Cats love things that dangle. The motion is intriguing and the playability is attractive. This goes for ties on robes, toys on strings, venetian blind cords, plant leaves, and electrical cords, for example. Of all of these, however, by far the most worrisome is electrical cords.
Kaz, my 16-year-old, battle-scarred, football-shaped black cat, was always on the lookout for any kind of hanging electrical cord. Any cord inert on the floor held no fascination for him whatsoever, but if it were hanging, he salivated with anticipation. Unlike many cats, he didn’t bat it around. He went straight for it with his teeth. Chewing the insulation was his response to boredom. Oh, boy!
Until the phone went out in my office, I had somehow managed to miss his joyous activity. He had completely severed the cord. It was only then that I realized my computer cables and electrical appliances all sported tooth-incised cuts. The heel of my hand hit my forehead: “Too soon old and too late smart.” That quickly led to an inspection of all dangling cords in my office and home, followed by lots of repair or replacement. Somehow, Kaz had been very lucky thus far avoiding swallowing bits of wire or electrocution.
Of course, fixing the damage was only the first step. I had to find ways to discourage a continuation of this dangerous, and potentially lethal, behavior. Where I could hide the cords and cables behind furniture, that worked well. But many cords and cables did not lend themselves to that solution. Where possible I also taped cords to the wall.
Double-sided sticky tape or contact shelf paper (sticky side out) wrapped around small lengths of cords worked in some places because cats don’t like stickiness. Some cats don’t like the feel of aluminum foil so wrapping it around cords also helped as long as the cords didn’t move a great deal. Cats, like us, are also attracted to things that glitter when they move.
Available at hardware and office supply stores are long, rigid plastic channels that snap together over cords as well as flexible foam cylinders with a slit in the side to slip around cords. But sometimes you have too many cords and cables in one open place, like in your office. One way to address the problem is to keep cats out of that area. But when that is not possible or desirable, or in other such areas, you can find substances your cat will find so unpleasant as to squelch its desire to bite and chew.
You might want to try different things to see what your cat’s unique dislikes are. Of course, do not use anything that may be toxic or can harm your cat, like hot sauce which can burn its mouth and throat and get into and burn its eyes. It is impotant to remember that this is not about punishment. It is about shifting your cat’s natural behavior to something safer. Bitter Apple, which is available at many pet stores, can deter your cat, but the molecules may not last as long as you wish. Consequently, you might want to try other things as well.
I’ve found lots of suggestions for other possibilities, ranging from menthol to lemon juice to moistened soap. Whatever you use, be sure to check that the smell will deter your cat, rather than the substance make your cat sick if it bites the cord or cable.
Of course, the old stand-bys of re-direction and distraction are important too. Be sure to have lots of toys available that will stimulate your cat and re-orient their behavior. And don’t rely upon just one. Instead, have an array of danglers and other things so you can switch off to keep your cat interested in something other than cords and cables. When the cords and cables are less interesting than other things that you provide, your cat will likely begin to ignore the cords and cables.
For those of you who celebrate the holidays with a Christmas tree, you likewise will need to address the cord for its colored lights. There is a danger not only from electrical-cord chewing which can cause shock but also from breaking of glass bulbs which can be stepped on or chewed causing significant trauma or death.
Like most humans, your cat is instinctively drawn to things that dangle. They tantalize and spark the imagination. This means you have to be both proactive and reactive to protect your cat from the dangerous danglers (by hiding, removing, covering) while personally providing fun, safe stimulation away from them.