[lynn P.]

I mentioned before we adopted 2 brother cats(1 1/4yrs old). I've owed cats through out my life and never encountered this problem. I discovered one(or both) have chewed a cord completely - speaker cords for a computer. I'm worried next time they will electrocute themselves. I always thought this was a puppy problem or a toddler problem. Anyone experienced this? I thought about wrapping the cords in aluminum foil - would that work?

Funny story - my oldest practicing the guitar. Yesterday when she went to pick up her guitar, one of the cats was inside the guitar - too bad we didn't have the camera handy. They're strangely slinky and we jokingly refer to their bodies as 'slime'- they way she move their bodies.

[lynn P.]

I just realized I have several silly spelling mistakes and it's too late to fix them.

[seeker1950]

I'd like to see pics of those "slime" kitties!
I have always had cats too, but never known of one to chew electrical cords, though I've found them chewed by my Fozzie. My neice just recently had a scary episode with her Shitzu chewing an electrical cord. He had burnt his mouth and was unconscious. They wanted to keep him overnight at the emergency animal hospital, explaining that their lungs can fill with fluid and also affect their heart when electrocuted by chewing cords. He's okay, but it was scary for her.

I"m not being much help here, but I admire you for adopting two kitties that needed homes. I hope you can prevent them from chewing the cords!
Patty

[ECHOES]

oh my gosh, this is too funny.
my cat's nickname is 'slinky' because of the way he would slowly slide off the couch instead of jumping off. I adopted him also. He came to me at 9 months, not sure what to "do" with a person. Took him a while and although he isn't a lap cat, he has a huge personality and is full of fun.

He also used to chew electrical cords. One of my computer speakers is patched after he chewed through. I also worried about him chewing on a live wire. I strung up all the cords I could, running them up walls and over archways, using those 3M stick on hangers that come back off easily and without leaving a mark on the wall. I also gave him lots more attention and play time. Play time included chasing paper balls (his favorite toy) and other toys--he loves to revtrieve-- as well as playing with my fingers and chewing. He still has to get some 'chew time' in and I have permanent white marks on my thumb nail from where he chomps. I swear he needs a rawhide bone. lol
Maybe that worked or maybe he outgrew it, or maybe he bit an electrical cord one time and juuuust hard enough to get a little bzzzzt, I don't know.
But I wanted to let you know you aren't alone.

[canineserenity]

You can get a product to discourage nibbling called Bitter Apple. It tastes terrible and generally stops the chewing. It's available at petstores like PetSmart and isn't very expensive. An alternative that might work is hot sauce or any other sauce unlikely to taste good to a cat but I don't like putting food products on my electrical cords either.
My dogs like to chew laptop computer cords but Bitter Apple works like a charm. I reapply it every couple of weeks.

Hi Lynn!
That must have been a fright! I'd certainly be scared. Perhaps you can somehow push the cords aside, or maybe you can try to isolate the cats from the computer area (by putting up one of those baby/toddler fences?).
In all honesty, I wouldn't put foil on it, because I'm afraid that bits and pieces could be ripped or torn, and I don't want the cats to get hurt! :O What I think might be a good idea is bubble wrap! Just wrap and tape the cords with the flat, non-bubble side facing up, so the cats won't burst the bubbles and have little bits of plastic everywhere. Maybe tape up the bubble wrap completely with duct tape so the plastic wouldn't, again, fly everywhere!
I really hope this helps!

And also, LOVE the story; it's too adorable! (Slimey cats! XD)

[lynn P.]

Wow - thank you to all who responded with great suggestions and stories. I'm familiar with the bitter spray, when Bella was a puppy - she would literally gnaw at the dining table legs. The bubble wrap is also a great idea too and you're right - the aluminum foil is a bad idea, since metal conducts electricity -yikes. I'm just surprised they would do it, since they have each other to play with and toys.

The other day I bought a large bag of food for them - I have this large tupperware container with a lid. I filled it up, but there was still some left so I sealed the bad and put on a table. The next day I wake up to find the whole bag full of teeth marks and a huge hole in the middle lol - God helps those who help themselves. They're fiesty. Thanks again everyone

[seeker1950]

HI, Lynn..
This is a great thread, and it brings to mind my problem with my dog, Fozzie. He has been pretty destructive, and at one point he was chewing holes in the drywall (which I've patched). He no longer does that, but I can have no deck furniture since he has chewed on two old metal chairs (chewing thru the metal and old paint!). I was looking at some deck furniture today, and thinking how nice it would be to have some wicker chairs (the vinyl wicker) out on the deck so I could enjoy sitting out there, but I dare not go to the expense! I wonder if some of that bitter spray would work to keep him from destroying it!???
Patty

[(JD)]

Both my dog and bunny chewed through a cord while little. IDK maybe your cat was depressed and wanted some ECT? They usually learn by the second time they try it, and stop I think. Maybe crate the cat while you aren't around, until it matures? Good wishes for you and the cat!

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by (JD)

Both my dog and bunny chewed through a cord while little. IDK maybe your cat was depressed and wanted some ECT? They usually learn by the second time they try it, and stop I think. Maybe crate the cat while you aren't around, until it matures? Good wishes for you and the cat!

LOL that's funny about the ECT. So far they chewed the computer speaker wire which wasn't plugged in. I always thought if an animal chews a plugged in cord - they would die immediately.

[ruffy]

They do make cord covers made of hard plastic, dont remember where I bought mine. Its spiral and you just keep wrapping it around the cord or even several cords until you reach the end, it also comes with adhesive clips so that you can neatly attach them to the back of your desk or the wall. Im sure they sell them at office depot or similar stores.

[lynn P.]

I wanted to give an update on the cats chewing wires. I know some people won't support this decision but we decided to give the cats back to the lady who gave them to us. Originally this lady was a customer in the condiminium complex where we have our business. She claimed her daughter was travelling and she was going to take her Siamese cats - therefore she needed to find a home for her 2 cats. My husband sympathized with her plight and he knew my youngest wanted a cat. I now believe her story was made up and she knew they had a problem with chewing wires.

We have so many wires is our house and it would have been expensive and tedious to cover every wire in the whole house. They ruined hundreds of dollars of electronics.
-computer speakers
-cord to my daughters electric organ.
-the antenna wire for the stereo - now it doesn't work.
-ipod docker
-chewed the wire to a TV
-partially chewed an electric fireplace and charger for the laptop.

Hundreds of dollars of equipment wasted. They didn't just chew, but actually cut some of the wires into several pieces. None of us wanted to take them to the humane society because they're brothers and we didn't want them separated. I packed up all the wires in a bag with all their supplies and my husband called the lady to come down to the business. He explained what happened and he told her he felt mislead because I'm sure they had this problem with them. She offered to reimburse us wih money and we declined. I've never had an animal chew wires to this extent in my life. I love animals but didn't think it was justifiable to accept this kind of damage any longer.

[drharleenquinzel]

Lynn -
You are not alone. I adopted two brother cats roughly 3 years ago and I have not had them just chew wires (I am about to be on my 5th set of headphones for my mp3 player) but one of them also swallowed a good number of Q-Tips. He went INTO THE BATHROOM CUPBOARD and took them out. He had emergency surgery on his first birthday. It was not pretty. We have baby locks on our bathroom cupboard now and we squirrel away all computer wires, cell phone charger wires (they've gone through about 3 or 4 of those) and headphones.
They'll gnaw on plastic of any kind as well - sandwich bags, packaging, etc.
Bitter Apple NEVER worked.

I believe there is either something severely lacking in their bodies - such as a mineral or they have a neurological or emotional disorder stemmed from a particular lack of care at birth (I adopted them at around 10 weeks)

I love my cats, but I am in a constant state of frustration with them.

[lonegael]

I know that in Sweden they recommend that you wait until week 12 before you adopt a kitten to avoid some of the weird behavioral stuff. Maybe that was one. Maybe they are aditcted to the little fizzle of the electricity that went through thei little heads...
Had a female that did that for about a week, then she moved on to stealing and hoarding coins. Guess she decided she was a dragon instead. two years after she died, we were still finding her hoards.

[lynn P.]

Thanks for not ganging up on me guys..... lol. While growing up we had cats and I had 2 cats(separate times) before I had my girls. I know well that dogs like to chew things, especially when they're puppies but I've never heard of cats doing this. It's not like they were bored - they had each other, plenty of toys and my girls playing with them.

I think you're right drhaleenquizel, like a deficiency or something else. I'm happy the lady took the cats back so they didn't end up at the humane society - I think that's why she was so anxious to give them to us. Since I have kids there are so many wires in our house and I honestly couldn't afford replacing anymore more equipment.