Conference misery::feline_v1

    About 20 years ago, we almost lost a puppy who chewed through the
    cord of an electric blanket.  We were all lucky, and puppy *never*
    tried it again, but it could have been fatal.
    
    Don't know what to suggest, except perhaps some of the potions that
    are supposed to keep pets away (I've never tried them, so I don't
    know whether or how well they work) - or just some unpleasant_to_cats
    flavoring from the kitchen.

    try putting something he hates the smell of on the cords. for
    each cat this is something different. garlic, lemon juice, 
    something non-toxic but soapy smelling. also since it's only
    in one area try washing the floor/wall in that area to get rid
    of any smell that might be triggering his urge to chew. if this
    is not enough, try getting some kind of protective tubing for
    the cords. good luck.
    
    kristen_who_misses_her_kitties

    if they are vinyl cords, try Armorall. Be careful of trying garlic,
    some cats, mine for instance, love the taste of garlic
    
    Phone cords seem esp. tempting... I've lost more phone cords...
    
    Dave

    Go to a pet store or vet and buy a product made for this type of
    problem.  I can't give you a particular brand but I do remember
    one called Bitter Apple.  Just spray it on electrical cords.  I
    used this several years ago on a silk flower arrangement (what a
    dumb cat huh) and it didn't harm it at all.
    

    Well, this is what I've done in my Cattery.....I run the cords through
    paper towel tubes.  It's not the prettiest site, but they can't
    get at the cords.  
    
    cin
    

    Try hot pepper sauce.  Our kitty was chewing on the wooden arms
    of the Captain's chair - part of our dining set and the only one
    with arms.  He hasn't since I put the tabasco on them.  He didn't
    even try - one sniff told him that it wasn't gonna be fun.
    
    --Louise
    
    (be careful - tabasco will stain carpets.  Put it on with a q-tip
    or something, too, not your fingers!
    

    My Eirene has gone thru 2 phone cords in the past two weeks (I'm
    about ready to start bying a gross at a time). None of cat repelents
    (indoor NO, Bitter apple, etc) seem to work. The VT125 that I use
    here at work has the terminal wires running through this hard plastic
    flexible tube. I'd like to get some of this stuff in an attempt
    to protect my phone cord. Does any body have any idea where it is
    available?
    
    Deb

    re: .7
>    (indoor NO, Bitter apple, etc) seem to work. The VT125 that I use
>    here at work has the terminal wires running through this hard plastic
>    flexible tube. I'd like to get some of this stuff in an attempt
>    to protect my phone cord. Does any body have any idea where it is
>    available?
    
	find someone who doesn't want theirs, take yours home, or see if
    there are any that aren't being used.

	I have  protected  most  of my phone (not the curly ones though)
    and  electrical  cords with plastic tubing available at the hardware
    store.  You have two cjhoices - buy tubing large enough for the plug
    to  fit through (hard to find) or use thinner tubing and slit it the
    long way and then tape the split closed. This seems to have deterred
    my little "fang kitties" for the time being. I have no idea what I'm
    going  to  do  when  the  Christmas tree goes up. Last year I lost 3
    strings  of  lights  to the little monsters. Maybe they'll spend all
    unsupervised time in the basement.


			    Kathy

    re .5
    
    My kitties think hat paper towel rolls are made for munching.
    
    Two of my cats love hot sauce (to the point of eating jalepinos).
    
    I use the clear tubing method, as described.
    
    Dave
    
    (I sure hope it's warm up there, I get to spend 5 days in Nashua
    NH next week)
    
    DWMc

    The VT125 tubes work really well.  I took home a few I found around
    the offices that no one wanted.
    
    Re .9:  Should we Nashuans tell him that it snowed Wednesday night??
    Bring your woolies!
    
    M.

    Well you fellow kittie lovers have given me a lot of suggestions.
    Last night I washed the entire area (wall,woodwork, wires, cords
    and rug with Barcolene (with ammonia). Little Tigga didn't go near
    the area at all, just sniffed and sauntered off with a real 
    attitude. I'm going to the pet store tomorrow to see what is
    available to spray, and will also visit a hardware store for
    suggestions.
    
    There's got to be something that will work, I'm going broke buying
    phone cords, although the last time I replaced the cord with the
    thicker coiled ones that usually go into the headset, which are
    thicker, and so far no teeth marks.
    
    Did any of you ever try to repair a phone cord. Little teensy wires
    that break..... I sat on the floor once for two hours..and ended
    up with an attitude worse than Tigga had....
    
    I'll let you know if I come upon a product or device that really
    works.
    
    kathie

         I've had this problem also and the only solution was to route
    the lines in such a way that it was hard for kitties to get a good
    jawhold on them. Cords like lampcords, etc that I could not re-route
    got unplugged whenever I went out. Then there was Rascal who chewed
    through ~1/3 of the comm cable between my VT125 and modem. Needless
    to say this made logging in impossible. I don' know what it is that
    attracts cats to electrical cords. In my audio/video equipment,
    I used some of that spiral wrap around stuff to bundle all power/
    signal lines. This plastic not only keeps stuff neat, but it's
    tough enough to discourage feline teeth. Lemon and other coatings
    that were supposed to discourage cat sabotage did not work for
    me.
    
    Ray

    
    It seems in many cases, to be the 'chewyness' of the cord that is
    appealing. Perhaps they are similar to the consistency of the innards
    of their natural prey. Making the cords less 'chewy' appears to
    be the best solution.
    

    re: .13
    
    The "chewiness" theory (texture AND shape) would fit with my cats
    very favorite stolen food:  whole string beans.  They do actually
    eat them, but while doing so, they fling them around, pounce on
    them, etc.  Fun!