanging off of it. She has a chirping bird swaying toy that stands on a base. Need I go on? Because I could. There's still more...

Honestly, if she's bored, I don't know what else to do about it! She has plenty of toys to play with on her own when I'm not here. She gets the pens because she's an adventure-loving cat with a lot of energy. My fiance and I both play fetch with her at least three times a day. That may sound like a lie, but it's TRUE! She gets tired of it rather quickly. Then goes off and comes back a while later to play some more. Some of the time when she stops wanting to play, THAT'S when we'll find her chewing on things. Only some of the time.

My point is that we certainly don't ignore her. She certainly has plenty of toys to play with alone or with us. So I just don't know what else she could possibly need to be more entertained.

As for the vet, she was to a vet about nine months ago. She hasn't been due for her annual check up yet - won't be until September. As for the food, she's been eating Purina forever. It's what the humane society fed her. It's what she's always had. I'm sure I've probably covered that with the vet; I just don't recall it at the moment. Anyway, after we move, we'll have to get a new vet, so maybe they'll be able to shed some new light on the matter.

I don't mean to have sounded upset or anything in my previous comments. I really do appreciate your advice. I just...felt a little as though it was being suggested that I haven't provided her with enough ways to entertain her, and that's certainly not the case.

As for the other cat, I'd LOVE to incorporate her in all of this playtime! She just doesn't want anything to do with it. She's my fiance's cat, and he had her before he lived with me. She doesn't especially enjoy my presence, even after three years here! (AND I was there when he got her in the first place. I spent time with her at his house before we moved in together. Still, she's never been especially fond of me.) Even if he tries to play with her, she sits completely uninterested. If I try to play with her close-up with any kind of dangling toy, for example, 9 times out of 10 she'll just bite me. Not hard...just enough to tell me to go away. That one's just a very antisocial cat.

As for them playing together...it's very rare. Pinky (the younger, energetic one) would LOVE to play with Misty, but Misty really has no desire to play. It's VERY rare to see Misty bat at anything or even chase her own tail. Much of the time their little cat fights start because Pinky just wants Misty to play too, and Misty will have nothing to do with either of us. They get along well enough overall. Misty just isn't interested in playing. At all. Otherwise, they'll curl up all cute near each other, and they're fine that way, for example.

I will look into the plastic tubing for the cords. I know that will be a bit more protective if she chews it, but I can almost guarantee she'll still chew on that. If you read my reply to the other woman about this topic, I meant it when I said she'll chew on anything she can get her mouth around. That includes furniture, which I obviously cannot keep away from her level.

Anyway, again, thank you for all your help! You clearly know your stuff!

[Traci]

Nah, I didn't take it that way, and I do believe you, since I have her twin brother, his name is Cody.

I found the best thing I could do is super-proof the home, and at times, there were of course things I didn't dream he would find or get into, but alas, he did. He did chew on certain things like your Pinky, but I attributed it to his wanting my attention. Cody is a highly spirited cat, full of energy and although he has mellowed a bit over the years, you would think he is still a kitten. Today, the home is still super-proofed, and I've gotten accustomed to not having alot of things out in the open, should I do so, I know that Cody will be the first to get to them. Personally, I do really think it is better to cat-proof the home to whatever extent necessary than worry about material things. Safety for the cat should come first.

While it may not apply to you, I simply just loved on him at those times he was in trouble. He usually defied me if I caught him at something, or more like, he ran through the house so fast mom couldn't catch him, and knowing his energy level, it was counter-productive to do much else (other than provide him every thing he wanted, toys, activity, quality time, everything). Once he knew mom was just going to scoop him up and hug and cuddle and give kisses etc, he soon learned getting in trouble wasn't worth it all of the time. Mind you, he loves to be held and cuddled with, but not at the times he is expending his energy, so that was his "reprimand". He still gets in trouble sometimes, but it is less serious, and he still does it just to tease me.

Is Pinky a certain breed? She is obviously a demanding cat, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, she's special and requires alot of attention and things to spark her interest. I guess you'll have to get creative and try different things, maybe different times of the day to help her expend her energy and try to create a certain schedule for her playtime activities where you're involved with her, etc. The main priority is cat-proofing your home, and if you have to, settle for the finer things in life put away in a closed closet! (trust me, that isn't a bad thing).

One thing you might try if you haven't already, is find a couple dog toys that are made of soft rubber so she can chew on them without harm. Maybe rub catnip on them a few times a week to keep her interest. When you catch her chewing on something undesireable, immediately give her the toy(s) with the catnip scent on it, and encourage her to play with just that toy at that moment. With consistency, she may learn association between unwanted behavior and the toy to take it's place. Just be sure to wash that toy in soap and hot water at least every week, as rubber when torn or chewed on, can contain bacteria and dirt.

If there is anything else in the environment you can think of that might be playing a part in this, think about it, and post, I do understand the frustration and your concern for her safety....there might be other things in the environment, the routine, etc that might be a factor, (does anything in particular seem stressful to her, etc?)....