Can house cats and model railroads mix?

[Anonymous]

Hey fellow Model Railroaders,

Does anyone have any special insights on how to cat proof a model railroad?

Scott218

PS: Getting rid of the cat or killing the cat are NOT OPTIONS!!!!

[Anonymous]

What scale are you modeling? Where is the layout?

[Anonymous]

HO scale, my current layout is in an open area of the house that can not be clossed off.

[Anonymous]

I had N scale under my bed, my cats destroyed it. HO might be a bit harder for the cat because it's bigger. I would definately be careful, though.

BTW post 600 for me!!! [bday][bday][bday]

[Anonymous]

My cats like to jump up onto my layout and sleep in my turntable pit. They also like pulling trees out and depositing them in other parts of the house. They also like to tamper with any wires that are within reach on the under side of my layout.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

Hey fellow Model Railroaders,

Does anyone have any special insights on how to cat proof a model railroad?

Scott218

PS: Getting rid of the cat or killing the cat are NOT OPTIONS!!!!

High voltage hookups to the rails when not in use? Meeoowwww-ZAAAP!!!! [:0]

There are a couple of things I would suggest, the simpliest being to sprinkle a little ground Cayenne Pepper around your layout., not too much as Cats have a better sense of smell and a little bit of that stuff spread around the layout may be enough to dissuade Kitty Kong from invading Plasticville. Periodic applications should keep the Fuzz-monster at bay. Other than that , a cover an my be your next best option.

[Anonymous]

Cayenne Pepper? Sounds like a great idea, I will have to try it. Any other ideas out there?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

Cayenne Pepper? Sounds like a great idea, I will have to try it. Any other ideas out there?

This should work, if not there is stuff you can by at your garden supply store to keep little critters at bay. Barring this go with the high voltage or tie it to the rails[}:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergus

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

Cayenne Pepper? Sounds like a great idea, I will have to try it. Any other ideas out there?

This should work, if not there is stuff you can by at your garden supply store to keep little critters at bay. Barring this go with the high voltage or tie it to the rails[}:)]

Knowing me, if I ussed High Voltage I would probably zap myself!

[Anonymous]

I'm fortunate in having a ground-level train room separated from the rest of the area it's in by its' own door.
Our two cats will get in there if given a chance....sometimes a little ''sneakily'', as I'm sure you are aware cats can be.
I have pictures of each of them up on the layout, snoozing away contentedly.

Damage has been limited to two broken off yard lights, although they were rather expensive "NJ International" units.

I just try to make sure they don't sneak in.
Without a separate room with it's own door, there would be no acceptable way to keep them out. I am an animal lover, and don't believe in anything that could harm them in any way, including pepper sprinkled around, or anything like that.
Besides, I know of people who tried pepper...it didn't stop their cat at all.[:0]

If you have an open area, like part of a basement or garage, is there any way you could construct a low-cost, lightweight partition-wall and door for the area ? Even if they were just made of some 2 x 2's and cloth or plastic, they might well do the job.
regards
Mike[:)]

[Anonymous]

Actually I have considered a partition. Short of building a wall around my layout I am not convinced that a partition would be able to keep a cat out. Besides the occasional tree they have not caused any serious dameage to scenery. A bigger headache is keeping them from pulling out the wiring undernieth the layout.

[orsonroy]

My two cats actually leave the layout alone. The layout is in the basement, and there's a door that's kept closed at all times leading to it.

A door that's kept closed is probably your best bet here, since most cats love to be up high. If you can't install a door, I'd suggest a visquene drop cloth that's draped over the layout when you're not using it. Not only will the cats not jump up there, but the dropcloth will help keep dust off the layout!

[Anonymous]

Wow, a drop cloth is a great idea, like all model railroaders I have a problem with common house dust too!

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

A bigger headache is keeping them from pulling out the wiring undernieth the layout.

For this you might try using foamcore sheets attached with screws to the underside of your benchwork. this allows you to retain access to the wiring and keeps the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers (your cats) at bay.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

My two cats actually leave the layout alone. The layout is in the basement, and there's a door that's kept closed at all times leading to it.

A door that's kept closed is probably your best bet here, since most cats love to be up high. If you can't install a door, I'd suggest a visquene drop cloth that's draped over the layout when you're not using it. Not only will the cats not jump up there, but the dropcloth will help keep dust off the layout!

I dont recommend this as we had a kitten,a.k.a. The Unholy Terror, that took to climbing even plastic construction barriers. they will still jump on top of the plastic if its drapped over, where they'll walk, roll, slide over everyhting. If you put up a barrier it should be up to the ceiling. cats can jump to the tops of refrigerators. thats all you need is a cat to jump over your barrier and you've got a great fuzzy meteor coming down smack dab onto your layout. I'm beginning to think a new door might be in order.[;)]

BTW with the cayenne pepper, BE CAREFUL with it, use a few pinches spread out over your layout to start. and dont use it where you handle things a lot, if you do you could get some on your fingers you rub your eyes and AAAAH![xx(]

I also think its a good idea to let your cat sniff it before you put it on and let the cat see you do it. their smarter than we give them credit for. If they have that bad reaction to the sniff then see you putting on, or better yet, pick up the cat and let him sniff your layout where you added your pinch of seasoning, it will form a responce to the layout and he should be less inclined to jump onto it if he asociates the layout with the pepper. If that dosnt work a low voltage horse-wire hook up to the rails would also form a negative reaction to the layout. Plus you'd get to see your cat leap and hit the ceiling![:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith
...If that dosnt work a low voltage horse-wire hook up to the rails would also form a negative reaction to the layout. Plus you'd get to see your cat leap and hit the ceiling![:D]

Not funny. It was only a matter of time before someone here decided that a really lightweight comment involving animal cruelty was funny.[:o)]

...But just to show that I hold no grudge...this is an open invitation to vsmith to come and visit my layout.
I have arranged a direct line from the dryer plug, ( a nice even 220 volts ), to run directly to vsmith's "Borracho"...so I would then also get to see him hit the ceiling.[:p]
and regards;
Mike

[CP5415]

The cat usually leaves the layout alone if she gets lock in the attic.
When I'm up there, she wants to be up there & she usually follows the locomotive.
Very few times she gets up on the benchwork & when she does, a good swat will get her to leave.
If you really don't want a cat near a layout, a good big guard dog usually does the trick or get a bird in a cage for a different part of the house.
A good size fi***ank works wonders too.

Gordon

[Big_Boy_4005]

There is always the simple, but probably unacceptable solution of, lose the cats, keep the trains. I've never been into pets anyway, but you could try fish, at least they stay where you put them.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by robmik

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith
...If that dosnt work a low voltage horse-wire hook up to the rails would also form a negative reaction to the layout. Plus you'd get to see your cat leap and hit the ceiling![:D]

Not funny. It was only a matter of time before someone here decided that a really lightweight comment involving animal cruelty was funny.[:o)]

...But just to show that I hold no grudge...this is an open invitation to vsmith to come and visit my layout.
I have arranged a direct line from the dryer plug, ( a nice even 220 volts ), to run directly to vsmith's "Borracho"...so I would then also get to see him hit the ceiling.[:p]
and regards;
Mike

Can anyone contact the ASPCA?? That wasn't funny vsmith.

[Anonymous]

We have 5 cats and they are no problem. I have put a climbing tower in and shelves up high so they can watch. They leave the thing alone for the most part. We do have 2 that like to sit on the layout but are very well behaved and destroy nothing. While the trains are running they may walk around carefully and avoid them. Our big male sleeps under the table while every thing is running. As soon as I open the den door they all rush in and have a look. It's like a treat for them. I think if you try to keep them from becoming a part of your train life that is where you have problems.

RMax

[Roadtrp]

"Can anyone contact the ASPCA?? That wasn't funny vsmith."

Oh come on... it was very clear he was joking. Sometimes people here are WAY too serious. Making fun of human disabilities is cause for concern. But joking about a freaking cat? Give me a break. [sigh]

[Eriediamond]

In answer to the subject heading, Yes, cats do mix with model railroads. When I have a derailment, Bubba (my cat) is mixed up in it most of the time.[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by robmik

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith
...If that dosnt work a low voltage horse-wire hook up to the rails would also form a negative reaction to the layout. Plus you'd get to see your cat leap and hit the ceiling![:D]

Not funny. It was only a matter of time before someone here decided that a really lightweight comment involving animal cruelty was funny.[:o)]

...But just to show that I hold no grudge...this is an open invitation to vsmith to come and visit my layout.
I have arranged a direct line from the dryer plug, ( a nice even 220 volts ), to run directly to vsmith's "Borracho"...so I would then also get to see him hit the ceiling.[:p]
and regards;
Mike

Oh come on, now!!! you obviosly havent had a cat for very long!

FIRST THINGS FIRST

DO NOT EVER CONFUSE ME WITH A CAT HATER!!@!^%&$[:(!]

My comments are based on 30+ years of raising, living and caring for cats. Last year I rescued two litters of abandoned kittens, raised one litter for 4 months before adopting ALL 5 of them to good homes and rescued another abandoned kitten that was badly ematiated when we brought it home and took care of her adopted her to a good home also. I have also since captured the feral mother cat and had her fixed and took one severly deformed kitten to a vet but had to have it put down. Got it? Good![}:)]

I had a cat that lived to be 18 years old, his mother died the year later at 20. SO DONT lecture me on cats and cruelty. I know more about cats and cat behavior than most people know about there own kids.

I know from experience that a startled cat (which is what i was referring to) will leap upwords away from what scared it, and I HAVE SEEN a startled cat jump off a table and bru***he ceiling before meteoring into the carpet.[;)]

I referred to a LOW VOLTAGE horse fence cable which delivers around 10 volt, just enough to startle with out harming. You obviously never been around this system, sorry if you misunderstood. It keeps horses from pushing against the fence eventually knocking it down. there are similar systems used for dog kennels. thats were the reference comes from..

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp

"Can anyone contact the ASPCA?? That wasn't funny vsmith."

Oh come on... it was very clear he was joking. Sometimes people here are WAY too serious. Making fun of human disabilities is cause for concern. But joking about a freaking cat? Give me a break. [sigh]

What? Another person for Chessie to dip into hot metal!!!

[Anonymous]

Sorry thst I said those things. Now that I know you were joking I think it's funny. I have two cats and love animals and I thought you ment what you said.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Eriediamond

In answer to the subject heading, Yes, cats do mix with model railroads. When I have a derailment, Bubba (my cat) is mixed up in it most of the time.[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

Your cat Bubba actually derails your trains? What does he do, pounce on the trains or just foul the track? I think these cat / model railroad stories are quite amusing.

[vsmith]

Its Cool,

BTW the cat hitting the ceiling reference came from one Thanksgiving were the cat that lived to be 18(much much younger here), who WORSHIPPED turkey, ( after every T-day he would sit directly in front of the frige and cry for leftovers and try to climb into the frige to get at them), got onto a side table when he though no one was looking, crouchingly got right up to the turkey when my mother slapped her hands to shoo him, well, he LEPT up in complete surprise and he hit the ceiling, landing on the floor, running like mad out of the room.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if putting a cat climbing tree in the close vicinity of my model railroad would keep my felines away from my layout. If cats like high places maybe they would forego the railroad entirely infavor of a location near by the layout that is highter than the highest point on the pike. What do you think vsmith?

[Anonymous]

Scott,

There's a repellant at Petsmart that's called No-Stay that's supposed to be harmless to fabrics and other areas where Kitty is forbidden. I wonder if this would help you? Spraying it completely over the layout is a no-no, but maybe around the edges, just enough for the cat to get a good whiff of and subsequently leave the premises.[:)]

[Anonymous]

My train room has a gate, about 4 ft tall made of 1x2's and dowel rods. My kids think it looks like a jailhouse door!
Between it and a trusty water bottle, (for the sneak attacks) keeps my 4 furry buddies at bay.
Cayenne pepper and No-Stay all sound like a good idea, the low voltage electrical wire is not a bad idea (the griping about it is uncalled for, as anyone raised around it can tell you) BUT, cats are not dumb. They will just jump over it. [}:)]