Why Cats Chew Things
Although occasional chewing can be normal behavior for a cat, excessive chewing can be an indicator of problems. Below you’ll find several potential factors causing your cat’s chewing:
- Boredom
- Anxiety/Stress
- Gum Disease
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Nutritional Deficiency
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Hazards of Chewing
Aside from the frustration of having your valuables destroyed, your cats chewing can be a danger to themselves. Below is a list of potential hazards to be mindful of:
- Wires and Cords – Can cause death by shock
- Houseplants – Many types of plants are poisonous to cats, check out this list of toxic plants to see if you have one of them
- Poisons and Toxins – Chewed objects may be coated with poisons or have poisons within them, such as bags or boxes of cleaning products.
- Swallowing Inedible Items – As smart as your cat is, they’re still likely to consume inedible objects they find pleasant to chew, especially as they break the item down into smaller parts. String can be especially bad as it can wind around and cut into the wall of the digestive track. Never try to remove swallowed string yourself if you see part of it coming out of either end of the cat.
Chewing in Kittens
The most common time in a cat’s life for chewing is during kittenhood. Kittens will experience sore gums during teething, and oftentimes chewing helps relieve that unpleasant feeling.
It’s important to recognize when a kitten is chewing items they should not be, and discourage this as soon as possible so the behavior doesn’t carry to adulthood. Make sure your kitten has plenty of toys to choose from so they don’t feel inclined to chew your valuables.
Chewing in Adult Cats
Most cats will cease chewing once they’re teething stops, so it’s important to explore why your cat has continued chewing despite their maturity. Anxiety or stress from a recent move or having a lot of guests over can trigger chewing. The most common reason is due to boredom, especially if the chewing begins out of nowhere. Cats in particular are at risk of boredom because they’re generally very playful. Several potential medical problems might be the source, such as gum disease, gastrointestinal problems or nutritional deficiencies, in which case you should see a vet.
Finally, although uncommon, obsessive compulsive disorder is possible in cats. If your cat is chewing very unusual items for a cat such as wool, this may be the culprit.
How to Stave Off Boredom
Introduce novelty by periodically moving familiar cat trees and posts and hiding or introducing new cat toys. Always have “safe places” where the cat can sleep, lay, scratch or play without being punished or even picked up.
Interact more with your cat. Cats are typically very social and require more attention than most cats.
Buying the right toys can really make all the difference. A nice leather-textured, catnip scented chew toy will be far more interesting than the shoelaces and purses your cat was chewing. Find more ways to banish boredom here.
Discourage Chewing in Cats
- Make sure any tempting items are out of reach such as string, leather goods, plants and any other item your cat has taken special interest in. Keep such items in bins and closets.
- Use clicker training to teach your cat what to stay away from – this can be time consuming but has big potential pay off
- Provide good toys meant for chewing (coated with catnip or a meaty scent) and keep away boredom
- Cover cords with pre-split hollow tubing (oftentimes provided by computer supply stores) or CritterCord Cord Protector
- In some cases adding digestible fiber, such as cat greens or lettuce, to the cat’s diet can reduce chewing. It’s highly advisable to consult with a vet, first, before altering your cat’s diet
- Motion-activated Spray – The PetSafe SSSCAT Spray can deter your cat if it comes near an off-limits area by letting off an unscented spray
- Use a scented spray that is repulsive to your cat, such as:
- Bitter apple spray
- Cayenne pepper and water
- Orange scented spray – three parts water with one part orange
- Mint
- Rosemary
