Silly Cats - Scare Me Sometimes

[Veronica]

Tucker likes to chew on electrical cords. We spray him with a water bottle when we catch him.

Today I bought a new light bulb for a lamp that no longer worked. It still didn't work even with the new light bulb. Then I saw the cord had been chewed about halfway through. Clearly we missed some of his activity.

I hope he outgrows this soon because I do not want a fried Tucker. I really like him just the way he is.

V.

[Zen]

It probably wouldn't kill him, but it might give him a little shock he'll remember.

[makbike]

Try coating the cords with liquid soap.

[singletrackmind]

Or Bitter Apple, spray if that'll stop him, paste if he needs a stronger reminder. I'm guessing he's got things he's supposed to chew on already.

Kin-Tucker fried kitten is never good!

[Zen]

Kin-Tucker fried kitten is never good!

and now you say "Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week"

[singletrackmind]

and now you say "Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I'll be here all week"

Whether y'all like it or not!

[Pedal Wench]

Tucker likes to chew on electrical cords. We spray him with a water bottle when we catch him.

Hmmm... chewed chord, water, and kitty? Doesn't sound like a good mix. Maybe shake a soda can filled with coins instead. Somehow the water/electricity/Tucker combo sounds electrifying!

[Blueberry]

We use the cord wraps that hold multiple cords together - they coil up. Our kitties were notorious cord chewers, and this seems to have deterred them - at least until they outgrew it (although thin cords may still be in danger...).

CA

[smilingcat]

+1 on bitter apple.

If that doesn't work, take vinegar from pickeled jalpenos and paint it on the cord.

smilingcat

[tulip]

Hmmm... chewed chord, water, and kitty? Doesn't sound like a good mix. Maybe shake a soda can filled with coins instead. Somehow the water/electricity/Tucker combo sounds electrifying!

+1! Maybe spraying him with water is not a very good idea when he's got a live electrical cord between his little kitty fangs!

[Veronica]

People - You spray the cat when he begins nosing around the wires, before he even begins chewing.

[wackyjacky1]

When Hobie was a kitten, he chewed the wire on my computer mouse every day. Seriously, every day. I tried everything mentioned here to get him to stop, without success. I got pretty good at re-wiring them, but after a while I'd have to just chuck it out and get a new one. I literally had to stockpile them until he finally outgrew it...mostly...he's 4 now, and I still catch him eyeing the mouse on occasion. Hmmm, in fact, looking at my mouse cord right now, I can see little chew marks. (On the upside, I found that a $9 mouse works just as well as a $30 mouse. ) He even chewed the cord on a "cordless" mouse.

My tactic, based on my personal experience with those of the feline persuasion, has always been to yell and scream at the cat when I see it getting ready to chew on a cord, then take a swat at them if they ignore me, and finally, simply unplug any cord they have access to when the item is not in use 'cause they're gonna chew on it no matter what you do.

[TsPoet]

+1 Bitter apple
A more extreme thing to do is a mouse trap. With dogs, I've never had a dog hurt in anyway by the trap, but they nudge it making it snap shut and bounce and it scares the heck out of them - no more unwanted behavior.
Not sure if a cat might get caught in it, but if a dog doesn't, I'd think a cat would be fine - and it totally works.
It's a way for a "punishment" that has nothing to do with you and 100% to do with what they are up to at the time, since you don't even have to be home for it to happen. Works well with pets if they can't attribute the negative impact to anything other than what they are doing.
So, you might try putting a mouse trap or two along the cord and inocently standing back...

[jesvetmed]

Beware of mouse traps -- good way to break a toe / foot if not done right! I've heard people put them upside down, and then cover them with tin foil. Never tried it, but sounds a bit safer. Kitties, by the way, HATE tin foil and usually won't go where it's lying on the ground (also works excellent on the counter tops). May not even need the trap. i'd be leery of that one!

If bitter apple doesn't work, mix cayenne pepper and vaseline (use gloves) and then cover the cords. THIS WORKS.. but is extreme. Try the bitter apple first!

Good luck!

[beccaB]

My dog used to chew on cords, and one day I heard him yelp. I think he bit through enough to get shocked, and even though he's a dopey dum dum, he learned his lesson and stopped doing it. Yep, we love him.