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.
Jim
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.
Captain,
Water seems to always work and I will keep that in mind.
Joe
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
Perhaps "ALF Scarecrows" strategically placed throughout scenery?
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
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.
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
Gosh, I'd hate to set a cold adult beverage on that mat..................
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
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
(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"
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!
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.
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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Keep a large alligator on your trainroom floor.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
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
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.
It could be worse. You might have a hungry Polar Bear in your train room.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Have fun with your trains
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.............
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
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.
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
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.
--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
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.
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.