New Member...Need Help

[LumpySpacePrincess]

Hi, Everyone!
My cat is an 8-year-old male shelter rescue. We have had him almost two years now, and about a year after we adopted him we found out he is diabetic. Right now he is just being treated with a low-carb diet (fancy feast varieties).

The help I need comes from another troubling issue I have with this cat: he chews on absolutely everything!!! His main love is cardboard and plastic. Now, I do have to say that he doesn't actually eat what he chews, he just loves to rip it apart and poke holes in things, like a dog would. He is a destruction machine that has caused a lot of damage to our possessions.

Needless to say, we love the cat and giving him up is not an option. We have tried various sprays that work temporarily, but it seems his urge to chew is stronger than his distaste for the sprays. Obviously we can't spray a lot of things like cereal boxes and other food stuff in the kitchen. The chewing pre-dates his diabetes diagnosis.

Does anyone have any advice in terms of maybe behavior mod for the cat?? We have tried the water-bottle spray, but that doesn't seem to deter him for long. He knows when he's in trouble because he will crouch low to the ground, so I know he knows its wrong.

Someone help before he eats my house! :lol:

 

[Barb & Mr. Frog]

I can't really offer help, but I do have one cat that does this (my Prince)... mostly only sharp 'clean' box edges tho, he loves to puncture with his teeth, I've always kind of thought that he is cleaning his own teeth that way (since I don't brush their teeth) He does occasionally like to chomp non box things like my purse straps, or I have a belt I bought just for him, which is mostly elastic/chewy. I haven't ever tried to discipline him for this behavior because I can tell he 'needs' to do it... it's not even all of the time, it's a particular mood he gets in, I can tell when he needs to chew just by his behavior, if I don't have boxes available that's when I pull out his belt.

I was actually considering buying this cat toothbrush (as recommended by dr. Lisa Pierson @ catinfo.org) to try with just him to see if it would curb his need to chomp every box that ever comes in his reach. (although it may or may not be helpful without a genuine tooth cleaning first)

 

[BJM]

This may be pica, the eating/chewing on non-edible things.

To the extent it is a compulsive behavior, medication from the vet may help.

It may help to do 15-20 minutes of very active play 1-2 times a day. Done before meals may trigger the hunt-catch-kill-eat behavior cycle, too.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Can you provide "allowed" things for him to chew? Cardboard toilet rolls?Cardboard tunnels made out of old cardboard boxes? When he looks "chewy" then plop him beside those allowed ones.

I also like the idea of tiring him out with exercise.

Its probably behavioural but wouldnt do any harm to have the vet check for pica and have a quick look at his teeth.
Wendy

PS decant the cereal into glass jars.

 

[Picknickchick]

Have you considered trying Bach Flower Remedies for your cat? If the chewing is because of an emotional problem, they may be able to help. Cherry Plum might be helpful.