Can house cats and model railroads mix?

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

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?

Quit honestey I wouldnt do it

Your putting the cat in a position where he can look down on the layout and a train looks especailly like a cat toy being dragged on the ground, 10 to 1 he'll pounce onto the last car of the train.

[Anonymous]

What if you placed the cat tree just out of jumping range?

[Anonymous]

A Moat, that's what you need! a nice wide and deep moat. The worst thing that will happen to your feline friend is it will get wet!! The moat will also add to the scenery and hey if the cat still wants to get adventuresome then you got your self a Fire tug with operating water canons. Just don't use high voltage as this could have cat-astrophic consequences!

Just goes to show you there's alot of ways to skin a cat[:D][:0][:D]

[Anonymous]

Has anyone thought of asking THE CAT what it thinks? Perhaps with a bribe or two Kitty might reveal definitive answers to this question.[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by robmik


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

Your kidding,right?? Now, did you seriously believe that he meant what he said.
You need to sell your cat and buy a sense of humor. Dave

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

What if you placed the cat tree just out of jumping range?

How far can your cat jump? from an elevated postition, could be 5-6-7 feet if hes young and limber.

If hes old and fat like some old cats i've known you could put it right next to the track, he'll just "look" at it and imaging he's chasing it..

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

QUOTE: Originally posted by robmik


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

Your kidding,right?? Now, did you seriously believe that he meant what he said.
You need to sell your cat and buy a sense of humor. Dave

Maybe i shouldnt mention that I am also by trade a Professional Cat Torturer...[}:)]

I can make any housecat talk..meooow![:-,]

I know all the spots to rub, scratch, tickle, itch, pet and otherwise bring a cat to a purring extascy... Give me some string and I can make any housecat my best friend in about 5 minutes[;)]

i'm pretty good with Dogs too.

Women? well..lets just say I havent got one to fetch me anything from the fridge ...I sure seem to do alot of fetching for her though... but they are like cats, you just have to find the right place to rub them, but why is it mostly their feet?

[Anonymous]

The cat tree and high shelving works. That's what we have and they leave things alone.

RMax

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scott218

What if you placed the cat tree just out of jumping range?

How far can your cat jump? from an elevated postition, could be 5-6-7 feet if hes young and limber.

If hes old and fat like some old cats i've known you could put it right next to the track, he'll just "look" at it and imaging he's chasing it..

One of mine has jumped 7 feet!

[Anonymous]

Well if I spot my cat tree eight feet from the layout that should be far enough away to keep any flying felines off the railroad.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan

Has anyone thought of asking THE CAT what it thinks? Perhaps with a bribe or two Kitty might reveal definitive answers to this question.[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

My cats think they own the house and all it contains. The only reason why they put up with humans in their home is because we are the beings that make sure they have plenty of food, water, a clean litter box, warm laps, and plenty of pats. The felines think they should be aloud to go any where they please. If a human is near by and has "issues" with particular behaviors (like playing kitty kong in Plasticville) they will wait until said human is not in sight before doing their thing, mostly to avoid the hassle of listening to irrate human gibberish. [:)]

[Anonymous]

ok i can not help but this is the funnist thread i have ever read here

[Anonymous]

A trick that might work, although I don't know if you want to use it - would be to squirt the cat with a squirt gun whenever you see the cat trying to get on the layout. The cat doesn't associate the squirt gun with you, but associates it with climbing onto the layout. (no, you can't use the spray bottle with a 50/50 mix of alcohol to water). Drawback - it gets on your scenery and can cause problems, not to mention if it hits your locomotives....

Or....you can try the "sound" aversion therapy. If you see the cat trying to climb on the layout, find some kind of unpleasant sound to make - like clap two 1 X 3 boards together. This has the advantage of not being painful to your hands, the sound is louder, and closer to the cat's upper range of hearing (above 20,000 Hz).
But, like with the squirt gun, you have to catch the cat in the act of climbing. Once the cat is on the layout, it's going to continue to be on the layout until you walk into the room. By then, the damage to the layout is already done.

I don't think putting sharp points at various points on the layout is going to make a difference - too random, and besides, the object is to prevent, not injure.

I have an N-scale layout in the living room and my cat won't get on it. It's only about 18 inches off the floor, but she'd rather lie under it than try to get on top of it.

[Javern]

sprinkle dog urine about the layout room, will not only keep away cats but squirrles also

[Anonymous]

Yuk!!! Don't try that!

[IRONROOSTER]

Don't have the problem with the two cats in the house. The female rules the basement so the male doesn't come down. And she's a bit over weight and can't jump to the layout which is 58" off the floor.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, maybe I should over feed my cats so they get fat and lose their ability to jump very high. As for sprinkling dog urine around the layout; I want to keep my cats away, not people too! Also, I have considered and rejected squirt bottles, spraying water would cause more harm to the layout than just letting the cats up on the pike. Maybe I should try an "animal psychic" who can communicate with my cats via ESP?

[Anonymous]

I see said sam the cat I am!

[pbjwilson]

I model Live steam in my back yard. My cat enjoys the engineers spot up front in the loco while my dog rides in the caboose. An occasional squiral or chipmonk also hop on for a ride. Of course my pot belly pig gets jealous and wants to ride also, but at 400 lbs. the drive wheels of my 4-8-8-4 start spinning, not to mention what might happen on the scale Hellgate bridge over Salt creek.


Paul the Painter
"the fumes are gettin to me"

[Anonymous]

Someone mentioned sound above the 20,000 range. Then why not put in an electronic barrier. The cat brakes the "beam" which in turn sets of the 20,000 Hz alarm. See Cat run, Run Run Run went the cat

[Eriediamond]

OK Scott, you just HAD to start this thread, didn't ya!!! Bubba (my cat) fas been lay'in here reading all of this with me. Some he takes serious other he lays on his back, all four paws in the air laughing his tail off. I think he's picked up a few pointers for future train attacks. I only have only myself to blame for most of his escapades though. You see, he use to just lay in his favorit spot on the layout and enjoy the trains. One evening I put a newley acquired Chessie boxcar about midway in the train and when he saw the emblem of the kitten with it's paw stuck out there----- bam!!!! I think he either took that as another cat wanting to play or a threat to his retreat. After contemplating this I came to realize that Chessie emblem must have looked awful big to him at his eye level. I've also come to realize that Bubba has learned to fake sleeping. It's one of his tactics to put me off guard. I think I've out smarted him though, I'm building a small layout just for him. Now, if doesn't read this I'm in good shape. So don't let the cat out of the bag and keep it quiet. [:-^][:-^][:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

Lee Valley Tools just released their Spring gardening tools catalogue and they have the tool to deter garden pests and unwanted visitors. For $85 Cdn you can by a lawn sprinkler with built in motion detector. Might not be the best thing for the basement but if anyone had concerns on the Garden Layout this might be the ticket.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Eriediamond

OK Scott, you just HAD to start this thread, didn't ya!!! Bubba (my cat) fas been lay'in here reading all of this with me. Some he takes serious other he lays on his back, all four paws in the air laughing his tail off. I think he's picked up a few pointers for future train attacks. I only have only myself to blame for most of his escapades though. You see, he use to just lay in his favorit spot on the layout and enjoy the trains. One evening I put a newley acquired Chessie boxcar about midway in the train and when he saw the emblem of the kitten with it's paw stuck out there----- bam!!!! I think he either took that as another cat wanting to play or a threat to his retreat. After contemplating this I came to realize that Chessie emblem must have looked awful big to him at his eye level. I've also come to realize that Bubba has learned to fake sleeping. It's one of his tactics to put me off guard. I think I've out smarted him though, I'm building a small layout just for him. Now, if doesn't read this I'm in good shape. So don't let the cat out of the bag and keep it quiet. [:-^][:-^][:)][:)]

Your story reminds me of the antics of a Manx cat I had named Sophie. At the time my family had her I had a small Z scale layout that I liked to show off to friends and relatives. On one particular ocasion I had my little Z scale layout set up on the den floor all prepared for an opperating demonstration when Sophie found the miniture pike and decided that my Kaydee loco and rolling stock would make great cat toys. Fortunately I caught her before she did much damage however the front coupler of my SP black widow F7 has never worked quite right since. No, I did not scold Sophie because it was my fault that I left the mini-pike alone with a her present. I guess the moral of the story is to protect model trains from cats like you would protect model trains from roudy kids, keep equipment out of reach or if equipment is in reach keep your eye on it at all times...

Scott

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith
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 yadda, yadda, yadda...

vsmith....I have had cats for over 52 years, usually more than one at a time...all of them were rescued strays, including the two we have now....often had dogs at the same time, as well....
SECOND THINGS SECOND

If you, or anyone else, actually thought I would run 220 volts to your "Borracho", there must have been some simulation of what a "Borracho" might be, and it sounds like it was construed as some kind of anatomical feature.
Our big cat, "Dufus" who is 18 pounds, and has somewhat crossed eyes, I would think has about the same IQ as those who got all "wired" about my post.
.....He also has a congenital heart murmur...so even a low voltage wire could pose a serious risk to him. That is why I consider your "idea" for the horse-wire to be lightweight and inappropriate.
Your chauvinistic and immature [:o)] followup comment about women, only proves my point.[:o)]
without regards;
Mike

[dave9999]

I have a better solution to the cat problem: http://home.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/179/179121/pages/456682/IM000448fw.JPG
Dave

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999


I have a better solution to the cat problem: http://home.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/179/179121/pages/456682/IM000448fw.JPG
Dave

Do you mean kill the cat? The topic starter said killing the cat is not an option

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999


I have a better solution to the cat problem: http://home.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/179/179121/pages/456682/IM000448fw.JPG
Dave

Do you mean kill the cat? The topic starter said killing the cat is not an option

No!! Don't get ASPCA on me. Or Mike either.

Disclaimer:
This is recommended as a CAT DETERRENT ONLY.
Professional Dog. Do not attempt this a home
No animals were harmed in the writing of this post. Dave

[Anonymous]

Try a cat repellant. Like this...

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775331&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025622&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1076339304276

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by robmik

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith
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 yadda, yadda, yadda...

vsmith....I have had cats for over 52 years, usually more than one at a time...all of them were rescued strays, including the two we have now....often had dogs at the same time, as well....
SECOND THINGS SECOND

If you, or anyone else, actually thought I would run 220 volts to your "Borracho", there must have been some simulation of what a "Borracho" might be, and it sounds like it was construed as some kind of anatomical feature.
Our big cat, "Dufus" who is 18 pounds, and has somewhat crossed eyes, I would think has about the same IQ as those who got all "wired" about my post.
.....He also has a congenital heart murmur...so even a low voltage wire could pose a serious risk to him. That is why I consider your "idea" for the horse-wire to be lightweight and inappropriate.
Your chauvinistic and immature [:o)] followup comment about women, only proves my point.[:o)]
without regards;
Mike

Wow Sorry Mike if I touched a nerve there...[:(]

Obviously my horse wire suggestion was a "last resorts" idea if all others failed. and obviously aimed at the owner of younger and very active cats that are more prone to jump up to investigate the layout. They do make this system for dog kennels and its supposed to harmless to healthy animals. I would never suggest it to the owner of any animal that had a health problem. I supposed that having a older pet with health conditions you would see that suggestion in a negative way. if so I apologize. We had a cat who lived as I said to 18 before he passed away and his mother died the following year at age 20. So I too know about what its like owning and losing an elderly and much loved pet.[V]

Personally if the cayenne sprinkles failed I would make either a solid cover or ceiling to layout sheid if it was that big of a problem to keep Kitty off the layout. I dont even know how you could hook up a electric kennal wire system to a layout in a way that didnt look awful or if you'd even want to take the chance of a kid touching it a getting zapped. I woundnt.


Also as for "chauvinitsic?" I have had several girlfriends, girls who are just friends , and one wife of 10 years and every single one of them has always loved a foot massage and never refused the offer of one, which is what I was refering to. Its like scratching a cat between his ears, they just loooove it. So it based on real experience there too.[:)]

and PS as for my fetching something from the fridge comment , as Foghorn Legghorn would say "its a joke, son", I would NEVER try it, if I ever did , my wife would bring it to me, and bonk me on the head with it..[xx(][;)] and like all husbands, I seam to do all of the "fetching", so get my leash... I need walkies![:p]

PS PS Borracho is Spanish for drunkard, my layout is called the Borracho Springs Railroad. the name came from the movie "The Great Race" with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, where they have to stop in the wild western town of Borracho and get into a great saloon fight with Larry Storch. My layout is a western mining layout and the name just had a great ring to it so i used it. Just FYI.[8D]

Hope your not too ruffled, no harm was intended, and WITH regards, Vic[:D]