Protecting Your Gear from Pets? 190
EvilJoven asks: "About a month ago I spent quite a large chunk of change on a new system only to have my cat chew through the VGA source cable of my brand new display. Over the course of the last few years my cat has cost me nearly $300CDN in repair and replacement costs due to chewed cables including a few power cables which are not only a pain to replace but potentially fatal to the animal and a fire hazard. So far the best solution I've found to stop this is wrapping all my cables in Snap-On Wire Protectors (about $6CDN for 3m at Canadian Tire in the Automotive section) but this is a rather unsightly solution. Due to the fact that I live in a one bedroom apartment restricting my cats access to my hardware is not an option. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a better way to protect gear from animals."
Nail biting (Score:5, Insightful)
putting stuff on my nails to stop me from biting
them. It tasted terrible. Perhaps the same could
be applied to cables in your apartment?
Re:Nail biting (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Nail biting (Score:5, Informative)
Seriously though, the sauce wasn't hot enough. Red Hot and Tobasco really aren't too hot. When we got a new puppy, I put a mixture of water and Dave's Insanity sauce ( anything in this Scary Sauces [mohotta.com] category will do the same job) on the furniture legs, power & phone cables, and carpet fringes. As another poster said, 'Bitter Apple' would need to be stronger and come in cheap gallon sizes to really do the job. That's where the Dave's and water comes in. 1 teaspoon Dave's per 2 cups water. Guaranteed to work, unless your pet is a serious masochist.
Also have to remember to keep the water bowl full, or be a cruel jerk.
Re:Nail biting (Score:2)
genetically intact, pet.
Re:Nail biting (Score:2)
He didn't go for the kill right off because it was too hot, but he killed it through persistance.
Re:Nail biting (Score:3, Informative)
No, his dog was just immune to it. Just like people, dogs are individuals - and just as there are people who like spicy foods, some people don't.
As a puppy, our border collie would chew on anything.. we tried a number of commercial solutions (including bitter apple), as well as hot sauce (habanero powder) The dog loved it - he would suck the pepper off, then start chewing.
We accidentally came across a solution as I was putting rub a5-35 on my legs after a workout.. the dog c
Re:Nail biting (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Nail biting (Score:5, Interesting)
AFAIK all birds are totally immune to capsicum/capsaicin. They can chomp through a pile of habeneros and not notice anything even zesty.
So all of us hot pepper lovers can thank birds for the very existence of hot peppers!
Re:Nail biting (Score:3, Interesting)
It's not really known whether all birds find hot peppers tasty. It wouldn't be surprising if this were limited mostly to New World birds, since that's where peppers evolved. We have a conure who loves hot peppers, but conures are from South America, so that's not too useful as an example. However, we
Re:Nail biting (Score:2)
Our problem is a cockatiel. The cute little devil has learned to pop the key caps off of keyboards. So far, we've managed to catch him in the act, retrieve the key cap, and press it back in place. But it's just a matter of time before he flies off with one.
Hot peppers don't faze parrots. Commercial parrot mixes often include hot peppers. A while ago, when I decided to harvest a pot full of ripe "decorative" peppers, our conure land
Re:Nail biting (Score:3, Informative)
fr33cl4m!
Exactly! Mexican pearl of wisdom: (Score:5, Informative)
I swear to $DEITY that your cat will not forget that one. Or he will start demanding curry dinner, in both cases, you win.
Re:Exactly! Mexican pearl of wisdom: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Exactly! Mexican pearl of wisdom: (Score:3, Funny)
Trust me.
Re:Nail biting (Score:4, Informative)
Actually, dishwashing agent is made to taste horrible to discourage children from eating it. You'd be better of with just that magical flavour without the dishwashing stuff around it.
Re:Nail biting (Score:2)
Except that the reason Bitrex is added is usually because the product is extremely toxic. If you could get the Bitrex by itself, that would be okay -- which brings us back to the suggestion which started this thread.
Problem pets (Score:5, Funny)
Chinese food (Score:2, Informative)
Give your cat some cables (Score:3, Insightful)
Hang a few up, coil a few around it's cat box.
It should be easier to direct the cat to its own cables than keep it away altogether.
Sam
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:5, Funny)
Hang a few up, coil a few around it's cat box.
Exactly. If these cables are connected to a high tension power supply, your cat will soon learn to stop chewing cables.
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:4, Funny)
I think electrocution has just made him dumber.
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:2)
I think electrocution has just made him dumber.
Or tougher.
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:2)
Seeing as "electrocution" means "death by electric shock," I would expect that what you say is true :-)
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:2, Insightful)
-G
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:2)
Sam
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:3, Insightful)
I guess you don't have a cat. =) The notion that the cat will learn "right" or "wrong," "good" or "bad" behavior is wishful thinking at best. This idea applies to dogs just fine, since they're more likely to see people as some kind of an authority figure. Cats however will think of you as an equal if you're lucky and worthy, and as a contemptible servant to be rewarded, punished an
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:3, Insightful)
Speaking as someone who has had cats (I had my last one since he was a kitten, he passed away last spring at 16 years old) I can say you're full of it.
The notion that the cat will learn "right" or "wrong," "good" or "bad" behavior is wishful thinking at best.
No, it's not. Cats are social creatures, just like dogs - just because they display their sociality in different manner than dogs, or that some cat owners decide to reward thier cat's dominant behaviour (which is misi
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:3, Insightful)
No, a good trainer will recognize the both reward and discipline have their places. Each is but a tool, with a proper use for each. Much like parenting. But then again, I bet you think a 'time out' is a cureall.
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:2)
Re:Give your cat some cables (Score:2)
Reminds me of this joke:
What is a Cat?
1. Cats do what they want.
2. They rarely listen to you.
3. They're totally unpredictable.
4. When you want to play, they want to be alone.
5. When you want to be alone, they want to play.
6. They expect you to cater to their every whim.
7. They're moody.
8. They leave hair everywhere.
CONCLUSION: They're tiny women in little fur coats.
(And so as to provide somethin
Cat food (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cat food (Score:2, Interesting)
Per the vet, 1)kittens chew on power cords, and 2) when the get a jolt, they will drool and "foam."
Re:Cat food (Score:2)
Damn, that's cruel! Were they planning on never taking it back? Geez, they could at least try to place her in another home or euthanize her.
I'm not a cat fan (my father didn't like them and now that I live by myself I'm too lazy to keep anything more demanding than a cactus) but if you get a pet, you can't simply throw it away like you would a faulty appliance.
Get another cat? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Get another cat? (Score:4, Informative)
If you get second cat, a kitten of the opposite gender is usually a good pick (of course make sure your cat is spayed or neutered first).
You could also try bitter apple [petdiscounters.com] it supposedly is for dogs but apparently works for cats. I would need about 10 galons of the stuff to cover all my cables so I didn't bother trying.
Re:Get another cat? (Score:4, Informative)
A 1BR apt probably doesn't have room for another cat. Also the stress of adding another cat can lead to a ton of other problems, at least in the short term. Litterbox avoidance being one of the nastier ones.
Re:Get another cat? (Score:2)
Mod Parent Up (Score:3, Informative)
The other solution is to (gasp!) actually play with your cat. I mean, how hard is it to get a laser pointer and send
Re:Mod Parent Up (Score:2)
My solution was even more unsightly than yours. When garden hose was on sale I bought a couple of rolls, cut it in appropriate lengths, slit it down the middle, and put my important cables inside. It looks like hell. But you are
Re:Get another cat? (Score:2)
Double-sided tape (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Double-sided tape - Mod Parent Up!!! (Score:5, Informative)
However, other posters who have pointed out that your cat is bored and or otherwise upset are on the mark. Get some cat toys, including some catnip toys. Consider getting another cat, opposite gender and read pet advice sites for how to introduce a kitten to your adult cat.
One thing though - don't try to punish the cat. The cat is doing this because it's unhappy, bored, frustrated etc. If you punish it, you just add something for the cat to be upset about. Oh, and I personally had great luck with my bored indoor cats by installing a bird feeder outside and keeping it stocked. It was like the cat version of television - they sit there for hours watching the birds.
Re:Double-sided tape - Mod Parent Up!!! (Score:4, Informative)
One thing I've found that can solve a host of cat problems is excersize them HARD at least 15 minutes everyday. Find a toy on a string that your cat loves (shouldn't be too hard!) and keep it out of their reach and site except for excersize time. This will ensure your cat gets real excited about the toy.
I would come home from work and walk around the room, half-absentmindedly tossing the toy around while I watched TV. The cat would burn off all it's excess energy.
Once I started doing this with a problem cat that circumstances lead to my possession the cat became much more social, stopped over eating (poor thing was bored and seditary), got in shape and generally put the spark back into its personality.
As an added plus if you have a cat that keeps you awake while you're trying to sleep do the excersize thing with them just before you go to bed and feed the cat after the excersize. The cat will soon be ready for a nap itself.
Good luck.
Re:Double-sided tape - Mod Parent Up!!! (Score:3, Informative)
What makes this toy great is that in addition to cats loving it and going ballistic when they see it - is that yo
Re:Double-sided tape (Score:2)
My cat loves tape. He eats it. Licks envelopes. Chews packing tape off packages I get. I can't leave tape of any kind out. he chews on the rolls.
As for the cable chewing, I'll repeat what others said. That is not normal. Your cat needs attention. Anotehr cat, more toys or just more play time with you should fix it.
keep 'em out of reach. (Score:2, Informative)
The obvious answer is either "get rid of the cat" or "lock up the cat when you're not watching it".
Assuming you don't want to do that, make an effort to make cables unreachable. Use twist ties and adhesive hooks and loops to get rid of dangling cables or cables lying on the floor. Do your long cable runs along the upper edge of the wall. They make wire baskets that are designed for closet shelves. You can often use them (sometimes with
Feed it! (Score:2, Informative)
Tape it. (Score:4, Informative)
I guess it loses all its fun when your face ends up stuck to what you're chewing on. Though maybe if I just let them bite through the cable would've stopped the chewing as well.
Lemon Juice. (Score:5, Informative)
A buddy of mine has a cat that loves to attack/claw/chew wires. He put a little sprinkle of lemon juice on the wires, cat doesnt go near them anymore.
And it just may make your office area smell nicer.
Re:Lemon Juice. (Score:5, Informative)
der Joachim
Re:Lemon Juice. (Score:2, Informative)
Mark your territory (Score:5, Funny)
If you choose to go that route, you might want to make sure you unplug the stuff first. It would give a whole new meaning to "fire in the hole" if you know what I mean...
Re:Mark your territory (Score:4, Insightful)
This would probably result in the cat peeing and shitting on the cables.
Re:Mark your territory (Score:2)
vacuum hose (Score:2)
Just cut it in half lengthwise, and it makes a pretty good wrapper for cable management. It's cheap, effective, and looks pretty good.
And oh yeah - get rid of the cat.
Pheremones in a can (Score:4, Informative)
Another option is to make them inaccessible- run them through cardboard tubes. Of course, if your cat shreds cardboard, this won't work. So maybe taping something around them- plastic panels or something?
The options are simple:
render them unappetising
render them inaccessible
render them indestructible
i put them in the order that i thought most likely to work- my cat hates the pet repellent, so the area under my desk gets treated.
let us know what works!
Re:Pheremones in a can (Score:4, Funny)
A drop in the bucket... (Score:5, Funny)
TWAJS
Re:A drop in the bucket... (Score:2)
You and your cat have a relation problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Cats usually don't chew on cables, so this is an indicator that something is wrong. And it's not your cables.
It might be an indicator that the two of you have a relation problem. The cat may want more attention. Especially if the cat does not go out of the house, you are the only one "social contact" for the cat. Play with the cat, pet the cat, crawl the cat. Or if you don't think that you have the time to do so, give away your cat to someone who cares for it; and get your self a cat doll.
Maybe your cat is a real hunter but has no other prey than those dangling cables. Get or make some cat toys. Remember: "Everything not nailed down is a cat toy." You just have to make sure that your cat toys are more attractive than your hardware.
A last idea, to cure the symptoms but not the disease: place your cables in flexible tubes. IKEA [ikea.com] has flexible tubes in black and white that can be wrapped around the cables without disconnecting them. Unless your cat can look onto your table while standing on the floor, it will have a hard time chewing through those tubes.
Tux2000
Re:You and your cat have a relation problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Every cat i'v ever known loves to play with anything resembling a string. While a VGA cable may or may not be too thick for that description, things like speaker or mouse cables are a perfectly natural thing to attract a cat's attention. Bundling all your cables with simple wire ties may result in somthing too big for the cat to have any fun with. Possibly an alternative string would do the trick. My ex's cat had an elas
Re:You and your cat have a relation problem (Score:5, Informative)
A few recommendations for toys and other novelties for your cat.
Pipecleaners. (Some) Cats will mistake a pipecleaner for a rodent, and will run over, pounce, jump on, hunt, or just play with a pipecleaner.
Small plush toys. Some cats just love chasing after things. If I throw a certain plush toy down a hallway, one of my cats will run after it, pick it up, and bring it back. Experiment with this one.
Spray on (Liquid) Cat-Nip. Be careful with this stuff. If you spray it on a toy, don't spray too much on. Don't spray it into the air either.
Pure (Solid) Cat-Nip. Give your cat a little cat-nip every now and again. They will love you to bits.
Kitty Treats. These are a bit of a grey area for me. Some of my cats went nuts over these things, while some just didn't really care. Flavor is also an issue with these. One of my cats likes beef, while the other likes chicken.
Love and Affection. Proven. Two examples:
One of my cats is an 8 or 9 year old female cat. When we adopted her (she was a 1 or 2 year old stray - to this day we still do not known her age), she would not go near anyone (including family members and other cats), and was quite hostile. Years later, after much love and affection, she has mellowed out, but is still kind of anti-social.
Another one of my cats was adopted as a kitten. Since I was home more often than other family members, I was responsible for this little kitten's well being. I often spent hours just petting this little fluff-ball - only for him to claw my face off in overexcitement - but to this day (3 years later) he still prefers my lap to others.
Get another cat. Very grey area. I've seen this work, and I've seen this fail. Tow examples:
When I adopted the female cat, I thought she would bond with my existing male cat. I thought wrong. They were constantly at a distance.
Then again, when I adopted the little kitten, the older male cat took a parental role. He often cleaned the little kitten, and the kitten often returned the cleaning. Over the years they became good friends. Often they would clean eachother, play together, and even eat together. When the older cat fell ill, he would just sit by his side. No cleaning, no playing, no visiting me in bed. When the older cat finally passed away, his friend was very upset (He cried out during the night, he would attack me, etc).
I suppose to conclude, my best advice would be to experiment. Start small and work your way up. Don't do anything too drastic (like get another cat) until you feel you are ready and are confident its the right solution.
Try your local petstore (Score:3, Informative)
Yucky! (Score:2)
Get rid of your computer (Score:2)
Kill the cat (Score:2, Flamebait)
Also someone's idea of giving the cat other cables to play with is terrible. All that would do is teach the cat that cables are something to play with and s/he'd do it more often.
Believe it or not, and I assume most cat owners won't believe me, I've found that the best way to 'train' my cat against unwanted behaviour is to simply move her away from whatever she's doing. For example, I hate it when she goes outside and then comes back in and jumps up on top of the televisio
capsicum (Score:2)
It'll only try once more... : )
You think you've got problems? (Score:2)
I don't let them run around the computer desks any more, and I bought a large HEPA filter to try and keep down the dust. Unfortunately the cooling fans on my main computer [xcski.com] se
Re:You think you've got problems? (Score:2)
Re:You think you've got problems? (Score:2)
Cat mentality (Score:5, Funny)
We now have a cat that shits in flower boxes, plant pots, anything that looks like a plant pot, and anything with a picture of a flower on it.
First off, you should have got a different monitor (Score:2)
On the cat, well I haven't had trouble with our puppy chewing on cables since she got the juice out of a 12v line running to the hub at work.
Had a cat that did a similar thing (Score:2)
I think the last snake he went after though was the one that got him in the shoulder. (Not poisonious, fortunately, but he had a sore shoulder for weeks).
And once my dog got to taste a 3.5 inch floppy, he lost interest in them.
More attractive Cable Protector (Score:2, Informative)
Perhaps the Snap-On cable protectors are unsightly, but there are more attractive solutions.
I picked up some cable protectors from my local computer superstore that look quite nice. They are about the same diameter as a vacuum cleaner hose, and are split down the length.
I just twist-tied all my cable runs together and then routed them inside the cable protector. It give a very clean, modern-looking solution.
Trade in your cat for (Score:4, Funny)
Product specifically for this (Score:2)
Any decent pet store will have these types of products. Find one with a knowledgable owner and ask him/her.
Re:Product specifically for this (Score:2, Informative)
With rabbits, I use height to my advantage and just keep cords on top of the desk rather than dangling down below. I use split plastic tubing to cover the power cords plugged into the outlets. Sure, it doesn't look great, but rabbits are notorious about chewing on wiring, so I don't have much choice.
Also, 3M makes adhesive cord keepers that are pretty nice. I use them at
Re:Product specifically for this (Score:2)
Okay, that's good to know -- I actually have two house rabbits. I've never tried to use bitter apple with them, but I wouldn't have guessed they'd like the taste.
I know. I've replaced phone cords a couple of times, the doorbell wires once, and had to replace the mains cord on a table lamp. Everything else is behind physi
Guard Dog (Score:2)
Tell that to my cat. (Score:2)
Get a dog to guard your gear. Cats are scared of dogs.
Please explain to my cat why it isn't a good idea to attack a dog 10 times your size. He doesn't get it.
The idea that cats are scared of dogs is overrated, they get along just fine when introduced correctly. My dog cannot walk down the hall without the cat chasing after. My dog cannot sleep at my feet without the cat running across the room, jumping on the couch, springing off the end, and doing a backflip onto the dog's head. Funny to watch th
i sympathize (Score:2, Informative)
one of them LOVES! phone cables for some reason.
The best method is not to protect your stuff - that becomes ridiculous as the amount of crap you use grows. No, what you need to do is provide better targets. Observe what they prefer, and give it to them. They'll have a preference, i guarantee it. If it's VGA cables, then keep the ones they busted, and hang it somewhere they can play with it and gnaw it as much as they want.
they should leave the new one alone.
it wo
Tried a lot myself... (Score:3, Interesting)
We tried to keep Emma from jumping on our kitchen door by putting hot sauce (Texas Pete, Tabasco and a delightful Habanero sauce... in that order). That's how we found out that she likes hot sauce.
I was driving my truck into our back yard to drop something off. With Georgia summers and no A/C, keeping the windows open is a must. Emma adores the truck. She just likes to sit in the bed while it's parked if we let her. My passenger window was open about 10 inches. She's a 45 lb dog. She jumped through the window opening and into the cab while I was rolling at about 2 mph into the back yard. These don't count the antics of the other three dogs or any of my now dearly departed cats.
The moral of the story is that smart, determined or bored animals will do what they ain't supposed to do. We cured Emma's phone phreaking by getting her a dog. She was much happier with a playmate, and a lot of her energy went into playtime with brother Harry. It didn't cure everything, but having something to keep her interested made a huge difference.
Cats are a tougher trick. Some just want to chew on stuff. Others won't even eat people food. The issue isn't as easy as getting them a playmate. Our best cat training method was a water gun. We couldn't be home every minute, but the water training seemed to take root really quickly. The best cat I ever had eventually learned the word "no."
Pepper may be more effective with cats (white or plack powder... depending on your carpet color). Just sprinkle a little around the cables. A scratching post or cat playhouse may be useful, too (after all, you've already spent a lot of money).
Cover your woking area with a blanket. (Score:2)
Tabasco Sauce (Score:3, Informative)
Worked for me when I had the same problem with my cats. Just dilute it 1:1 with water and use a little paint brush to cover your cables. It also works to keep them from chewing the leaves on your potted palm tree.
Of course! (Score:2)
Of course, they need to study for their MSCE exams [penny-arcade.com]
highly effective solution (Score:3, Informative)
Ahem (Score:3, Insightful)
Just be sure to check what you're about to spray water on before squeezing the spray trigger. If it's part of your computer, stop.
Your cat is asking for help (Score:2)
Simple (Score:2)
2. Pick up pussy (small furry animal, not woman)
3. Walk to window (one on wall, not computer)
4. Throw pussy out window (small furry animal, not woman) (one on wall, not computer)
5. Close window (one on wall, not computer)
6. Problem solved = Priceless!!!
Does wife-proofing count? (Score:2, Funny)
Cats, computers, and small apartments (Score:2)
Have you considered getting a bigger apartment or even a house?
I have a cat (7 months old), and he's managed to chew through an AM antenna for my stereo and the cord of the earpiece for my cellphone. I also use Bitter Apple spray for some cords and plastic cable covers for others (sometimes both), but
A couple ideas... (Score:3, Insightful)
When animals chew on inappropriate things, it can mean one or more of several things. [Caveat: my experience is largely with dogs, though I expect some of the insights will apply to felines too.]
o They are teething or have a dental problem. This is normal when they are young (and new teeth are coming in).
o They are bored or feel abandoned -- inappropriate chewing, marking, etc. can be a compulsive disorder for dogs, kind of like ADHD. Sometimes it is an experssion of anxiety (particularly separation anxiety) or lack of attention. There are resources available for training this out of dogs (and cats, too, I assume)
o In the case of both cats and dogs, it can mean they are pissed off at you, either for leaving them alone, not playing with them, or whatever.
o Finally, it may indicate that they are hungry (is your cat *eating* the wire or just chewing it to bits?). If they are eating what they are chewing up, you'll find... evidence... routed though their South end in a couple days...
Deterrance and correction. The best course of action is to catch them in the act and correct them, usually with a loud "DON'T!" or something similar. In the case of dogs in particular, this is a good opportunity to establish dominance -- e.g., roll the dog on his back, pin him down (primarily by the neck or mouth), and hold him there until he stops struggling. He'll understand that you're the Alpha and that he's done something unappropriate.
[Note: this is a fight that you absolutely have to win -- if he escapes, catch him; if he tries to get away, restrain him. If you don't win the engagement, the dog will conclude that the's the Alpha and behavior problems will persist. Also, I'm not advocating *hurting* or being violent with your pet. The technique I described mimics, at least for dogs, actual dominant dog behavior, but does not inflict injury or physical pain. It sends the right message with a minimum of violence and a maximum of effectiveness and is a well-accepted training technique.]
One thing that is not effective is correcting the animal after the fact -- dogs and cats have short memories. If he chewed up your cables and you yell at him even 5 minutes later, he won't understand -- most animals don't have the sophisticated reasoning system to connect the correction with the past event. You have to catch him in the act and issue the correction post haste.
One way to ensure that you can catch them in the act is to set up a "trap" -- leave a cable on the floor and keep an eye on the animal. If, or when, he goes after it, nail him then and there. If you do this a couple times, then hopefully he'll get the idea that cables are not food/playthings
Another technique is to use a product such as "Sour Apple", which you coat on surfaces (such as cables) that the animal tends to eat. The product is non-toxic, but tastes quite nasty to them (very bitter/sour) and will deter them. Your local pet shop should have a selection of such products. I never had to use them with my dog, but I have friends who have used it with great success.
The behavior problem may also be due to the fact that the animal does not have any or enough appropriate toys to chew on. Go to your pet shop and buy a selection of animal- and breed- (read: size) appropriate toys. If the problem is chewing, then get chew-toys. If the problem is scratching, get scratching posts or similar products.
Introduce the toys to your pet and praise or reward him when he chews on them and plays with them. This will build a positive association between playing with the appropriate toys. Together with strong corrections for playing with inappropriate "toys", the animal should learn which toys are his and which are not.
If the problem is hunger, then "free-feeding" may be a desirable option. Rather than feeding the animal at distinct times of the day, you leave out excess food in his b
Re:A couple ideas... (Score:5, Informative)
I had the same problem with my golden retriever when he was young (8mos). Among other things, he chewed through:
o The power adapter for my laptop
o An AC computer power cable (luckily, it wasn't live at the time, though that might have broken him of the habit)
o Several sets of $100 USB headsets
When animals chew on inappropriate things, it can mean one or more of several things. [Caveat: my experience is largely with dogs, though I expect some of the insights will apply to felines too.]
o They are teething or have a dental problem. This is normal when they are young (and new teeth are coming in).
o They are bored or feel abandoned -- inappropriate chewing, marking, etc. can be a compulsive disorder for dogs, kind of like ADHD. Sometimes it is an experssion of anxiety (particularly separation anxiety) or lack of attention. There are resources available for training this out of dogs (and cats, too, I assume)
o In the case of both cats and dogs, it can mean they are pissed off at you, either for leaving them alone, not playing with them, or whatever.
o Finally, it may indicate that they are hungry (is your cat *eating* the wire or just chewing it to bits?). If they are eating what they are chewing up, you'll find... evidence... routed though their South end in a couple days...
Deterrance and correction. The best course of action is to catch them in the act and correct them, usually with a loud "DON'T!" or something similar. In the case of dogs in particular, this is a good opportunity to establish dominance -- e.g., roll the dog on his back, pin him down (primarily by the neck or mouth), and hold him there until he stops struggling. He'll understand that you're the Alpha and that he's done something unappropriate.
[Note: this is a fight that you absolutely have to win -- if he escapes, catch him; if he tries to get away, restrain him. If you don't win the engagement, the dog will conclude that the's the Alpha and behavior problems will persist. Also, I'm not advocating *hurting* or being violent with your pet. The technique I described mimics, at least for dogs, actual dominant dog behavior, but does not inflict injury or physical pain. It sends the right message with a minimum of violence and a maximum of effectiveness and is a well-accepted training technique.]
One thing that is not effective is correcting the animal after the fact -- dogs and cats have short memories. If he chewed up your cables and you yell at him even 5 minutes later, he won't understand -- most animals don't have the sophisticated reasoning system to connect the correction with the past event. You have to catch him in the act and issue the correction post haste.
One way to ensure that you can catch them in the act is to set up a "trap" -- leave a cable on the floor and keep an eye on the animal. If, or when, he goes after it, nail him then and there. If you do this a couple times, then hopefully he'll get the idea that cables are not food/playthings
Another technique is to use a product such as "Sour Apple", which you coat on surfaces (such as cables) that the animal tends to eat. The product is non-toxic, but tastes quite nasty to them (very bitter/sour) and will deter them. Your local pet shop should have a selection of such products. I never had to use them with my dog, but I have friends who have used it with great success.
The behavior problem may also be due to the fact that the animal does not have any or enough appropriate toys to chew on. Go to your pet shop and buy a selection of animal- and breed- (read: size) appropriate toys. If the problem is chewing, then get chew-toys. If the problem is scratching, get scratching posts or similar products.
Introduce the toys to your pet and praise or reward him when he chews on them and plays with them. This will build a positive association between playing with the appropriate toys. To
Dip all your cords in wolverine urine (Score:3, Funny)
+5 Insightful (Score:3, Insightful)
My solution? Give the cat to someone with a garden and get a more docile animal that won't mind living indoors. Chinchillas, hamsters or rabbits are ideal for this. But not a cat.
Re:+5 Insightful (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:The best solution (Score:2, Insightful)
My wife and I have three cats in a two-bedroom apartment and they have plenty of room to run around. However, we used to live in a tiny one-bedroom (and it was only called a 1 BR because of the door between th
Re:The best solution (Score:2)
Have you tried a spray bottle of water?
We have 2 cats, they both run as soon as they see you reach for the bottle. After he gets a wet butt a few times he may realize that what he is doing is a bad idea.
Then again he may just look at you thinking "I'll get you back for that", you know the look.
Re:Hi. I'm Troy McClure (Score:2)
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