A woman’s cats like to chew, including on the tubes from her oxygen tank. Pet expert Cathy Rosenthal offers tips for protecting oxygen tubes from cats.
Dear Cathy,
I am on oxygen 24/7 and have two cats who have fun chewing holes in my tubing. I have used so much duct tape to patch it; it’s crazy. Do you have any suggestions?
– Holly, Omaha, Nebraska
Dear Holly,
To discourage them from chewing, use a pet-safe deterrent spray like Bitter Apple (available at pet stores or online) to make the tubing “taste” less appealing. Be sure to test the Bitter Apple spray on a small section of tubing first. Give it 24 hours and examine the sample piece of tubing again to ensure it doesn’t impact the tubing. I think it’s safe and won’t penetrate the tubing but call the tubing manufacturer to make sure.
If this deterrent doesn’t work or is not feasible, covering the tubing with protective materials may help. Some cats dislike the texture of aluminum foil or double-sided tape, such as Sticky Paws, so wrapping sections of tubing in these materials could deter them. However, Sticky Paws tape may collect dirt since oxygen tubing is often dragged along the floor, so aluminum foil may be the better option to wrap it with. While they can bite through the foil, they won’t like how it feels on their teeth.
You can also try protective covers, like split loom tubing, braided cable sleeving, flexible spiral wraps, or fabric cord wraps (available at hardware stores). Look for flexible options that allow the oxygen tubing to remain flexible and maneuverable. PVC pipe, for example, would be too rigid and heavy to work in this instance.
Since some cats chew out of boredom, offering alternative outlets for their chewing instincts might also help. Providing cat-safe chew toys and interactive feeders can give them something more appropriate to focus on. Cat grass or catnip plants are also great distractions that offer a satisfying chewing experience. You might also switch your food bowls for food mats, as licking up the food from the textured mats provides additional mental stimulation for felines.
Is your cat bored? Treat it to a catio!
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist, and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. She fields questions as diverse as protecting oxygen tubes from cats to fearful dogs, mean cats, and helping a pet adjust to hearing loss. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.
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