How silly can I be. New kittens = new hose!

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:26 pm

I just adopted three (yes, that was three) adorable little 12-week old kittens. My last cat was 18 and very sick when I had her put to sleep. I thought I was done with pets, but boy, one little furry body sure warms up a house. Mine was just empty without her.

I didn't intend on three. Actually, I didn't go to adopt a kitten, but a 2 year old cat. He was gone an hour before I got there and I fell in love with the kittens. I would have been happy with just two (I work, and with kittens, I think you're better off with two) but I couldn't choose which one to leave behind.

As well mannered as they have been during their first week with me, we had an incident last night. They have been sleeping with me, and actually very curious and playful with the air stream coming out of the mask. They didn't seem to mind it at all.

Last night I turned over and the hose, of course, dragged across the pillow. The little male kitten must have thought it was dangerous, because he yeowled and pounced. I have a nice new exhaust pattern in my hose now.

My question: Anyone have any good ideas of what to cover my hose with to make it a little more kitten proof? I taped the tiny punctures and I think it's going to hold, but I'd like to cover this with something fairly tough until he is old enough to not bug it.

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:54 pm

You could purchase a hose cover or if you have an old winter scarf or similar use that.

I use a light wool men's scarf I don't wear anymore, rolling the hose up in the scarf like a jelly roll. Use velcro to secure.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:00 pm

My mother-daughter combination are great except: the seem to believe that their mission in life is to chew into bits every electrical cord, drapery or shade cord, string, thread and etc. (How do they chew through an electrical cord that is plugged in, and not be shocked?) I've tried everything, to no avail: bitter apple, bitter orange, and bitter lemon didn't work.

I've found only the cord concealers and auto cord combiners that are corrugated disguise the cords enough to protect them. Now they are forbidden to use the computer, and are blocked from entering the knitting/sewing room. (The mere thought of the totally decimated yarn gives me horrors, let alone all of the electrical connections.)

Fortunately, they have not been interested in the actual hose. I have even thought that an old hose would work to disguise the cords. Gotta love the furry feline mind, don't we?

That said, how about trying a ComfortSleeve? Offerocker makes them, and possibly a bit of added padding inside the sleeve will protect it from their little kitten teeth!! (Offerocker may even be able to help you with this. I know that it has come up before.)

Another person suggested pipe insulators, but I'm not sure if they come for large enough pipes to cover the hose. They certainly may, as one would think that pipe insulation WOULD have to cover some of the larger pipes.

Pipe insulation would seem to be a bit stiff, though--I should think that it would be difficult to find such a product that would be flexible enough to work properly. However, that would be a substance that wouldn't be perforated by kitty canines.

Until a better solution occurs, how about wrapping or tying a towel around the hose? Securing it with safety pins or wrapping the towel with a spiral of thread, fishing line, or dental floss (secured at the ends and with any loose ends concealed) might do the trick.

Best wishes!

Karen

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:04 pm

birdshell wrote:I've tried everything, to no avail: bitter apple, bitter orange, and bitter lemon didn't work.

Vicks Vapor Rub works great on electrical cords as a cat deterrent. Our Sophie used to chew on cords when she was playful or trying to get our attention. I finally got fed up and grabbed the Vicks. I didn't put much on but it was more than enough for her. (Personally, when I get a whiff of the stuff, it reminds me of childhood.) LOL

Kimberly

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:11 am

Thank you, Kimberly! That is a new one on me, and I'll try anything to keep those kitties away from the cords. They still aren't getting into the knitting/sewing room no matter WHAT! I'm sure they would have a lot of fun, but that would not be in their best interest--or mine!

How does the whole house smell with Vicks Vaporub on all of the cords, though? I suppose that breathing with a stuffed nose is easier.

We have the BEST forum, IMHO. Thanks again.

Karen

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:02 am

I really haven't noticed the smell at all. I don't use much. Just a very light smear. Actually, less than that! Not enough that you can really even see it. I've done this to the cords in the office and our bedroom. Sophie was six months when we got her last year, so she was big enough to look like a full grown cat, yet young enough to be a stinker.

I think I've read that cats (and dogs) chew on cords due to animal fat or something like that in the plastic. There's probably a more scientific explanation, but who needs that? LOL

Kimberly

snorin747 · Post by **snorin747** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:49 pm

I came home on evening and found my young cat hissing at an extension cord. Closer inspection I saw a burn mark near his nose, and found what looked like cat teeth marks in the extension cord. That was the one and only incident. After that he would never bother any cords.

-747

frete50 · Post by **frete50** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:23 pm

My dad's cat liked biting his oxygen supply hose so he could feel the air rush into his face. I now have the cat.

Becky

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:11 pm

My sister's cat did finally electrocute himself while chewing the fifth or sixth cord. That's definitely a hazzard for the cat and a possible house fire.

With her next cat, she ran her cords through PVC piping and pipe insulation. It didn't look too bad because most of the cords ran behind furniture.

Keep a water spray bottle by your hoses - they will ultimately learn. And keep extra hoses on hand.

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:00 am

Thank you all for the tips! After reading Linda's comment about her sister's cat, and snorin747's comment about the electric cord, I did a bit of research and discovered cats don't like the smell of citrus. I don't know if this will work or not, but I had some lemon essential oil and dabbed some on a Kleenex and rubbed the hose. Smells good to me and I hope the kitten finds it bad enough to stay away from my hose! I will also order a cover from this site.

Thank you everyone! I'll let you know if the lemon oil is effective.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 5:02 am

Or you could PM Offerocker. She makes hose covers (comfortsleeve.com). You could pick your favorite color!

Brenda

OldHippie · Post by **OldHippie** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:20 am

I have 3 adult cats and 3 adult dogs (no comments please ---blame it on my mother) so one of the first thing I did when I started CPAP was to make a cover for the hose.

I had a hunk of fleece in my sewing box (not often used) and cut it so it would wrap around the hose. I secured it with yarn ties. Easy to take if off for washing and cheap to replace. You don't have to have a sewing machine to do this either. Any stitching that has to be done, and there is little or none, can be done by hand.

I also called yesterday to get an extra hose just in case although I don't need it now. Same with the soft cushion part on my FF Mask. It appears to be pretty flimsy and also something a furkid would just love to taste!!

God bless,
Louise

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