How to stop my kitten from chewing plants and jumping on tables?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I can see how this problem can be quite frustrating! It sounds like at least one of them is a kitten, which explains the "why". As far as the "how" to get them to stop, have you tried bitter apple spray on the plant leaves or dirt? While the spray only lasts for a few hours, perhaps it will be enough to deter them. I'd also try to find puzzle feeder toys, that you can put their kibble and treats in, which will help to satisfy their need to hunt. If all else fails, you may have to temporarily relocate the plants to another area of the house that isn't accessible to them, at least until they grow out of their crazy kitten phase. I hope this helps! Good luck!

I recommend a Scat Mat. It gives a mild static shock when the cat steps on it. I like it because you can lay it on the table and it will correct the cat when you aren’t even there. You can purchase one at PetCo. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Unfortunately, this is a common issue in cats. First, make sure that all house plants are not toxic to cats. Then, you can try spraying the plants with something like Bitter Apple spray to discourage your cat from chewing on them. If that doesn't work, you may have to move the plants to an area where Lil Bit can't get to them. You can also try placing pet grass or a small planting of wheat grass or cat nip in an area where Lil Bit can get to it to satisfy her desire to chew on plant material.

You can apply bitter apple spray to the leaves of the money plant and see if this deters her from chewing on it. You can also use another product called Sentry Stop That. If these do not work, you can resort to a motion sensing toy and place it near the base of the plant and see if that deters her from going after the plant. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry that Bingley is being so bad! First for your sanity, at night I would confine him so he isn't keeping you up at night. Put him in the basement (with food, water and litter boxes) or a separate room. That will keep him from getting in to things and allow you to sleep. The good news is that he will grow out of this behavior, he is very young still. As for getting up on the counters, etc: cats like high places. First provide alternatives, get a couple of cat trees or other things to enrich his environment. Make sure all food is put away and the facet doesn't drip so he isn't attracted to the counters. Then you have to make the counters unpleasant: cover the counters with textures cats hate — aluminum foil is one example; cardboard covered with double-faced masking tape or shelf liner is another. No, you won’t have your counters covered forever, but you will need to keep them covered while your cat learns to use the new perches. For the more determined cat, you can look at harmless automatic devices that discourage counter cruising by making sounds cats dislike when they trigger a pressure pad or electronic eye by jumping up. I hope this helps and have a great day!

Wanting to bite on wires, shoelaces, strings, and other things is completely normal behavior in a kitten this age - this is how they explore the world, and how they instinctively want to play :) You will not be able to stop this behavior, as it's hard-wired and very natural for them. Instead, you need to focus on redirecting Lucky to appropriate things for him to bite and chew on, and keep him safe by putting things away that might be dangerous. Make sure to provide a variety of different toys that you can use to play with him - it sounds like he would probably enjoy fishing pole type toys very much! He should also have a few good, solid scratching posts and a cat condo or tree to climb on. Put your shoes away when you aren't wearing them - if he tries to bite at the laces when you have them on, use one of his toys to redirect his attention so he can bite on that instead. Wires should be safely tucked away behind furniture whenever possible - you can also try using Bitter Apple spray on wires and cables to help make them taste bad, which should help to discourage Lucky from biting them. He will grow out of this behavior on his own as he gets older, so for now you need to be patient and consistent while he learns. I would not recommend using any type of punishment to try and discourage him, such as a spray bottle, hitting or smacking, etc. as cats usually respond very poorly to this and it doesn't tend to be effective. Instead, focus on proving appropriate things to bite and chew on, kitten-proofing the environment, and redirecting him to his own toys as needed.

Hello, sorry to hear about your cat. She is very young still, so managing her scratching and biting will be crucial in this stages of life before she gets bigger and her scratching could become more damaging. Here are some tips you can follow to decrease the incidence of scratching. Hope this helps and best of luck. Why do cats scratch? Scratching is a normal behavior that aids cats in the marking of their territories in the form of scratch marks. Scent glands in their paws leave olfactory clues for other cats to alert them to their presence. Cats also find it pleasurable as a means of exercise and stretching. Scratching also allows cats to keep their claws healthy and shortened. Unlike dogs, a cats’ claws do not exfoliate evenly from the end; rather they peel off in layers like an onion. What is inappropriate scratching? Inappropriate scratching is ultimately determined by the owner, but is generally directed at furniture, screens, carpets and rugs and other items that the cats finds suitable. What can I do to prevent this? The easiest way to prevent severe damage is to trim your cats nails every 2-4 weeks. It is best to begin this process when the cat is very young, as they will become more accustomed to this procedure. However, older cats can learn to tolerate it as well. Another excellent method is to provide them with a suitable scratching substrate. As with nail trimming, this is also best started at an early age before the scratching behavior begins, but older cats will also generally accept such items as carpet or sisal fiber scratching posts or corrugated cardboard. For more options, you can visit your local pet store or make your own from their preferred scratching material and a supporting board of wood. My cat is ignoring the scratching post. How do I get him/her to use it? Place the item in the areas that your cat(s) enjoys scratching. You can entice the cat to use the item by rubbing or sprinkling with catnip. If your cat insists on using the wrong scratching surface, guide your cat to the correct site. Once at the post, you can start petting and scratching your cat while placing their feet on the surface for encouragement and stimulation of the natural kneading motion. Remember to reward your cat for its good behavior!