Cats chew on all kinds of things and they aren’t all edible. Chewing is done for medical and behavioral reasons and curious cats will try to chew almost anything. Here’s some things you can do to help break the habit and keep your cat safe from harm.
Cats chewing and eating items, which are not food, thought to be a lack of certain nutrients in the diet. Vitamin imbalance could be some of the cause. Making sure, you are purchasing healthy well balance food for your cat. Healthy eating for a cat means healthy bones, muscles, and brain functions. If you are not sure which brand to buy contact your vet for information and recommendation for a healthy cat food. You will also want to make sure that your cat has been up-to-date on the shots.
Chewing and sucking on clothing especially wool could mean a sign of weaning to early.
Cats or kitten sucking on wool finds the smell similar to that of the mother’s fur around the nipple. In turn, this could become a security blanket for the cat, as long as the fabric is not chewed and swallowed. Your cat may eventually stop the sucking or not. Your cat still can be a wonderful companion.
One sign of danger is a cat that is playing or sucking on an electrical cord. Use Tabasco sauce, cover the cord in duct tape, bitter products that are for cats (they do not like the taste). If the cord is not electrical and the cat continues to play with the cord, search at a local do it yourself centers, for molding to hide cords.
Household plants are also poisonous to cat.
One of the worst one is the Easter Lilly. That beautiful fresh of spring at Easter will kill your cat if eaten. Place the plant in an area that the cat will not be able to reach or there are plants that are not poisonous at Easter time. Learn and research more about the plants in your home to make sure that the kinds you have are not poisonous. Some of the side effects a cat can experience with eating poisonous plants are welling of the tongue, and throat, paralysis of the throat. If you see your cat with any of these signs, please call the vet right away. The cat will need treatment fast.
Use a couple of leaves on the plant to place or rub bitters or tobacco sauce, pop a balloon near the cat if you catch them around the plant. Grow plants that the cat can eat. Catnip is a great way to start all cats love catnip. Wheat and parsley grows good indoors and is cat safe.
Remember to praise your cat when the behavior is good.
Rewards as small treats are also a great way to show your cat that you care. With rewards, it tells them that you approve of the behavior.
When they are eating a plant, electric cord, the drape cords, or any small object that has come in the cat’s site, a firm “NO” can do the trick. Drop a heavy book, hissing sounds, some type of loud noise that will distract the cat from the chewing. Have spray bottles with water handy. Cats do not like the spray of water.
Never hit a cat for any reason, never tap the nose, or throw the cat. Any physical harm you do to a cat they will fear you. The training for your cat not to fear you after you have done physical harm to them will never work Always remember you are the human in the training and your cat is the cat. You can only train a cat if you know how to do it the proper way. Training a cat and not following thou will be disaster when the time comes to retrain.
As a cat gets older, they are set in their ways and this is very difficult to train. Start with the trainings early, as it is the easiest. Do not wait until the worse happens and it may be too late.
Your cat is your friend, we take care of friends are friends take care of us.