A newly acquired kitten has shown an interest in my layout, which so far, has only resulted in a few derailed cars. But, once I progress beyond the plywood-pacific stage, things will definately take a turn for the worse.
I'm thinking that by disconnecting the DCC (NHC Power Cab) and connecting DC (MRC Tech 2) to the rails, and turning the throttle up, that the mild shock from stepping on the track might solve the problem.
So my first question is... would this work?
If so, next question is - would the DC current damage the DCC accessories?
I'd remove the decoder equipped locos. The DCC accessories wired in to the track bus line are:
Jim
hardcoalcaseSo my first question is... would this work?
No. The cat wouldn't even notice. Just google "cat vs model train" for dozens of examples.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
Cat? What cat?
Roundhouse_cat_sm by Edmund, on Flickr
Back in '95 I was in the Plywood phase of construction. My cat was always ready to help. After sections of the track became "train-worthy" the cat would simply sit on the rails and watch the engines run right up and bump her in the rear.
I wouldn't bother with all the risks of switching DCC to DC back to DCC again.
I have found that a small spray bottle of water (with a stream setting on the nozzle) will discourage the cats from getting on the layout (eventually). It would help to discourage the behavior NOW rather than try to re-program the cat later.
Now that scenery is done and construction is pretty much over, the cats are banned from the entire layout area.
I've noticed that with DCC power to the rails I actually felt more "tingles" than with straight DC (the voltage is very slightly higher, too) but only if conditions were just right, slight persperation on my forearm, say.
Good Luck, Ed
WHy swap power, the DCC can be felt as well, in fact it's typically a bit higher than DC (although with no load, the MRC pack probbaly puts out slightly higher).
But - the cat won't care unless it happens to touch both rails with a wet nose. The only totally effective way to keep a cat off a layout is to keep said cat completely excluded from the layout room.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Borrow a large territorial rat or a small dog and keep it in the train room for a couple of days. The cat will soon develop an acute aversion to entering that room, at which you can return your borrowed 'tools'.
Ten years later, my cat remains a 'feline of interest' in the missing person's case of the fisherman who was last seen with rod and reel under a railroad bridge.
Rich
Alton Junction
You're better off leaving post notes (or something sticky) upside down on the layout. They don't like them stuck to their fur. Of course, this has worked for a couple of my cats, but one wasn't phased a bit...
We had a kitten that was VERY interested in the train around the Christmas tree--he would swat at it and pounce, until one day the fur on his paws got stuck in the siderods of the loco. He did NOT like that. Yowling, screeching, flailing until he was unstuck, and he ran and hid under the couch. Never bothered a train since.
Gary
I'm just trying to get my cat to stop trying to use my oscilloscope. Silly cat, you don't even have opposable thumbs to turn the knobs.
I wonder if I took everything off the work surface and energized the anti-static mat with high frequency high voltage low current power...
Cats will be cats...
Regards
Anton.
An old modeler once told me his secret for family cats. He said to go buy the cheapest can of flea spray I could find, first spray the cat with as much of the spray as possible, second spray the under edges of the layout with the spray. Repeat the next time the cat appears, the cat will avoid the top of the layout just as soon as they hear, see, or smell the spray can. Jim.
selectorBorrow a large territorial rat
Believe it or not, I don't know anyone who has ever owned a rat.
In medical school we had our own desks in histology lab so we could lock up our microscopes. The desks were built in a giant E shaped design so the insides were all contiguous. Every once in a while you would open a drawer and a giant white escaped lab rat would come bounding out.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
DCC systems generally have a constant 14 volts or so of AC on the track at all times; the decoder pulls the power it needs from the track and transforms it to DC for the engine's motor and lights. I don't know that substituting 12v DC for 14v AC on the track is going to make much difference. Either way, the cat probably will figure out at some point to avoid the track if they get shocked a time or two, and just concentrate on messing up the scenery. I would guess the cat would find that more interesting than the track anyway - unless you do like some folks and use kitty litter for ballast?
richhotrain Ten years later, my cat remains a 'feline of interest' in the missing person's case of the fisherman who was last seen with rod and reel under a railroad bridge. Rich
On my old layout I had a JI Case tractor plant to match the one in Denver. On the corner of the building I had hand carved an eagle from balsa and put it on a globe to match the prototype. It disappeared one day. I hoped I would find it when we moved but never did. The chief suspect was our cat "Pooh" (He earned that name but that is another story ) Wonder if he thought the "bird" tasted funny......
Just do what I did - Put up a catch fence of clear plexiglass, that extends about 8" above the level of the of the layout, along the edge.
I figured, it would keep the cat from knocking stuff off the layout towards that great bottomless pit known as the floor.
Instead, it created a invisible force field that the feline species can't see, nor jump through.
It was funny to see him try to jump onto the layout, and bounce off of said invisible force field, before running from that magical mystery that he couldn't get through.
And now, for some reason, he does not even attempt to get onto the layout.
Now, if only I can find a way to get rid of the Mickey species that that seem to still find there way onto the layout. (Or, get them to help work on it in exchange for all the cheese they can eat!)
So, Mr. Max (the kitty in question) is definitely encouraged to enter the layout area, and room, but is not on the layout itself anymore.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
My solution is to have a dog! Has no interest in the layout though he did attack the under tree train.
Joe Staten Island West