How to Keep Your Cat from Chewing on Cords

Are you desperately seeking a way to keep your cat or kitten from chewing on cords? I've been in your position. In the past few months, my cat has destroyed Ethernet cables and telephone cords. As annoying as it was to constantly have to buy new cables, the worst part was worrying about my cat's health. If a cat chews on cables and cords often, it will acquire mouth burns and may even electrocute itself. I couldn't get rid of the cords, so I found three main ways to discourage my cat from chewing on them. For cords and cables on the ground, I use Flexiduct Cord Protectors. I cover dangling cords with chili powder. Finally, I keep my cat from chewing on headphone cords and cell phone charger cords with lime oil.

Flexiduct Cord Protector

For large areas of cord lying on the ground, I have found this product to be the best option. The Flexiduct comes in several colors, including beige, black and grey, so it blends in well with most décor. The Flexiduct also has the added benefit of keeping the human members of the household from tripping over cords and cables. Simply run the cord through the channel on the bottom; the Flexiduct can hold multiple cords. Most cats will find the Flexiduct less interesting than the unprotected cord was, and will stop chewing on it. The Flexiduct also acts as a sort of shield - your cat would have to chew through a lot of plastic to get to the cable.

Chili Powder and Electrical Tape

Unfortunately, not all of the cords that your cat might chew on are on the floor. Many probably hang behind desks or entertainment centers. While the Flexiduct won't work for these situations, there are other ways to keep you cat from chewing on dangerous cords. My favorite trick has two steps. First, I wrap the cord or cable with inside-out electrical tape to create a sticky surface that won't cause permanent damage to the cable. Then, I coat the sticky side of the tape with chili powder. My cat refuses to even taste cords covered in chili powder - he is put off by just one sniff.

Lime Oil

What about those cords requiring more mobility, such as headphone cords or cell phone chargers? Unfortunately, these cords are my cat's favorite target. Electrical tape is far too bulky for cords like these, not to mention that your purse would smell like chili powder. Fortunately, cats hate citrus smells. I simply brush the cord or wire with lime essential oil, and my cat immediately turns his nose up with disgust. This method is fast and smells nice (a bit like key lime pie). The only downside is that it wears off quickly, so it's easy to forget and before you know it, your cat has destroyed another cord. That's why I only recommend this method for those situations where chili powder or the Flexiduct will not work.

These three methods - the Flexiduct, chili powder, and lime oil - provide an answer for nearly every cord your cat might chew on. With these tips, it's easy to keep your cat and your cables safe.