Cats and speaker wire

~~craig588~~ · Apr 10, 2003, 09:11 PM

dWell I've got a sort of odd problem. We just adopted a cat and it loves to chew on my speaker wire. A couple problems arise here, 1) It is very expensive high quality wire, and 2) My amp puts out 550 watts so the cat might die if it acctually chews through the wire. Does anyone have any idea on how to train it not to chew on the wires?

EDIT: When the cat's on my desk it manages to push keyboard hot keys to fuctions I didn't even know existed......

Highwood · Apr 10, 2003, 09:18 PM

Get a product from your local pet store called Bitter Apples and spray your speaker wires with it.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Apr 10, 2003, 09:21 PM

or just beat it lol it, it should learn quicly!

~~craig588~~ · Apr 10, 2003, 09:22 PM

I'll look into the Bitter Apples stuff this weekend.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Apr 10, 2003, 09:38 PM

sounds like a good idea i bet itll work

merry · Apr 11, 2003, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by craig588
My amp puts out 550 watts so the cat might die if it acctually chews through the wire.

It would die if ti chews through the wire... while you listen music @550 W. Assuming they're DIN watts, not "musical".

Anyways, try some pepper on the wire.

BWX · Apr 11, 2003, 01:44 AM

My girlfriend had the great Idea to get 2 cats. I used to be a "DOG person" only, and never really cared for cats. I like all animals, just really didn't care for cats. Well, after raising 2 from little kittens I know exactly what you mean. Cats are great, just hard to control- they are going to do what they want, no matter what. I also have a 5.1 surround system with a few wires exposed and wires all over behind my computer.

I came up with a great way to train my cats without having to get up and chase them and without having to yell at them and without having to beat them to death. It works for everything, not just chewing on wires. Scrathing couches, getting on tables and legdes they shouldn't be on, fighting with each other- just everything.

Get one of those little squirt bottles, fill it with water and set it to "stream", before you think it's cruel just wait. Most of the time you won't even need to have water in it, only the first couple times.

Cat's HATE getting wet, when you see them go near the wires, just say their name in a firm tone and lift the bottle like you are going to squirt them, they will look at you and think your nutz and continue to go near the wires. Let them start doing whatever it is you don't want them to do (chew wires) , then give them a stern tone and a quick little squirt, they will run away and look at you like you just struck them with lightning. Then as soon as they run away from doing whatever they were doing - give them a "good kitty" or maybe a treat-

It doesn't take many squirts, only a few for them to have the fear of god in them. For the first week or so I just kept the bottle on the coffee table or nearby so they could see it and they pretty much know what to "not do" to stay dry. You will be suprised, all you will have to do is make a motion for the bottle and give them the stern tone and they will stop doing whatever they are doing and look at you, to see if they are doing anything wrong- It is amazing how smart they really are. Soon just a stern tone will work, honest- you just can't forget to praise them for doing the "right" thing. If you don't they will get confused, I mean the second they run away from the wires, make sure they know that is a good thing, even saying "good kitty" in a soft way will do- Treats or a scratch behind the ear is always popular too.

Pretty soon there will be no need for the squirt bottle and no need for the stern tone, they will know not to go near the wires. This really does work, I have 2 cats a year apart with completely different temperments and personalities, and it worked great for both of them- they really hardly ever do anything wrong. And they are very happy cats cause I never have to yell at them.
Try it, I guarantee it will work.

~~Asuka~~ · Apr 11, 2003, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by BWX232
My girlfriend had the great Idea to get 2 cats. I used to be a "DOG person" only, and never really cared for cats. I like all animals, just really didn't care for cats. Well, after raising 2 from little kittens I know exactly what you mean. Cats are great, just hard to control- they are going to do what they want, no matter what. I also have a 5.1 surround system with a few wires exposed and wires all over behind my computer.

I came up with a great way to train my cats without having to get up and chase them and without having to yell at them and without having to beat them to death. It works for everything, not just chewing on wires. Scrathing couches, getting on tables and legdes they shouldn't be on, fighting with each other- just everything.

Get one of those little squirt bottles, fill it with water and set it to "stream", before you think it's cruel just wait. Most of the time you won't even need to have water in it, only the first couple times.

Cat's HATE getting wet, when you see them go near the wires, just say their name in a firm tone and lift the bottle like you are going to squirt them, they will look at you and think your nutz and continue to go near the wires. Let them start doing whatever it is you don't want them to do (chew wires) , then give them a stern tone and a quick little squirt, they will run away and look at you like you just struck them with lightning. Then as soon as they run away from doing whatever they were doing - give them a "good kitty" or maybe a treat-

It doesn't take many squirts, only a few for them to have the fear of god in them. For the first week or so I just kept the bottle on the coffee table or nearby so they could see it and they pretty much know what to "not do" to stay dry. You will be suprised, all you will have to do is make a motion for the bottle and give them the stern tone and they will stop doing whatever they are doing and look at you, to see if they are doing anything wrong- It is amazing how smart they really are. Soon just a stern tone will work, honest- you just can't forget to praise them for doing the "right" thing. If you don't they will get confused, I mean the second they run away from the wires, make sure they know that is a good thing, even saying "good kitty" in a soft way will do- Treats or a scratch behind the ear is always popular too.

Pretty soon there will be no need for the squirt bottle and no need for the stern tone, they will know not to go near the wires. This really does work, I have 2 cats a year apart with completely different temperments and personalities, and it worked great for both of them- they really hardly ever do anything wrong. And they are very happy cats cause I never have to yell at them.
Try it, I guarantee it will work.

Well, I never was a dog person and never liked them much - always a cat person. I'll have to say that this squirt bottle works damn fine - cats are very intelligent, and they'll learn what to do and what not to do pretty fast this way

@craig588
Besides the squirt bottle training, you can get it chew sticks for cats from an animal store, or from the animal food department of a warehouse. Also, get something else for your cat to play with. You can get little play mice from an animal store or various other cat toys (where it can be quite different what cat likes which toy), or you can also use simple things - shoe strings also make for a nice toy, as do wool balls. You could even go and knot a little bell or something at the end of the shoe string for additional excitement.

merry · Apr 11, 2003, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Asuka
Well, I never was a dog person and never liked them much - always a cat person.

Got any pics of you? I never met a cat person (or dog person for that matter). My aquaintances are limited to human persons, now that's weak.

Good thing the internet, think I'll stay around for a while

toddsmack2k · Apr 11, 2003, 07:46 AM

The squirt bottle tactic works great. It wont take very many times to teach the kitty not to do get in there and chew or anything else for that matter. Just squirt em whenever that cat gets near your stuff and hopefully a couple shots later he will quit. It done wonders on my cats.

And merry you so silly

NaumoJR · Apr 11, 2003, 09:51 AM

Yeah, definately go with the spray bottle. Just squirt that sucka when it starts to mozzy around the wires. Only other problem is, if you leave, or get really into a game you might not notice your cat having some wire for lunch.

To quote Christmas Vacation. "What's that smell?" "Fried pussy"

"If you're done it, I would like to fumigate this here chair" "Seems like it's in good shape and all".

BTW - Those aren't direct quotes, I can't remember the exact lines, but they're still great.

~~craig588~~ · Apr 11, 2003, 01:20 PM

I guess I'll try the squirt bottle tactic then.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Apr 11, 2003, 03:49 PM

im saying just beat it lol it'll get the point sooner or later

~~Asuka~~ · Apr 11, 2003, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by Sourcer_2002
im saying just beat it lol it'll get the point sooner or later

Why don't you beat yourself silly?

You should never beat a cat, they get really pissed really fast... and you'll end up having your face 'n' stuff scratched.

JavaFox · Apr 11, 2003, 09:14 PM

Bitter Apples? Truth be told, Tabasco sauce ought to do the trick. Either that, or get some molding to hide the cables under.

BWX · Apr 11, 2003, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by merry
Got any pics of you? I never met a cat person (or dog person for that matter). My aquaintances are limited to human persons, now that's weak.

Good thing the internet, think I'll stay around for a while

LOL, I guess "dog person" and Cat person" must sound strange to someone who isn't familiar with those terms. Everyone over on this side of the pond pretty much knows they mean, I like cats more or I like dogs more.

~~DriveEuro~~ · Apr 11, 2003, 11:05 PM

My dad used ground Cayanne pepper when my bird would chew on things. He'd mix the pepper with come water, rub it on the thing the bird bit on...... HAHAHA, needless to say the bird doesn't even think about chewing on those things anymore. Same thing when our dog was a puppy. He used hot mustard sauce. The dog didn't like that.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Apr 12, 2003, 11:57 AM

dude im telling you KICK IT lol