How to stop a cat from chewing

Video: How to Stop Your Cat Chewing! Why is My Cat Destructively Chewing and How to Stop it!

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Identify reasons why cats chew
Method 2 of 3: Get the chewing behavior under control
Method 3 of 3: Provide enrichment to reduce chewing chewing
Warnings

Gnawing is usually a problem in dogs, but sometimes a cat is a chewer. While usually troublesome on its own, chewing electrical wiring, poisonous plants, and containers of toxic chemicals, medications, and harmful foodstuffs to humans can cause major problems for a gnawing cat. Hairless plucking and excessive grooming are behavioral problems when the cat is destructively licking and gnawing itself. It's important to find out why your cat is chewing, as well as finding a way to stop your cat from doing this destructive behavior. Knowing the right approach can stop chewing, whether your cat is gnawing on its own or on objects such as furniture or shoes.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Identify reasons why cats chew

Watch for signs of compulsive gnawing. A compulsion is an irresistible necessity to perform a certain behavior. In cats, the most common compulsive behaviors are chewing / chewing wool or fabric or excessive hair licking / chewing - also called psychogenic hair loss. This is most common when a cat is stressed or frustrated by something beyond its control. In kittens that are weaned too early, this can become a problem when they reach adulthood. In general, a kitten should not be weaned from its mother until it is eight weeks old.
- Eastern cat breeds are more likely to develop a compulsive gnawing problem. Cats experiencing stress - such as moving to a new home or having a new baby in the house - are also more at risk of developing a compulsive chewing problem.
See if the gnawing is connected to playful behavior. Not all chewing is the result of compulsive behavior. Kittens and adult cats can be just curious and adventurous enough to start chewing on things that aren't allowed. While it can be cute at first, it can be extremely dangerous if a kitten bites an electrical cord or pulls a heavy object down and falls on him.
- Boredom can also cause a cat to chew.
Look for any medical conditions that may be related to this. Sometimes chewing starts as a result of a medical condition, such as fleas, allergies, food intolerance, or an unhealed wound. Dental disease or sores in the mouth can also cause a cat to chew on things.
- Even a behavior such as chewing a plant may have a related medical explanation. Domestic cats, and especially those with few grasses in their diet, can just chew on plants because of their need for greenery.
Consult with your vet. Before diagnosing the reason behind chewing behavior, your vet should conduct a thorough medical examination, especially on an adult cat that has recently started this behavior. Once your vet has a diagnosis for the chewing behavior, he or she will help you make a good treatment plan.

Method 2 of 3: Get the chewing behavior under control

Keep the things the cat wants to chew out of reach. This could mean putting clothes or fabrics in a locked cupboard, putting items on an unreachable shelf, or keeping the cat out of the room where you keep the chewed item. If the cat has a problem chewing electrical wires, try putting a cable protector, a piece of carpet, or even tape over the wires.
Use foul-smelling deterrents to stop chewing. Some common solutions are bitter apple spray (a commercial remedy) or cayenne water (water with cayenne pepper in a spray bottle. Always check in a spot that the item you want to spray is not damaged.
Use a spray bottle or small water gun with water in it to deter the cat. If you catch your cat chewing an item, spray on the cat immediately. Your cat will only associate the act with the negative consequence if you spray the cat when he gnaws the item. If you can't reach the spray bottle before the cat stops chewing, keep it with you and wait until the next time the cat shows the behavior.
- A firm "no" at the same time can also help teach the cat that word.
Make the object a trap. Since you can't always be around with a spray bottle to scare the cat, you can set up a "trap" to communicate the negative consequence to you. For example, you can place double-sided adhesive tape around the item. Cats hate the feeling of sticky tape and will focus on it rather than the object.
- You can also look at a product that provides a repellent spray via a motion detector.
- Another option is to put the object on a "scat mat", this is a product that gives an electric shock to the cat's paws when he stands on it.
Replace plants in the area with cat-friendly options. When a cat chews on a houseplant, it may enjoy the structure of the plant and want greenery that it can chew and eat. Remove the eaten plant from the area and replace it with a more suitable option such as oat grass, cat grass or cat mint.
- Make sure you move plants that are especially poisonous to the cat. A few well-known examples are caladium, dieffenbachia, ivy, lilies, mistletoe, oleander and philodendrons.
Ask your vet for medication. If none of the behavior modification techniques help, talk to your vet. Certain medical conditions, such as chewing his own fur, can be treated with mood altering agents.

Method 3 of 3: Provide enrichment to reduce chewing chewing

Play more with your cat. Since boredom can be one of the causes of chewing, try spending a little more time playing with your cat. With a little extra stimulation, the cat can completely forget about chewing. Try to distract your cat with dangling toys, a laser pointer, or other favorite toys.
Provide your cat with suitable objects to chew. Thin pieces of buffalo hide, toy mice, or food puzzles will help keep your cat entertained. An old bath towel or large padded toy can be a fun chew toy for certain cats. An uncooked chicken wing tip (the rubbery part) may also be suitable for some cats.
- If you give your cat a chicken wing, make sure it is uncooked, as the cooked bones can splinter and cause complications if swallowed.
- Always supervise your cat when you allow it to eat chicken wings or buffalo hide.
Change your cat's feeding schedule. Feed small, regular portions in various places. Use food puzzles that provide enrichment and stimulation for a cat chewing out of boredom or stress.
Hang bird feeders outside the window. Most cat owners know that cats can spend hours staring out the window if the environment is exciting enough. Place a bird feeder (or even a squirrel feeder) outside an available window. The cat will be too captivated by what's going on outside to chew.
- Placing elevations, cat climbing posts, or similar items in strategic places can help your cat have an even better view out the window, and the cat furniture itself is a form of enrichment too, especially if you buy one with dangling catnip toys .
Consider taking your cat outside safely. Don't just open the door to let a house cat roam free, but supervised time on an enclosed patio or in a fenced-in backyard is enriching for your cat too. Even just a few minutes outside while chewing on some regular grass can prevent your cat from chewing when he's back inside.
- If you don't have access to an enclosed outdoor area, you can also use a harness and leash for your cat when playing outside.
Distract your cat with other solo activities. You can't always be there to play with your cat or keep it out of sight. The more solo activities you have for the cat to engage in, the more confident you can be that your cat isn't chewing when you're not around. Consider offering:
- A scratching post or cardboard scratching blocks. You can also dust the scratching post or blocks with catnip to make them even more irresistible to your cat.
- Dry nibbles hidden all over the house. By hiding nibbles in a few different rooms that are accessible to your cat, you can be sure that your pet would rather wander around these rooms looking for the nibbles than get bored gnawing on something that is not allowed.