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 Pet Central
Q&A
Q: My spoiled cat
has this weird habit; he chews on anything plastic, electrical cords,
even the antenna on the cordless phone. I am totally perplexed. What do
I do? — D.R., Glendale, Ariz.
A: Regardless of
why your kitty is gnawing, you don’t want him chewing on electrical cords.
If your cat is actually eating the plastic, that can create intestinal
problems. Seattle, Wash.-based feline behaviorist Alice Rhea suggests
squeezing lemon juice or dishwashing soap (not soap used for a dishwasher)
or dabbing readily available commercial products like Keep Away or Bitter
Apple on the wires — and anything else you don’t want the cat chomping.
"There’s something
about plastic that’s intriguing to cats," says Rhea, whose own Maine
Coon cat, Buckwheat, also enjoys plastic stuff.
Rhea, author of "Good
Cats, Bad Habits (Simon & Schuster, New York, N.Y., 1995; $12.95),
suggests boredom may also play a role in your cat’s behavior. Even the
most pampered cats are still cats, and they need an opportunity to investigate,
chase and pounce. For your pet, you might try stuffing moist cat or dog
food, or baby chicken or turkey food into a rubber canine Kong toy. Buy
two small canine Kongs and teach the cat to "hunt" around the
house for them to help to alleviate boredom. Once found, your kitty will
have to work to get the treats out of the Kong. What’s more, the Kong
is rubber, perhaps appealing to cats who enjoy that texture, yet the surface
is too hard for a typical cat to actually ingest.
One more note: Consider
asking your vet about your cat’s teeth. The pet may be trying to alleviate
discomfort in his mouth by nibbling on things he shouldn’t.
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