One of the very common problems keeping cats and cats is the pet’s habit of biting wires. At the same time, the owners are concerned not so much with the equipment and its accessories as with the life of the pet and the potential danger to family members. It is much more difficult to adjust the behavior of an adult animal than to direct the development of a small kitten in the right direction, but this is quite possible. This article is devoted to some tips on how to wean a cat to nibble wires.
The reason cats are interested in wires
Before you think about how to wean a cat to nibble wires, it is worthwhile to find out the reasons for such a strange, in the eyes of people, interest. Wires can be attractive to animals due to the fact that these are objects that are perceived by cats as an object for playing, climbing and other entertainments. Almost all cats love to play with bows and candy wrappers tied to a string, so why should they not be interested in cords and wires?
In addition, the wires can have a texture and density suitable for the cat's eyes in order to care for their oral cavity. The smell of wires can attract an animal whose diet lacks certain substances.
Finally, if the owners did not solve the question on time, how to wean a kitten to nibble wires and furniture, an older cat can do this out of habit, or according to the established stereotype of behavior.
Tip # 1: It’s best to remove and hide the wires whenever possible.
On the question of how to wean a cat to nibble wires, as well as on the issue of raising young children, the absence of “provocation” on unwanted actions is important. You will greatly simplify the task of re-education, if possible, remove the wires from the floor, hide the hanging and dangling cords, so attractive to cats. Reducing the number of visible and accessible cables and wires will immediately affect the cat’s desire to play with them and nibble them.
Tip # 2: Make the wires unpleasant for the animal
To understand how to wean a cat to nibble on wires and charges, you need to watch him and understand what is unpleasant and undesirable for him, what smells and substances he avoids. After this, it is necessary to establish once and for all in the animal strong associations of wires with these substances, smells, sounds or events.
The simplest and most effective method used by many cat owners is to smear the wires with sharply smelling substances (for example, a seasoning mixture). Make sure beforehand that this mixture is really unpleasant for the cat, as the tastes of many animals are so exotic that your actions can lead to strictly opposite results.
Do not smear the wires with chemicals that are life-threatening, since even inhaling the vapors of many of them can be dangerous to the life and health of your pet.
Almost all cats are very hostile to sticky objects and try to avoid them. Wires will lose their appeal if you stick double-sided tape on them. Please note that this almost trouble-free method has a serious drawback: firstly, the sticky surface will collect dust, and secondly, after the problem is solved, the adhesive tape can leave sticky marks on the wires themselves - all this should be taken into account when choosing materials.
Special tools
In order not to puzzle over what exactly to cover with cables, you can purchase special products in pet stores that are intended for use by those pet owners who solve the problem of how to wean a cat to bite wires. Reviews about them are usually either positive or neutral.
Unpleasant sounds and actions
Many owners decide how to wean a cat to nibble wires, making sharp and loud sounds, as soon as the cat begins to be interested in those items that he should not touch. An important nuance of such training is that the cat does not understand where this sound comes from. In the event that he understands the origin of the sound, there will be no guarantee that he will not bite the wires in your absence.
Observing owners of cats, thinking about how to wean a cat to nibble wires and tear up wallpapers, notice events that frighten animals or make them hide. Let's say a cat can’t stand it when the owners move the furniture, open the window, turn on the vacuum cleaner, swear, etc. Many cats are very incredulous and timid about talking dolls and other children's toys, other animals cannot stand the presence of certain people in the house. If the problem has gone far, and you are ready to take all measures to solve it, you can observe the cat and begin to do actions that are unpleasant for her as soon as she is interested in wires.
Tip # 3: Give your cat an alternative
One of the main reasons that an animal is interested in wires, furniture, wallpaper, and other items not intended for play is the lack of toys. Cats, especially young ones, are very active and need action, a game. Just like children, they should have toys and entertainment. And just like children, they can cool off to toys, so if you purchased some item for the game, but the cat ceased to be interested in it and switched to the necessary and dangerous items in the house, consider how to wean the cat from biting the charging wires with new interesting and safe things for her.
Here, pet observation also plays an important role. If a cat likes drooping thin wires, he may not engage in balls and ringing mice. But he will almost certainly be attracted by hanging lanyards, soft leather straps, ribbons with knots or pieces of paper and scraps of cloth tied to them, etc.
At the same time, the cat needs to be shown how to play with these items: he will love them and will get into the habit of chewing, catching, and “hunting” them if you play with him regularly.
Tip # 4: Ensure a balanced diet
To wean a cat from gnawing wires and other dangerous and necessary objects, it is important to make sure that all the necessary substances are present in the animal’s diet. Talk to your veterinarian and buy your pet a nutritional supplement or treat that includes vitamins and minerals.
Tip number 5: Do not injure the cat alone
Finally, the fact that a cat nibbles wires and spoils other things may be a form of his protest against long loneliness. It is believed that cats need home more than owners, but many feline representatives cannot stand loneliness. Forced long sitting at home alone can provoke a cat to "hooliganism", and in this case, your negative reaction to misconduct can increase the craving for these actions - the same as in children. The cat can "train" the owners, forcing them to appear at home more often and earlier, and here, apparently, it is worth somehow reconsidering the way of life.
If it is not possible to change the mode, communicate more with the cat when you are at home. Any animal, no matter how attached to a person it is, takes attention and love is dosed, and getting its portion of affection, it tends to calm down and retire.
Apparently, to solve the problem of how to wean a cat to nibble wires, it is necessary in a comprehensive manner, taking into account all aspects of this issue described above.