Arriving in my studio soon: Pet cat. (Your advice?)
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- KVRAF
- 9064 posts since 1 Aug, 2003
hairballs are great for soundproofing!
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- addled muppet weed
- 111325 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
27 
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- KVRAF
- 4738 posts since 20 Feb, 2004 from Gothenburg, Sweden
We've got two cats at home, and they can from time to time be a PITA (think early morning, 4 or 5 o'clock), but they never mess with any equipment. Furniture is another thing though 
Stefan H Singer
https://dropshotaudio.com/
https://dropshotaudio.com/
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Stupid American Pig Stupid American Pig https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=4753 - KVRAF
- 7065 posts since 25 Nov, 2002 from not sure
cats cause no troubles here, except they tend to fill the litterbox more often than I care to change it...
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- KVRAF
- 4738 posts since 20 Feb, 2004 from Gothenburg, Sweden
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- KVRist
- 30 posts since 2 Jul, 2002 from Ottawa, CA
Hello Paul,
As herodotus pointed out: cats can wreak havoc with houseplants. Grow grass for the cat - this will keep the cat away from plants. I buy wheat seed from a health food store. A year's supply costs about a dollar. Oat seed is also great for this. Put the grass right with the cat's food dish. Praise the cat when she eats her grass, and provide the cat with a firm NO should she go near the houseplants.
Get lots of different toys - The Microchip Mouse is my cat's favorite. You can probably get one at a local pet store. Here is an online advertisement: http://www.kittenkaboodle.com/thestore/ ... 76748.html
As maximilians1 and ammoniad pointed out, bundle the cables. Wire Looms can help. Here's a site that has pictures: http://www.cableorganizer.com/wire-loom/ a cheap place to get them is at an auto parts store.
Although Vurt's experience notwithstanding, and to repeat cptgone: cats can usually be trained to use a scratching post. Note: the training process can take months!
Cats are unstoppable keyboard players. I think this is something that humans just have to live with. I have never had a keyboard dammaged by a cat.
My cat wants to play with guitar strings when I change them. I keep the cat away to avoid accidents.
Here are the rules that I use when training a cat:
- Use a firm No! with an attention getting handclap to signal that a behavior is wrong.
- Corporal punishment is useless. It only trains the cat to fear you.
- Praise and reward good behavior.
- Patience, consistant actions, and repetion are necessary to train a cat.
- Cats can get hyperactive for short periods of time. This usually prevalent around sunrise and sunset. I have heard this described as The Eight O'Clock Crazies. This is a good time to drop what you are doing and play!
Sincerely,
George and Bandit: the Studio Cat
As herodotus pointed out: cats can wreak havoc with houseplants. Grow grass for the cat - this will keep the cat away from plants. I buy wheat seed from a health food store. A year's supply costs about a dollar. Oat seed is also great for this. Put the grass right with the cat's food dish. Praise the cat when she eats her grass, and provide the cat with a firm NO should she go near the houseplants.
Get lots of different toys - The Microchip Mouse is my cat's favorite. You can probably get one at a local pet store. Here is an online advertisement: http://www.kittenkaboodle.com/thestore/ ... 76748.html
As maximilians1 and ammoniad pointed out, bundle the cables. Wire Looms can help. Here's a site that has pictures: http://www.cableorganizer.com/wire-loom/ a cheap place to get them is at an auto parts store.
Although Vurt's experience notwithstanding, and to repeat cptgone: cats can usually be trained to use a scratching post. Note: the training process can take months!
Cats are unstoppable keyboard players. I think this is something that humans just have to live with. I have never had a keyboard dammaged by a cat.
My cat wants to play with guitar strings when I change them. I keep the cat away to avoid accidents.
Here are the rules that I use when training a cat:
- Use a firm No! with an attention getting handclap to signal that a behavior is wrong.
- Corporal punishment is useless. It only trains the cat to fear you.
- Praise and reward good behavior.
- Patience, consistant actions, and repetion are necessary to train a cat.
- Cats can get hyperactive for short periods of time. This usually prevalent around sunrise and sunset. I have heard this described as The Eight O'Clock Crazies. This is a good time to drop what you are doing and play!
Sincerely,
George and Bandit: the Studio Cat
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- KVRAF
- 2344 posts since 8 Jul, 2002 from Limerick, Ireland
Cool post KHC but I find it takes much less time for the cat to train me...
Dave
Dave
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
My cats' favorite toys, in no particular order:
* paper wadded into a loose ball that makes interesting noises and rolls oddly
* cardboard strips folded into a shape that bounces and springs about when prodded
* unless I hold it high, squirrel-style, and keep it immobile, the tip of my tail :-( [y'all humans won't have this problem]
* the tips of their own tails
* something that's invisible and completely nonexistent, but very lively in spite of that
To be avoided:
* string, twine, and other cordage that they could get tangled in (or swallow) with potentially very tragic results
* feathers that they might eat
* accidentally dropped beer bottle caps -- they love these but will put 'em right where you'll discover them... late at night, with your heel =>_<=
* Lego robots, especially if they know how to program the Hitachi H8; even if they don't, they'll likely trash the mechanical parts
* paper wadded into a loose ball that makes interesting noises and rolls oddly
* cardboard strips folded into a shape that bounces and springs about when prodded
* unless I hold it high, squirrel-style, and keep it immobile, the tip of my tail :-( [y'all humans won't have this problem]
* the tips of their own tails
* something that's invisible and completely nonexistent, but very lively in spite of that
To be avoided:
* string, twine, and other cordage that they could get tangled in (or swallow) with potentially very tragic results
* feathers that they might eat
* accidentally dropped beer bottle caps -- they love these but will put 'em right where you'll discover them... late at night, with your heel =>_<=
* Lego robots, especially if they know how to program the Hitachi H8; even if they don't, they'll likely trash the mechanical parts
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- KVRAF
- 9064 posts since 1 Aug, 2003
little do we humans know... cats like to hang out with creatures from other dimensions!Meffy wrote:My cats' favorite toys, in no particular order:
[...]
* something that's invisible and completely nonexistent, but very lively in spite of that
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 1184 posts since 13 May, 2004 from SF Bay Area, California
Continued thanks to everyone posting here -- you've given me confidence and good advice, and today I welcomed a very sweet cat into my home, where she quickly seems to have become comfortable.
Her favorite thing so far seems to be crawling behind things with very little space. I am a bit embarrassed by all the dust and cobwebs she's picking up!
(And a special hello to George whom I know as one of the few who makes regular and interesting contributions to the VirSyn forums... )
Her favorite thing so far seems to be crawling behind things with very little space. I am a bit embarrassed by all the dust and cobwebs she's picking up!
(And a special hello to George whom I know as one of the few who makes regular and interesting contributions to the VirSyn forums...
)If you like 80s retro sounds, check out my latest tune…
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 1184 posts since 13 May, 2004 from SF Bay Area, California
(Still working on a name for her ...
She came home from the shelter with the name "Catalina" but I'm thinking about changing it. She's a gray and white tabby with bobcat-style spots, especially on her belly, and pure white stocking feet.)
She came home from the shelter with the name "Catalina" but I'm thinking about changing it. She's a gray and white tabby with bobcat-style spots, especially on her belly, and pure white stocking feet.)
If you like 80s retro sounds, check out my latest tune…
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- KVRist
- 453 posts since 20 Aug, 2004 from Falls Church, VA
I have a 14 year old cat, named Rusty. (He's blissing out on his blanket on the studio floor even as I type).VitaminD wrote:as hink mentioned before, keep this in mind and consider not leaving drinks around when you're not present to supervise.
He never chews on cables or claws at my subwoofer. He doesn't even come up onto to the computer desk. (Well, he did when he was a young cat).
He does, however, like sticking his head into glasses and cups. So I use bottled water in the studio (or anywhere in the house, for that matter).
Just use bottled beverages, and you shouldn't have any problem with spills on studio equipment.
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- KVRist
- 230 posts since 25 Nov, 2004
I lost my jet-black Samantha earlier this year. She went much too young, leaving behind a grieving older male, who recently has had the misfortune of our acquisition of a young female Maine Coon cat, whose personality is absolutely go-go-go all day and night. She rarely sleeps, but for a few winks here and there, usually while holding a toy that she'll wake up surprised to see.
Never a problem with the equipment though; this new kitten is all energy, yet she has not destroyed anything (I do recommend covering monitors, however). Just remember, if it's warm, she'll want to sleep on it--keep this in mind with computers/keyboards/etc.
Never a problem with the equipment though; this new kitten is all energy, yet she has not destroyed anything (I do recommend covering monitors, however). Just remember, if it's warm, she'll want to sleep on it--keep this in mind with computers/keyboards/etc.