Animals chew things because they like the texture and it helps to clean the tartar off their teeth. If it's something "their person" has been handling a lot, it will have a lot of the human's musk on it (yes, you have scent glands in your palms) and nibbling and nuzzling it is a mark of their affection for you.

I had a dog once who decided to go even more into my scent, and as my roommate explained, whenever I wasn't home and he had a new person over, she would stick her head into my laundry hamper, find a pair of dirty underwear, then take them to the new guests. See? This is what my human smells like!

You need to do two things to keep your cat off your foam core and cardstock models. First go to the pet store and buy some "Bitter Apple." This is a spray on or creme (use the spray as isn't greasy) that is terribly bitter. It doesn't hurt animals, but it does taste really gross and they won't chew something with it twice. We've coated the corners of the coffeetables with it to keep one dog from chewing them.

Second, get them something else that they can chew. Dogs like rawhide. Cats generally like anything that's been coated with catnip.

With something else to gnaw on, the cat should be much happier and less destructive of the things you care about.

The fridge packs from soda are also great toys for cats. We sometimes open up both ends and they love diving through.

Cardboard definitely works well for saving my foamcore.

I haven't found a solution to saving miniatures though, other than putting them in cases/boxes/or anything which makes them inaccessible and out of sight.

Arabin

Wow,

I have very little to fear from my Cat. She does scratch stuff, but a quick squirt from the water bottle and it stops that. She doesn't chew stuff either.

Maybe you should get your cat a guitar and amp.



CCotD'

My cat (Lily) has chewed through a set of ($40) Component cables for both my Xbox and PS2. I had to resort to using Peppermint Oil. The stuff is powerful. So if you use it, do so sparingly. I rub it on my game cords/wires once ever 2weeks or so.

She also likes my Miniature Trees (the flocked kind). So they disappear routinely. Hasn't messed with too much constructed cardstock models. But she will run off with half built vehicles and wheels. And she has chewed the plastic sword/spear tips off some of my minis. So I have to keep all of them put away now.

Fingers crossed that now I've said it she doesn't just go and pull a Godzirah on my shelves of WWG'ing goodness. She may not survivie the aftermath though...

~Floyd

One of my cats barks sometimes... does that count?

Arabin

Our two cats are very similar to others in that they go absolutely crazy for laser pointers. It is without a doubt the best toy overall.

Arabin