Many domestic cats engage in entertaining games with electrical wires, which is very alarming to caring owners who are worried about the consequences. In our article today we will talk about the reasons for this behavior and answer the main question - how to stop a cat from chewing wires. It should be noted right away that interest in cables and wiring mainly manifests itself in small pets. Adult cats are less active, so playing with such products is observed in extremely rare cases.
So, if your furry friend has started chewing the wires in the house, our article will help solve this problem as quickly as possible. First, let's look at the main reasons why cats chew electrical wires.
Why do cats chew wires?
Lack of attention
All cats, like children, need attention. If you don't pet them or play with them, they will try to attract attention using other methods. Due to lack of attention, they often break vases, drop pots of flowers on the floor, and chew wires.
Curiosity
This trait is inherent in every kitten, as it tries to explore this world in all available ways. And tasting is one of the common methods of interaction.
Lack of vitamins and minerals
In their normal habitat, all cat species obtain essential vitamins and minerals from the environment. To do this, they gnaw on various grass, twigs and the like. They get everything they need exclusively from food. Many wires have a very specific smell, and this is what attracts them, so they try to chew them to get something useful. But, unfortunately, eating pets can only harm their teeth.
Sadness
The pet has few toys
Little kittens need special attention as they always have a lot of energy and always want to play. Therefore, if you do not devote time to your furry, then you should definitely buy him toys. At an early age, the kitten is not picky about toys, so you can make toys yourself. To do this, take a fishing line and tie cocktail tubes and candy wrappers onto it. If the kitten has no toys at all, then he may soon become interested in wires.
Dental diseases
If you feed your pet soft food, plaque will soon form on his teeth. It causes discomfort, so they try to brush their teeth in different ways. And one effective method is to chew the wires. Plaque on the teeth should not accumulate, as in the future it can provoke the appearance of tartar. To prevent plaque from accumulating on your cats’ teeth, you need to have a proper diet. It should contain both hard and soft food.
Delicious
Causes of addiction
The main reason lies in the curiosity of the cat. The baby learns about the world through smell, taste and touch, trying out all the interesting and new objects by heart. In addition, kittens chew wires because:
- They are teething and hard objects help relieve itchy gums. During this period, kittens chew everything they come across.
- They look like various toys - fishing rods, ribbons, “swings”. Loose wires are a tempting object for playing with them, since cats are attracted to the movement, which awakens in the baby the instinct of the “great hunter” of dangerous snakes or lizards, which thick cables or thin wires from headphones are so similar to.
- The smell of the insulating material attracts cats. Pets like plastic. You can often see a cat licking a plastic bag. Obviously, the material emits some special aroma, inaccessible to the human sense of smell, but attractive to a cat.
An adult animal. Mature mustachioed tabbies can also chew wires when:
The diet does not have enough solid food that can maintain oral hygiene - massage the gums, clean teeth from plaque. Not enough attention. You should observe the behavior of the pet; if it chews and glances slyly at the owner, then in this way he invites to play and demands attention to his own person. The cat understands that the most effective way to attract attention is to do something that is forbidden - scratch furniture, tear wallpaper, chew wires
Even the busiest owner will be distracted and pay attention to the person of the furry robber. Boring. Pets often experience a lack of impressions
If there are no special slides, exercise equipment, or educational toys in the room, then the animal receives positive emotions and new impressions with the help of improvised means. There are not enough vitamins and microelements in the food that the owner gives his pet, and he tries to find what he needs in inedible items. There are mental disorders that cause a perversion of taste and a desire to eat inedible things: sand, pebbles, paper, rags, wires.
The cat, acting for his own understandable reasons, will perceive the punishment as an insult and will take revenge, losing trust in the owner and contact with him.
- change of baby teeth in kittens;
- proper nutrition for cats;
- proper cat training.
We stop chewing wires
As soon as you discover bitten wires, you must immediately take any measures.
How to stop chewing wires
We use improvised means
The smells of the following products are good at repelling cats:
- Orange peels.
- Cinnamon.
- Vinegar.
- Ammonia solution (ammonia).
- Aloe juice.
Take dry wipes and moisten them with a weak vinegar solution. After this, they can be placed next to the wiring that your cat has his eye on. A sharp specific smell will scare him away, and therefore he will not even come close.
Orange and Cat
Sound repeller
Many pets are afraid of loud noises, so you can place a rattle or other toy near the wiring. You can put it down and then tie a thread to it. When the cat approaches the wires, it will most likely snag the thread and the rattle will fall. She will immediately run away from such loud sounds.
You can also find special devices on sale that have built-in motion sensors. And if your pet passes nearby, the device will emit a loud beep.
Sprays
In stores that sell everything for pets you can find repellent sprays. For example, Antigryzin is very popular. It contains many citrus essential oils. The spray can be used not only to protect wires, it can also be sprayed in places that your pet likes to mark or scratch with its claws.
Wire insulation
If possible, it is best to hide all wiring in the house in cable channels. In this case, everything will remain intact, both the cable and your pet, as he will receive an electric shock.
Corrugated pipes and cable ducts can be used for insulation. Some owners wrap the cables with food foil, after a while it can be removed. Cats don't like foil because it leaves an alkaline taste in their mouth after biting it. You can use this trick, and in this way you can stop your cat from chewing wires.
Chewed the wire
Third method: aloe
Rub the wires themselves with aloe juice, it is very bitter. A reaction in the form of drooling is possible. Cruel but effective. Then you can rinse his mouth with water. Cruelty as opposed to the death of a pet, in this case, is justified.
If you grow aloe at home, try rubbing the juice of this plant on the wires. It is very bitter and after trying it just once, your pet will not like it in the near future. The method is very harsh, but effective and in any case better than the death of a pet.
Aloe juice
Important!!! If, after trying to gnaw on wires lubricated with aloe, the cat begins to drool temporarily and profusely, this is quite normal. You can rinse your mouth with water and everything will go away.
What to do if your pet is electrocuted?
- If you see that your pet is lying motionless, and next to him there is a bitten cable, then first of all there is no need to panic.
- Call your pet, and if he does not react in any way, then first of all disconnect the power cables that are live. Only after this can any action be taken.
- Try to grab the cat by its hind legs and then spin it around its axis. This way you can ensure a rush of blood to the brain. If the cat wakes up, then it must be immediately laid on a flat surface. Try not to disturb him, as he needs time to come to his senses
The harmful effects of electric current can adversely affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system and central nervous system. If the cat is shocked, you need to react within 3 minutes. If the current continues longer, it will most likely lead to death.
Although, check the wiring in your apartment once a week, and if you notice bitten cables, you need to take action immediately. We wish you all the best!
What absolutely should not be done
The habit of chewing wires should be stopped as early as possible, but in no case should this be done in the following ways:
Read also: Dilated pupils in a child
- Lock in a dark room.
- Screaming, and even more so hitting her.
- Punish and not feed for a long time.
Cats are not smart enough to understand why people punish them. Therefore, the pet may simply be frightened by such human actions, and therefore he will simply attack you in response.
Dangers that an animal may encounter when playing with bags
After playing, your pet may tear the bag and swallow part of it. Polyethylene is very negatively perceived by the cat's digestive tract, especially if the animal is older than 7 years.
Important! Self-medication and attempts to induce vomiting are unacceptable; it is important to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. A piece of cellophane stuck in the throat can cause a cat to suffocate, so postponing a visit to the clinic in the hope that it will go away on its own is unacceptable.
A piece of cellophane stuck in the throat can cause a cat to suffocate, so postponing a visit to the clinic in the hope that it will go away on its own is unacceptable.
Sacks, boxes, bags - these are the best resting places for cats
