Water/Vinegar for training? Opinions/Ratio

[John Campbell]

Any cords or wires ours are attracted to I wrap in either gorilla tape or an electrical cord sleeve. They don't seem to like chewing on either:

The sleeves are a great idea... I will have to go out and buy a couple miles of it...

Honestly, it sounds like you're predicting failure. I have tons of equipment in this house (I have a computer repair/network business, and I'm a programmer), somewhere on this site is a photo of my server room, I have wires everywhere, even in the bedroom, and a set of wires runs right next to one of their cat towers, and none of my three chew on them. Well, Dante will start to chew if he's hungry and dinner hasn't been served yet, but otherwise, nothing. I'd suggest just making sure they're all wrapped up tidy in velcro and sleeves and worry about it if she goes for them, otherwise you might draw too much attention to them. Actually, I find that they mostly pay attention to what I pay attention to....

Think happy thoughts of peaceful kitty playing with her toys

LOL... I am not intentionally.... Working in electronics and mechanic so long, I guess I am always thinking about how to fix a problem if it happens... Maybe I am being overly cautious, but I am trying to have things absolutely perfect and things worked out like clock work. When working as an Aircraft Maintenance Controller and going to work on a plane that I do not know what to expect, I am used to arming my Road Trip mechanics with every possibility to get it fixed and returned to service.... Here I am just trying to make sure that every obstetrical is covered and everything is perfect when she gets here... Maybe I should wait for a problem before I troubleshoot the problem... I do not want to leave anything out she could be hurt on, and her quarantine room, I have probably been over it to make sure I didn't forget anything.... And I am sure somewhere I did ... I may sound like an over reactive new dad.... I don't know. She arrives tomorrow (ready or not)... so hopefully everything will be ok...

 

[Dantes]

Here I am just trying to make sure that every obstetrical is covered and everything is perfect when she gets here... Maybe I should wait for a problem before I troubleshoot the problem... I do not want to leave anything out she could be hurt on, and her quarantine room, I have probably been over it to make sure I didn't forget anything.... And I am sure somewhere I did ... I may sound like an over reactive new dad.... I don't know. She arrives tomorrow (ready or not)... so hopefully everything will be ok...

hehe, new dad, I think it's great to be prepared, but I also think that if you're in a negative mental state that she'll pick up on that too, cats are strange that way. So yeah, make sure you cat-proof the home, but save the vinegar for the first time you see her sink her teeth into a wire, 'cause maybe she won't and it'll never be an issue.

Relax and have fun :D

 

[admin]

The sleeves are a great idea... I will have to go out and buy a couple miles of it...



LOL... I am not intentionally.... Working in electronics and mechanic so long, I guess I am always thinking about how to fix a problem if it happens... Maybe I am being overly cautious, but I am trying to have things absolutely perfect and things worked out like clock work. When working as an Aircraft Maintenance Controller and going to work on a plane that I do not know what to expect, I am used to arming my Road Trip mechanics with every possibility to get it fixed and returned to service.... Here I am just trying to make sure that every obstetrical is covered and everything is perfect when she gets here... Maybe I should wait for a problem before I troubleshoot the problem... I do not want to leave anything out she could be hurt on, and her quarantine room, I have probably been over it to make sure I didn't forget anything.... And I am sure somewhere I did ... I may sound like an over reactive new dad.... I don't know. She arrives tomorrow (ready or not)... so hopefully everything will be ok...

John, it will be ok...take a deep breath

 

[John Campbell]

hehe, new dad, I think it's great to be prepared, but I also think that if you're in a negative mental state that she'll pick up on that too, cats are strange that way. So yeah, make sure you cat-proof the home, but save the vinegar for the first time you see her sink her teeth into a wire, 'cause maybe she won't and it'll never be an issue.

Relax and have fun :D

Sounds like great advice... I only got a small bottle... Hopefully it will be wasted...

 

[John Campbell]

John, it will be ok...take a deep breath

LOL... getting ready for bed... But watching an Ebay auction... Above everything else, I am trying to get one more camera?

15 minutes and I am off to bed!

 

[Patti]

I think it important to remember that each kitten will have its own personality, so you will need to figure out what works most effectively for Elsa as far as spray bottle vs. time outs, vs. distraction, etc. I understand Marilyn's approach of discouraging the use of negative behavior, but I think there comes a time where you either discipline or lose the cat to being hit by a car if it becomes a door darter or to electrocution if it is a wire chewer, or getting 3º burns by jumping up on the hot stove, etc. I do not like the idea of tapping a cat on the nose as that might make it head shy, there are other methods one can use to stop biting, chewing, or other destructive behavior.

I only have one cat right now that I have needed to use the spray bottle with (and adding a splash of vinegar is NOT going to hurt the cat, only make it less pleasant) and now all I need to do is show it to her and she stops her behavior. I have never had a cord chewer until this past year, and lost internet access and sound a couple of times before I finally wrapped my cords in chew-proof protectors. For someone who has miles of cord I would personally agree with you that it's best to be safe and wrap your wires or otherwise protect them before the kitten comes home so that you don't have to worry about it, rather than having to deal with it after the damage has been done - and a LOT of damage can be done in the few minutes that your back is turned!

 

[Lesley]

I think it important to remember that each kitten will have its own personality, so you will need to figure out what works most effectively for Elsa as far as spray bottle vs. time outs, vs. distraction, etc. I understand Marilyn's approach of discouraging the use of negative behavior, but I think there comes a time where you either discipline or lose the cat to being hit by a car if it becomes a door darter or to electrocution if it is a wire chewer, or getting 3º burns by jumping up on the hot stove, etc. I do not like the idea of tapping a cat on the nose as that might make it head shy, there are other methods one can use to stop biting, chewing, or other destructive behavior.

I only have one cat right now that I have needed to use the spray bottle with (and adding a splash of vinegar is NOT going to hurt the cat, only make it less pleasant) and now all I need to do is show it to her and she stops her behavior. I have never had a cord chewer until this past year, and lost internet access and sound a couple of times before I finally wrapped my cords in chew-proof protectors. For someone who has miles of cord I would personally agree with you that it's best to be safe and wrap your wires or otherwise protect them before the kitten comes home so that you don't have to worry about it, rather than having to deal with it after the damage has been done - and a LOT of damage can be done in the few minutes that your back is turned!

I agree completely.

 

[Treywi]

We have a spray bottle and use plain water. It mostly just sits on the coffee table now as a visual deterrent. We used it for human dinner time as it's just my husband and I and we never use the kitchen table. When one of the cats (kittens at the time) would try and get close to our plates we'd say no firmly and push them away. They got two chances, third time they got a little squirt (never in their face) along with the no. Bengals figured it out right away and only got squirted once. Savannah was our stubborn one as he's very food motivated. His light bulb kicked on after about a dozen squirts. lol And our dsh kitten never needed squirting, he figured it out with just the no and push away. Now they all just lay in their spots around the room while we eat. We even have the dog trained to go into her kennel during dinner time.
Of course we never leave food unattended. That's just asking for something to get stolen. lol

 

[John Campbell]

...Of course we never leave food unattended. That's just asking for something to get stolen. lol

Interesting that you should mention that... and believe it or not it had not come to mind.. With myself, Jake, and Sylvester we all ate together and at the same time. Jake and Sylvester both knew their places. I brought my food out first and they never once tried to make a move for it... Shortly after their food would come out and we all ate together at the same time... With Elsa, may have to rethink that routine... At least until she is trained

 

[WitchyWoman]

TODAY'S THE DAY JOHN!!!! I hope Elsa's trip home goes smoothly. Can't wait to hear about your first meeting. Best wishes.