Any suggestions on cat-proofing a layout? Seems one of our cats loves to chew on fake plants and would have a field day on a layout. I was thinking of making a shelf layout that's higher off the ground so it might deter her from jumping.
Been a while since we've had a cat thread, guess it's time!
I just keep the door to the train room closed, no cats allowed. Cats are just insatiably curious, there's really not a whole lot you can do besides an absolutely cat-proof physical barrier that will keep them off without a) being harmful to the cat and/or b) being annoying to you and other humans.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Randy
I will have to install a door but its probably worth it, as you point out they are just curious. Funny too that if I install the door, it will pique their curiosity even more. Its like conquering Mt. Everest to go behind the door.
Thanks
joe
Yes, if I'm in there more than a short time, mine will be waiting outside the door. I've let them in to snoop around supervised, but that has not sated their curiosity, so shut tight it will remain.
Joe,
My cats can easily jump from the floor to a cat tower platform that is 5' off the ground. I'm afraid it's a door or nothing.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
In my old layout the cat liked to sleep in my tunnel so I went to the Dollar store and bought a large can of flea spray. I sprayed the cat real good and then I sprayed the edge of my layout with it, the cat never got on the layout again and every once and a while I would respray the edge again just for good measure, a dollar cured the cat LOL. By the way it didnt have any smell we could smell but she sure did. Jim.
Cats are very vertical thinkers. There is no way you can make a barrier tall enough to stop a cat.
A serval for example can lie on the ground, and then leap nine feet into the air to catch a bird on the wing.
And a leopard, him can sit 60' up in a tree, leap down and take off at full speed all in one movement.
My cats are outdoor animals, and they do not even come into the house let alone find their way up to the train room.
But you have an indoor cat, so it is a door or a cat.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hi,
I haven't had a cat for many years, but have been around some and know a bit about them.
Making a layout cat proof is an exercise in futility for the most part. Cats can do most anything if they set their mind to it. Having all those potential cat toys and tidbits placed up high might deter a clawless cat somewhat, but if the feline has claws - forgetaboutit.............
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Have fun with your trains
It could be worse. You might have a hungry Polar Bear in your train room.
chelbe00Seems one of our cats loves to chew on fake plants and would have a field day on a layout.
It may be craving grass. Go to a pet store and ask for some cat grass.
Jim
That's a great idea. Unfortunately though I tried that..seems our cat just gets sick when she eats it ..guess she eats it too fast
Sighs..I guess i'll need to get a door. But in the meantime I will check with the vet maybe I can get some spray to deter them.
Keep a large alligator on your trainroom floor.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
chelbe00 Sighs..I guess i'll need to get a door. But in the meantime I will check with the vet maybe I can get some spray to deter them.
get the spray that comes in 12 gauge
Inspired by Addiction
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vsmithSprinkle some cayanne pepper powder around the areas where the problems occur. Cats have very sensitive smell and the pepper smell will dissuade the cat from being there and doesn't harm the cat.
Either that, or a squirt bottle (set on jet, not spray) with a small amount of white vinegar and water!
Karl
NCE über alles!
(1) Close door (2) Get rid of cat....... Pick one......is what i say until my wife tells me she thinks "its cute Gizmo plays with the railcars and (2) is not funny"
My daughter got a deterrent called "scat mat" to keep her cats off furniture. She says it works great. Available at petsmart . It is a little pricey tho. Causes a shock when the cat steps on it. Won't take long for her to decide not to jump back up there.
Hope this helps
Gosh, I'd hate to set a cold adult beverage on that mat..................
Same Solution I use to keep the dog out a door. Its not so much that I worry about the layout its that a dog or a cat could eat something thay are not supposed too like paint or a droped coupler.
Joe Staten Island West
I have 5 cats. The only thing that works is doors. I installed 2 doors at the bottom of the basement stairway to keep them out of the train area. They do try to sneak in, but if I'm careful they stay outside the train room.
Perhaps "ALF Scarecrows" strategically placed throughout scenery?
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
My wife has two cats (they are not mine) and they share the downstairs family room where the layout is located. They hate getting squirted with water from a spray bottle and I have trained them to retreat whenever they see the spray bottle, It only took a few squirts. Now when I keep an empty squirt bottle at the entrance to the layout they stay away. I'll have to try adding vinegar, though it hasn't been needed so far.
Capt. Brigg FranklinUSCG Licensed Marine OfficerCertified crazy train chaserCEO: Pacific Cascade Railway
Captain,
Water seems to always work and I will keep that in mind.
Joe
Better idea, maybe I should put pics of our other cat on the wall. Seems the other cats are afraid of her so it might spook them. Thanks for the idea though..got me thinking.
Get a motion security lamp. The type which holds a floodlight or two. Mount it in a suitable location.
Instead of a lamp, attach a 120v buzzer or alarm.
Cats hate loud noises.
We have two cats. While cats are, in general, predictable in their general modus operandi, each has a personality all its own. Only a closed and monitored door will save a layout from kitty. Somehow the little #$%^&**s seem to know why the door is closed and what you are trying to protect. Thus..... in a moment of inattention they will run into the room and immediately leap onto the train table as if to spite you.
Some cats respond to a water pistol spritzing in their face and run away, but don't expect kitty to come to you when you want a pet later....They hold deep seated grudges.
Kitty grass is only consumed by the kitty so that they can vomit at some inconvenient spot on your carpet later. The only reason a cat eats grass is at stomach upset or digestive distress and knows it will work as a purgative. They don't do salads!
Cats are often never there when you are in the mood for them and always trying to love-rub on you while doing the crossword or having your morning coffee.
There is a reason that a metaphor exists when attempting to do the impossible in life and your quest is said to be "like trying to herd cats."
Door - closed -everyone in the house, (family and friends), who enter the train room, make sure you slip in fast and quickly shut the door making sure the cat is not too near the door when you do it..
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
keeping the cat outside the layout room is the best basic solution, if not possible then my Cayanne pepper solution or the spray bottle are next best solutions to try.
Build a clear spot where the cat can watch, but can't actually touch and finished scenery. Make it nice, like the top of a cat tree. Worked with my cats. They now climb up to where they can see what's going on, but have no interest in anything else, and when the trains stop running and the lights go out, they leave to. I don't even have to coax them out.
What also helped is that they stepped on the live track and bridged the tracks. Cricket jumped straight up and wanted nothing to do with the layout since. Sphinx had done it a couple of times and attacked the track right up until the BB F7 ABBA ran over her tail. She spun around and tried to attack it and her tail got run over by a double headed pair of Mikes. She is now content to watch.