How To Stop Cat From Biting Wires?

Yes, chewing electrical cords can result in choking, oral burns, and electrocution. Furthermore, no cat owner likes to constantly replace cables because they suddenly stop working.

To stop a cat from chewing your iPhone cable or TV cord, you should first identify why your pet does it. Sometimes, the reason is boredom or teething; in other cases, the habit signals health issues.

The course of action is typically straightforward – discipline the cat, provide a substitute, and make electrical wires cat-proof. But sometimes, owners may have to deal with a deeper underlying issue first.

Why Do Cats Love Biting Wires?

Understanding why cats love chewing wires can aid in determining how to stop a cat from chewing cords.

The habit is prevalent with kittens whose deciduous teeth are changing to permanent teeth. The first baby teeth start growing when a kitten is about two weeks old.

Deciduous teeth are fully erupted by about six weeks old and begin falling out at four months old until they entirely change for permanent at six to eight months.

Perhaps, everyone remembers from childhood the itching sensation that comes with teething, and cat teething isn’t much different from human teething. Kittens chew cords to relieve pain.

An adult cat that had never chewed on cords before and suddenly began to do so may also have a dental problem. Sometimes, sudden behavioral changes indicate mental conditions, such as cognitive dysfunction disorder, particularly in senior cats.

However, finding a cat that has never chewed on wires is challenging. Felines are curious creatures who love exploring the world, so whenever they find a wire they didn’t see before, they are tempted to sniff and bite it.

Some cats bite cords out of boredom because they do not have enough enrichment at home, and cables serve as an exciting distraction. Cats may also bite wires out of stress, similar to how some people bite their nails or chew pencils.

Get Wire Protectors or Use Foil

The easiest solution how to keep a cat off electrical wires is to wrap them in rubber covers. Such covers can be found in any homeware or electrical store. As a side bonus, cord protectors aid wire organization.

Cord protectors are essentially long bendy hoses that come in various colors to match your interior. Not only do they protect wires from sharp cat teeth, but they also make wires less appealing to cats because the material isn’t as chewy.

Use aluminum foil if you can’t find any wire protectors in local stores. Simply wrap it around the cords, and your get won’t even come close because cats hate the feeling of foil.

Alternatively, if your cat chews cords within a specific perimeter, for example, under your working desk, you may apply sticky tape around it.

Cats hate the feeling of sticky tape on their paws, so your cat will be less likely to come close to the cords.

Use Cat Deterrent Spray

Aluminum foil and sticky tape may deter cats, but they also affect the look of your interior. Instead, consider using cat deterrent sprays. They are invisible and won’t harm your room’s look, but they must be constantly reapplied.

You can find a cat deterrent spray in most pet stores and online, but professional products tend to be costly and have mixed reviews.

The good news is that you can make an effective DIY cat deterrent spray from ingredients you likely already have in the kitchen.

Felines hate the citrus smell, so the easiest cat repellent spray recipe contains citronella, lemongrass, or orange oil diluted in water. Alternatively, you can use citrus juice – the smell won’t be strong, but the taste will deter your cat.

Some cat owners report that placing orange peels around wires helps if the cables are all located in one place. Another recipe for a spray to deter a cat from electrical wires is vinegar with liquid hand soap.

Alternatively, mix garlic, pepper, and lemon with water. Rosemary is another natural cat deterrent. However, note that you may need to try several recipes until you find which one works for your pet because each cat is different.

Hide The Wires

Some cats don’t seem to care about deterrent sprays and cord protectors, so the only solution is to hide the wires.

One option is to use cord covers that stick to the wall. They will keep wires safe from your cat and improve your interior’s look.

If you’re willing to invest the money, you may hide wires in the wall. Hiding wires in the wall may not be the best idea for small appliances, but great for flat-screen TVs and other bulky devices.

If you have a lot of wires under your desk, consider getting a drawer for all the cables – you can order a custom one to match your desk. As for smaller wires like phone chargers, consider creating a charging station.

Pick a convenient location with a drawer or a low cabinet and use a drill to make a hole at the back of the cabinet.

Then, insert a desk grommet through the hole to feed the plug from a power strip to serve as your charging station.

Stick the power strip to the cabinet drawer using double-sided tape – now, you can charge your devices without fearing your charger will be broken by your cat.

Get Your Cat a Substitute

Cats need to chew something. That’s instinctive behavior they can’t stop, so you can’t simply prohibit your cat from chewing and biting. Instead, get your cat a substitute. It’s essential during teething in kittens.

If your kitten is chewing cords because of teething, get it a chewy toy. The toy shouldn’t be too hard because kitten teeth aren’t as strong as those of an adult cat.

Ensure that the toy doesn’t have any small details a kitten may rip off and choke on. Some toys for kitten teething can be put in the freezer for a cooling effect, reducing swelling and itchiness.

For adult cats that simply love to chew something, you can get the same toys as for kittens, but even cardboard will do the job.

Consider catnip-infused toys for cats that like to chew on wires. They can provide extra enrichment to a cat’s life, but cats become tolerant to the herb over time. Only use it occasionally.

If your cat also has a habit of chewing plants, consider getting it a pot with cat grass and placing it near its feeding area. Most importantly, reward your cat for chewing the substitute every time you see it.

This way, you will create positive associations with the toy or grass pod, encouraging your cat to bite it more than the cords.

Play With Your Cat

A bored cat is a disaster. Many people believe that cats are entirely independent and don’t need the owner’s attention. That’s partially true – a cat will always find how to entertain itself, for example, by chewing cords.

If you don’t want your cat to bite electrical wires, provide more enrichment to its life. Spend at least 15 minutes a day playing with your furry friend to drain its energy.

Cats really don’t need that much attention, but what a difference it makes in their behavior! Some may argue that their ats have plenty of toys, but not each toy is fun for cats and suitable for independent play.

For example, chew cat toys are great for relieving teeth itchiness, but they aren’t amusing to play with because they don’t move. Balls are much better because they roll.

If you don’t have time to play with your cat, consider getting it a ball track toy, a mouse on a spring, or an exercise wheel – the latter will also help if you’re sick of your cat running at night.

How To Discipline a Cat Correctly

Cats don’t see anything wrong with chewing cords, so you should teach your pet that it’s wrong. Disciplining a cat is easier said than done, though, because felines aren’t responsive to punishment.

Cats better respond to positive reinforcement, so you can give your cat treats or catnip every time you see it chew legal targets. Whenever you see your cat chewing cords, tell firmly, “No!” but don’t use harsh punishment.

If you slap your cat or yell at your cat, it may be scared of you and only behave worse. If “No!” doesn’t help to ward your cat off the cords (it likely won’t), simply take your cat and bring it to another room.

Don’t pet your cat for some time after you caught it in the crime. Otherwise, your cat may draw connections between chewing cords and affection.

See a Vet

If your cat suddenly started chewing cords but didn’t do it before, the chances are that it has a dental problem, a compulsive disorder, or a cognitive dysfunction disorder.

Take a note of any other abnormalities in your pet’s behavior and bring it to a vet for a check-up.

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