Chewing cords

[scorpius]

Here's a 'hybrid solution' to protect our 'hybrid critters' from unnecessary electrical hazard injuries . It's similar to the ideas mentioned in this tread, but basically combines them together and adds some custom Baby protection gear. cheers! dj

The BOM (build of materials):

Power Cord Protection:
a. Vinyl Hose - flexible, thick enough to protect, not too thick to slice. Slice down the middle with a small pair of Fiscar scissors. It cuts pretty decently this way. Insert power cord.
Lowes: http://tinyurl.com/lowes-vinyl-hose
b. Loom Tubing - added layer of protection over vinyl. It's pre-sliced down the middle.
Ace Hardware: http://tinyurl.com/ace-loom-tubing
c. Dish Soap & Bitter Apple Spray - cocktail across tubing as an added repellant over loom vinyl or loom.



Power Strip & Outlet Protection:
a. Power Strip Case
Babies R Us: http://tinyurl.com/babies-power-strip
b. Power Outlet Case
Babies R Us: http://tinyurl.com/babies-outlet-cover
Babies R Us: http://tinyurl.com/babies-outlet-dummycovers (great as they're rounded and locked!)
c. PVC Pipe & Fittings - Lowes, grab 1" pipe, 90 deg elbow, this is cheap stuff at maybe $3. No need to glue as fit is tight. Just need to cut out about 1/3" in from inner portion of elbow to insert the power strip cord. A normal power cord head snakes fine inside 1" pipe.

 

[Patti]

Pretty ingenious, thanks for sharing!!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

http://www.amazon.com/Gama-Go-Ouchlets-Bandage-Novelty/dp/B0088XSFRG

I got these recently to cover outlets. I never thought it necessary until one litter born here decided that licking outlets was a fun idea... I was horrified, but fortunately spotted them before any harm came to them!

 

[SavannahLuv]

I know this is an older thread, but my Shango is horrible at wanting to chew on cords . So far most cords I have been able to hide or I ran through PVC pipe, but I haven't found a great fix for his drinking fountain or my computer cords. Luckily his new fountain is low voltage so it won't electrocute him, but I still don't want him chewing on any cords low or high voltage.

I've tried both split flex tubing and critter cord and those actually seem to make him want to chew on the cords even more I also tried a couple different kinds of bitter sprays, but he doesn't seem to mind the taste. I'd really like something flexible and to only have to use more PVC as a last resort.

Any suggestions for very persistent chewers? Is there maybe a thicker type of flex tubing I can try? I'll be moving later this year into a much bigger house and I'm sure I will have even more cords to deal with then so I'd really like to find something that's Shango proof.

I'm definitely going to try the safety 1st outlet covers that Scorpius listed to cover the exposed outlet areas that the PVC pipe didn't cover.

 

[Patti]

Have you tried the Critter Cord Protector? It's a lot sturdier than other split tubing, and now it's infused with citrus scent so supposedly even more of a deterrent:
https://www.amazon.com/Cord-Protector-CritterCord-Protect-Hazardous/dp/B000EH2I5O

 

[SavannahLuv]

I have When I first opened the critter cord I could definitely notice the citric scent... it was rather unpleasant smelling for a good month, but apparently Shango doesn't mind the citrus taste. Even though I see teeth marks all the way through the critter cord, I do not actually see any going through the power cord (yet). Maybe I will try a new critter cord that has no teeth marks & then put a bigger flex split tube around it. Between the 2 layers, hopefully he won't be able to reach the power cord.

The critter cord was too small to fit around my a/c cord, but that ended up being ran through pvc pipe. I guess I'll just stick with pvc on the big, high voltage cords. I don't want to risk him being able to chew through them since they can potentially cause serious harm or death.

 

[Patti]

Doubling up on the protection will hopefully do the trick. I don't think he can bite through PVC pipe but that's a bit clumsy and inconvenient to put on every cord...

 

[SavannahLuv]

He actually seems to leave the pvc alone so I think that's going to be the best thing for high voltage cords... even though it's not the most pleasant decoration. It's just something about the critter cord or split loom that makes it look fun to play with.

I'm finding lots of wire mold/cord covers on Amazon. Maybe in my new house I can use more of those along the trim to hide the cables from him since they do look better than the pvc (if they'll work). Shango will have his own bedroom as a safe zone when I have to leave the house and I'll have a separate room for my office to keep him away from the computer cords so I'm hoping it will be easier to Shango proof.

 

[WitchyWoman]

I bought a couple of hundred feet of this stuff from Amazon. It's flexible and strong enough to keep Atticus's gigantic teeth from destroying all electrical cords. I even have them on the hoses for the washing machine. Home Depot and Lowe's carry the stuff but not in the quantities I needed.

 

[Patti]

I bought a couple of hundred feet of this stuff from Amazon

I have had a couple of Savannahs chew on this stuff pretty good - they haven't actually chewed through the cord yet, but it makes me nervous so I wrapped the tubing with heavy duty Gorilla tape - that makes it thick enough that they aren't chewing through.