While owning a kitten is a fun and rewarding experience overall, it is fair to say kittens also present their fair share of problematic and challenging behaviours. In my experience, one of the most frustrating of all is the tendency for some kittens to chew on electrical cords, cables, or wires. Of course, because of the dangers involved, it is also extremely important that you take decisive action to prevent it from happening.
Nevertheless, there are a number of other approaches which can be effective and I will cover some of these below. It can also be useful to understand the various reasons why kittens feel compelled to chew on electrical cords in the first place, as this can open up a number of more specific remedies or solutions for your kitten.
Ways to Prevent Kittens Chewing on Cords
A kitten chewing on the electrical cords in your home can be a frustrating problem to tackle, not only because of the potential damage caused to household electronics but also because of the dangers it poses to your kitten. It is, therefore, important to take swift action and there are two basic approaches: pre-empt the problem and take steps to prevent your kitten from accessing cords, wires and cables; or take steps to correct and deter the behaviour.
In terms of pre-empting the problem, the best option is to keep your cables and cords out of the way as much as possible. Many cords can be hidden behind furniture in ways that can prevent your kitten from getting to them, while others can be kept covered by running them through PVC pipes or similar protective materials. In some cases, you may also be able to use baby gates or other obstructions to prevent kittens from accessing certain rooms.
Once the behaviour has already started, however, it is usually more effective to take steps to deter or correct it. On the most basic level, you can interrupt the kitten’s attempts and then give them a clear and firm ‘No!’ to try to teach them that the behaviour is unacceptable. The limitation of this is that it cannot help in instances where you are not in the room, and some kittens are too stubborn to listen and learn from this.
A highly effective method is to actually coat your electrical cords in a repellent substance. Commercial products are available for this, but there are also a number of home-made solutions. A combination of red pepper, lemon juice and petroleum jelly or Vaseline is one such example. Kittens find both the lemon juice and red pepper to be repulsive, while the petroleum jelly helps to create a suitable base, allowing it to be smeared on uncovered cords.
Some kittens can be prevented from chewing on electrical cords – and any other unwanted item within the household – through the provision of replacements for them to chew on. Simple options here include cardboard or toilet roll tubes, although more expensive alternatives, like chew toys, can also be highly effective as well.
If the problem is confined to one specific location, such as the area behind your television, I would recommend investing in a motion-sensor deterrent. Many pet stores sell devices which can detect movement near them and which emit a noise which scares cats or kittens away. If this is placed in the right location, it can act very quickly to deter your kitten, and to teach him or her that that area is out of bounds for them.
Why Do Kittens Chew on Electrical Cords?
Aside from seeking solutions to the problem, you may also be wondering why kittens often feel compelled to chew on electrical cords within the home in the first place. Certainly, knowing the most common explanations for this behaviour can help you to pinpoint why your kitten is doing it and that, in turn, can help you to choose the best method for resolving the problem, based on the individual circumstances.
The single most common reason for kittens chewing on electrical cords is teething problems. Essentially, when kittens experience pain in their mouths caused by teething – or indeed any other dental problem – their instinct is to chew. Electrical cords, while one of the worst things the can choose to chew on in terms of danger, are often extremely convenient for them, because they fit into a kitten’s mouth easily.
With that being said, there are other causes too. One of these is a type of obsessive behaviour, similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. This type of behaviour sometimes manifests in a compulsion to chew on things and this is especially common in certain breeds, such as those with Siamese or Burmese heritage. If this applies to your kitten, providing an alternative to chew on, like cardboard, may be the most effective solution.
Stress can also be a significant contributing factor, meaning that chewing on electrical cords might be more likely at times of intense change for your kitten. Examples of this include introducing a new pet into the household, or moving house. In these instances, the behaviour may cease after the stress subsides, although the risk is that it may become a learned behaviour, which the kitten will continue out of pure habit. A firmer deterrent is usually best here.
The Dangers and How to Spot the Signs
At this stage, you might also be questioning just how dangerous a kitten chewing on electrical