The cravings of cats for wires are common knowledge. Most kittens "grind" their growing teeth about them, and many adult animals like to "bite" on occasion with an Internet cable or a wire from headphones or a charger. How to quickly and irrevocably wean a cat from this bad habit?
What are the ways to wean from wires
If the wires are not hidden in cable channels, it is quite difficult to protect them from sharp cat teeth. Punishments for "gnawing" usually do not bring results - it is quite difficult for an animal to explain what it was guilty of. Preventive actions, such as splashing water or loud popping when the cat is attempting to attack the wire, are more effective, but only in situations where the owner of the house - and sees what his pet is doing.
Therefore, for weaning, usually:
- use deterrent sprays with an unpleasant odor for cats;
- rub the wires with a slice of lemon, lemon juice or citrus essential oils (most cats do not like the smell of citrus);
- grease the wires with bitter aloe juice or rub them with bitter products (garlic, mustard, pepper sauce, etc.).
The last method can, perhaps, be called the most effective: "scaring off" odors do not affect all animals, but no one likes to endure bitterness in the mouth. However, coating wires with bitter products is a rather lengthy and laborious process, especially considering that the protective layer must be "renewed".
How to solve a problem with a cat and wires in one day
In order for the cat to never again encroach on the wires, it is possible by improving the folk method of "spoiling the taste". After all, the modern cosmetic industry produces bitter (and at the same time not harmful to health) children's nail polishes (for example, "I don't want to gnaw", "Nekusayka", Belweder). They are bought by parents whose children will never learn to bite their nails or suck their fingers - and as a result, babies often part with a bad habit in the first week of using the varnish. In addition to specialized products, medicinal or strengthening varnishes and enamels, which include quinine, are also used for this purpose.
On cats, these funds are no less effective. In most cases, just one processing of wires is enough - and after that you can forget about "biting" forever.
The varnish is applied in a thin strip along the entire length of the wire. There is no need to coat it entirely - in order to make a bite, the cat will still have to grab the whole wire into the genus, and the bitterness will be clearly felt even if there is just a little bit of varnish. In this case, the varnish:
- conveniently applied to the wire using a standard brush;
- it is consumed very economically (one bottle is more than enough to handle all the wires in several apartments);
- after drying, it does not stain hands, does not leave marks and does not interfere with the use of wires for their intended purpose;
- does not wear off and retains its "bitter" properties for a long time - so the cat has time to firmly learn that it is not worth dragging wires into the mouth.
With the help of such a tool, you can quickly wean off the gnawing of wires, even those cats in whom this habit has taken root for a long time and very firmly.
Why do cats gnaw on wires?
There are several reasons why cats are so partial to rubber wires. Kittens often gnaw them during the period of tooth change, while adult animals, in this way, may try to make up for the lack of solid food that helps them clean their teeth and gums from plaque. And, having weaned the animal off the wires, it will not be superfluous to offer her something in return that allows her to "sharpen her teeth" without the risk of getting an electric shock: toys that you can gnaw; rubber balls and rings; dried cat treats, etc.
If an adult cat, previously not fond of wires, suddenly begins to show interest in them, this may be a sign that her diet is not balanced or that the animal is not receiving enough attention. In this case, it is worth spending more time playing and other activities with your pet, as well as visiting your veterinarian and, if necessary, adjusting the diet.
