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How do you stop a cat chewing things?
I have a cat that chews anything & everything - from the corner or the fridge, to wicker baskets, to the coffee table, power cords, the dog, steel table legs, lamp shades,game controllers, my leg, and eats rubber bands.
Any ideas how to stop it (apart from lead poisoning)?
Any ideas how to stop it (apart from lead poisoning)?
6 Answers
I have a cat that chews, too.
I've had success with Bitter Apple. It's a spray you can buy at the pet store that tastes really bad. I spray the stuff on everything.
I've also noticed that it helps to keep fresh cat grass (wheat grass) in the house. I get it at the produce store but a lot of health food stores carry it, too.
Good luck!
I've had success with Bitter Apple. It's a spray you can buy at the pet store that tastes really bad. I spray the stuff on everything.
I've also noticed that it helps to keep fresh cat grass (wheat grass) in the house. I get it at the produce store but a lot of health food stores carry it, too.
Good luck!
In this extreme case you must take direction authority and show uses the pack leader. So for example when ever cat chews something your directly say "No" and tap the cat in the head. A cat will be alerted and embedded this into his brain "okay if i chew this I will get hit" This must be repeated. Eventually it will learn Or just buy a chew toy.
There are a few things you can do, but the main key is consistency. Don't keep changing your tactics or your cat won't know what's going on or how to react to it. I have found that with most pets (especially cats and dogs), the best thing to do is a reward and punishment system. Here are a few things you can do all at once:
1.) If your cat is not fixed yet, do it. Unless you wanted to bred it. Fixing a pet can calm down its overall behavior after a while. Most cats naturally calm down after 2-5 years of age once they have outgrown the "playful kitten" stage.
2.) Clean up. Keeping your house clean and putting everything in its place will help take temptations away from your cat. As far as wires and power cords go, there are plastic tubes you can buy that are made for encasing those cords and wires so that pets and small children can't do anything with them. It also helps bundle and keep them out of the way in general. Also, clean up foods and food areas (counters, table tops, tv trays, etc) often. Even if there are no crumbs, the smells foods leave behind can also tempt a pet.
3.) Most cats don't like citrus. My fiance and I buy citrus scented and oiled cleaning wipes. We use them on everything! Especially counter and table tops where we really don't want the cats and it has worked for us. Every cat is different though. Sometimes the regular chemicals in cleaners is enough if you clean often.
4.) Get your cat toys and play with him often. Having toys around and stimulating him can help him burn some energy and show him that chewing on his toys are a good thing. When pets get bored or nervous, they take it out on everything around them, even if they know it will get negative attention from you. They can't tell you they are bored or nervous with words, so they do it the only way they know how. Playing often will give them ample attention as well as help them burn off their energy.
5.) Punish accordingly. If you actually see your cat doing something bad, then punish him. If you didn't see him do it at the time he's doing it, then don't. Pets don't connect why you are treating them a certain way for something they did minutes or hours ago. You have to catch them in the act. You may know for a fact it was your cats fault, but he won't know why you are punishing him. All he will know is that you are not happy with him and it will make him even more nervous and more likely to repeat the behavior.
6.) The same goes for rewarding. If you see your cat doing something good or that you personally like and want him to repeat, then reward it. But it has to be in the moment.
1.) If your cat is not fixed yet, do it. Unless you wanted to bred it. Fixing a pet can calm down its overall behavior after a while. Most cats naturally calm down after 2-5 years of age once they have outgrown the "playful kitten" stage.
2.) Clean up. Keeping your house clean and putting everything in its place will help take temptations away from your cat. As far as wires and power cords go, there are plastic tubes you can buy that are made for encasing those cords and wires so that pets and small children can't do anything with them. It also helps bundle and keep them out of the way in general. Also, clean up foods and food areas (counters, table tops, tv trays, etc) often. Even if there are no crumbs, the smells foods leave behind can also tempt a pet.
3.) Most cats don't like citrus. My fiance and I buy citrus scented and oiled cleaning wipes. We use them on everything! Especially counter and table tops where we really don't want the cats and it has worked for us. Every cat is different though. Sometimes the regular chemicals in cleaners is enough if you clean often.
4.) Get your cat toys and play with him often. Having toys around and stimulating him can help him burn some energy and show him that chewing on his toys are a good thing. When pets get bored or nervous, they take it out on everything around them, even if they know it will get negative attention from you. They can't tell you they are bored or nervous with words, so they do it the only way they know how. Playing often will give them ample attention as well as help them burn off their energy.
5.) Punish accordingly. If you actually see your cat doing something bad, then punish him. If you didn't see him do it at the time he's doing it, then don't. Pets don't connect why you are treating them a certain way for something they did minutes or hours ago. You have to catch them in the act. You may know for a fact it was your cats fault, but he won't know why you are punishing him. All he will know is that you are not happy with him and it will make him even more nervous and more likely to repeat the behavior.
6.) The same goes for rewarding. If you see your cat doing something good or that you personally like and want him to repeat, then reward it. But it has to be in the moment.
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