Our Coon, "Goose" (as in "Silly...") is living up to her moniker, that's for sure. She'll start the day by making the tour of our bedroom, looking for anything polyethelene (curtain blinds, wastebasket rims, and such). Later in the day, she seems to prefer things much more ominous, like anything that has electrical insulation on it...the day she came home I had just bought and installed a web cam for my PC, and she bit CLEAN THROUGH the cable! Couldn't have done a smoother job with a knife. Since then, she's been VERY interested in anything that looks like a wire, and we're getting VERY nervous about that: when a string of Christmas lights went out this year, her "trademark dimples" were on the cord. Thank Goodness the power wasn't on (or maybe it was?) I've seen what happens when a cheap extension cord shorts out, and it's a real threat, not only to Goose, but to her home!!! Having watched "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", with the scene involving that poor, white Persion under the living room chair, would really appreciate anyone's ideas for breaking this gnawing habit (or any insights on the habit's behavioral or perhaps nutritional origins). Thanks gnaw! gnaw! in ad- gnaw! *click*

Eric

-- Anonymous, December 31, 2000

Answers

You can get covers for exposed cords at your local hardware store and/or you can apply some Bitter Apple to them. They can get seriously hurt from biting cords.

-- Anonymous, January 01, 2001

Try rubbing lemon on you cat's cord of choice. My kitties won't go near them once they've tasted a *treated* cord. A suggestion though, don't use orange unless you want a trail of ants into your home. ;)

Try it. It's so simple and it's worked for my kittens.

BJ Buffee Moon the Maine Coon & Casey a DSH buff tabby

-- Anonymous, January 01, 2001

I had the same problem. I tried various types of sprays, but Bitter Apple (it's a spray you can buy at some pet stores that is used to keep pets from chewing on plants) finally did it for me; however, I'd be interested in knowing what works for you and others.

-- Anonymous, January 03, 2001