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Cats

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  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
  • 2,508 posts
Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Friday, January 31, 2020 11:48 AM

What do cats do in your basement?

Play video on Youtube.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Friday, January 31, 2020 11:43 AM

I am totally indifferent to pets in general.

Dogs are needy 3 year olds that never grow up, at least a cat will use a litter pan........

My wife has a cat, I don't mind it being around, but it will never be in my train room........

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Friday, January 31, 2020 11:23 AM

richhotrain
 
zstripe
 

''Merrily We Roll-along,''.....LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...

Poor Pussycats.......

Take Care!Smile, Wink & Grin

Frank  

 

Frank, thank you for your full-fledged and unwavering support of Gracie as she begins her anti-Wayne campaign. Clown

Rich

 

 

Wayne is the master with the Xacto knife.  Even if I had 9 lives I'd be cautious about getting on his bad side.  You could end up being an unrecognizable kitbash and the authorities would have no clue.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 88 posts
Posted by rws1225 on Friday, January 31, 2020 10:21 AM

Big SmileI vote for doors.  Last cat I had got locked in train room for about 12 hours, after that she would stand at the door and watch for me to leave

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
  • 1,734 posts
Posted by joe323 on Friday, January 31, 2020 6:38 AM

I still say trade the cat for a dog but if you aren't based on my reading of this forum over the years expect some cat antics.

Joe Staten Island West 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, January 31, 2020 6:23 AM

We have had no pets in the house since our youngest daughter moved out and took "Miss Jelly" with her.

.

I intend to keep it that way.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, January 31, 2020 6:20 AM

doctorwayne

NO CATS EVER is the best way to keep them off your layout.

I wouldn't have the filthy, arrogant, disease-carrying bags of fur anywhere in my home.  Been there, done that, done with that!

Wayne

Nooooo.  Don't hold back now.  Kisses

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, January 31, 2020 6:18 AM

zstripe
 

''Merrily We Roll-along,''.....LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...

Poor Pussycats.......

Take Care!Smile, Wink & Grin

Frank 

Frank, thank you for your full-fledged and unwavering support of Gracie as she begins her anti-Wayne campaign. Clown

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Friday, January 31, 2020 5:51 AM

richhotrain

 

 
doctorwayne

NO CATS EVER is the best way to keep them off your layout.

I wouldn't have the filthy, arrogant, disease-carrying bags of fur anywhere in my home.  Been there, done that, done with that!

Wayne 

 

 

Wayne, I ran your comments past Gracie and she began hissing. Later, when I went to clean her litter box, I discovered that she had taken your avatar and blown it up to a full sized 8 1/2" x 11" color photo on my printer and used it to line her litter box. She asked me not to remove the color photo so that she can think of you every time she goes to perform her duty.  

 

Rich

 

''Merrily We Roll-along,''.....LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL...

Poor Pussycats.......

Take Care!Smile, Wink & Grin

Frank

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, January 31, 2020 5:32 AM

doctorwayne

NO CATS EVER is the best way to keep them off your layout.

I wouldn't have the filthy, arrogant, disease-carrying bags of fur anywhere in my home.  Been there, done that, done with that!

Wayne 

Wayne, I ran your comments past Gracie and she began hissing. Later, when I went to clean her litter box, I discovered that she had taken your avatar and blown it up to a full sized 8 1/2" x 11" color photo on my printer and used it to line her litter box. She asked me not to remove the color photo so that she can think of you every time she goes to perform her duty.  

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, January 31, 2020 12:57 AM

NO CATS EVER is the best way to keep them off your layout.

I wouldn't have the filthy, arrogant, disease-carrying bags of fur anywhere in my home.  Been there, done that, done with that!

Wayne

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Thursday, January 30, 2020 11:12 PM

Yea- put it up high enough- nah not going to happen. As a teenager I had a layout that was in the garage and we cranked up to the ceiling with a winch- both cats managed to find their way clear up there. On a later layout I had hand carved an eagle on a globe for my Case tractor building on my layout. Our last cat is still the prime suspect in its disappearance.............To be safe go G scale- they stand half a chance against them. Big Smile  

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, January 30, 2020 8:26 PM

Cats?

What cat?

 Roundhouse_cat_sm by Edmund, on Flickr

   § This was years ago while the layout was still under construction. These days all of our five cats stay out of the basement. They have enough to entertain them without the need to chase trains.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Thursday, January 30, 2020 6:26 PM

Hello All,

What size pike are you talking about?

On my 4'x8' I just drap a sheet over it. A fitted sheet works. 

Our cat hasn't done any damage but the hair gets in the mechanisms of the motive power and causes sporadic running.

The sheet just keeps the pike clean.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, January 30, 2020 5:59 PM

When our current cat was a youngster, I could not keep her off my basement layout. My solution was to screen both sides of the staircase from the first floor to the basement and install a screen door at the bottom of the stairs. That finally solved the problem.

In another example, when my daughter and her husband built their new home, the contractor installed undercabinet LED tapes in the kitchen by pressing the tapes up against the underside of the cabinets and running 20 gauge wiring behind the wall and down to a 12VDC wall wart plugged into a basement outlet. Their two cats immediately tore down the tapes. So, recently, I installed new LED tapes inside aluminum channels and diffuser covers and nailed up outside corner moulding to conceal the 20 gauge wiring. Problem solved!

The fact of the matter is that you cannot stop an inquisitive cat. You have to outwit it. And to that, I say, lots of luck.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 4:41 PM

LouC
Of course she does like to play Catzilla 

My wife actually got a catzilla, a stuffed cat toy the looks like a dinosaur sort of.  The kitten really loves it.

 

dknelson
I wonder if the lingering odors of paint and plastic cement in the workbench room are a deterrent? Dave Nelson

My wife has read that cat's don't like the smell of oranges or lemons, citrus.  So we've been cutting them up and spreading them in areas where out door cats have been pooping at the side of our house.  Seems to be working.  Try it on your work bench!  Big Smile

 

MisterBeasley
We have a curious kitten that might try to run out, but the older cat won't go near the door.


Our older cat is about 7 or 8 years, a half maine coon.  Very mellow and sweet.  She was a rescue cat.  Just a few weeks ago we got a 6 month old kitten, another half maine coon and she's full of energy but settling in pretty well.  Basement door remains shut.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Thursday, January 30, 2020 4:34 PM

For whatever reason over the years our cats have expressed interest in (and jumped up onto, and lightly damaged things on) the layout but thus far (knock wood) not the two workbenches where they could do more costly damage if they had a mind to and also hurt themselves.  I wonder if the lingering odors of paint and plastic cement in the workbench room are a deterrent?

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, January 30, 2020 2:54 PM

CS1971

my daughter has a cat that is free to roam our basement as she pleases. For those who have cats, how do keep them from destroying your layouts?

LaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, January 30, 2020 12:19 PM

UNCLEBUTCH

I believe cats belong outdoors. but others living here feel different, so I keep the door shut

We always let the cats out when I was a kid, but predators are just more common now.  Coyotes will destroy any cat population they encounter.

We read a story just a couple of months ago that they discovered a rabid feral cat, and destroyed that whole litter.  Probably the right thing to do.  We have a curious kitten that might try to run out, but the older cat won't go near the door.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    April 2010
  • 20 posts
Posted by LouC on Thursday, January 30, 2020 12:03 PM

We accomadate our cat. There is one place in the corner were she likes to lie down. We left that bare except for a small towel for her to lie on, and she has been happy with that. Of course she does like to play Catzilla every once in while by striding Down Clay Cove's Main St. , normally she doe not knock anythung over. 

Cats are individuals. Some are very destructive and others are not...just like people.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 11:59 AM

Tinplate Toddler
 
CS1971
For those who have cats, how do keep them from destroying your layouts?

 

By making the layout inaccessible for cats.

Thats my solution.  The basement has a door and it is normally closed.

 

 

UNCLEBUTCH

The only thing that really worked for me ,was a closed door.

Closed door is best solution.

I believe cats belong outdoors. but others living here feel different, so I keep the door shut 

Cat's out doors is a recipe for road kill.  Both our cats are rescue cats and we signed contract that they would be kept in-doors.

We have a neighbor that has a cat we feel very sorry for.  I spoke with her while mowing the lawn and she said the cat didn't like to be inside more than 5 minutes.  We've discovered the poor things actually does like being in side when we had mercy on it a few times it seemed to like to be warm.  It lives in the gutter across the street - I think all they do is put food out for it, but it's always hungry so not much food.  We'd call a cat rescue center but he is so old and gerriatric, they would probably put him down.  We call him Frodo.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Thursday, January 30, 2020 11:53 AM

We love our cats, but they have a door between them and the trains. My main issue is extensive hidden track. It's reachable, but mass derailments would be difficult.

That said, it depnds on the cat. One of our cats is fat and she's not making the leap required to reach things. One cat is very careful about lurking around and wouldn't be much of an issue if it wasn't for the hidden track. The young one is four-footed trouble around the layout. So they all stay out, except once in awhile during ops sessions when the presence of people tends to keep them on the floor.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 3 posts
Posted by CS1971 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:54 AM
We lock the cat in my wife's craft room at night. Maybe I can put the layout in there since I can close the door and keep the cat in the main part of the basement at night.
  • Member since
    August 2019
  • 198 posts
Posted by Rambo2 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:43 AM
Maybe no one the water gun you might ruin something
  • Member since
    August 2019
  • 198 posts
Posted by Rambo2 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:41 AM
Water gun helps
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:27 AM

Welllll, lets just say he was a smart old tom, and learned quickly, along with being on the kitchen counter, that only happened once, also.

Mike.

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
  • 1,734 posts
Posted by joe323 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:23 AM

mbinsewi

The layout I was building in the late 80's, the cat was up on it once.  He learned, never went there again, actually avoided it all together, and stayed out of the room.

Mike.

 

shocking experience?

Joe Staten Island West 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:16 AM

The layout I was building in the late 80's, the cat was up on it once.  He learned, never went there again, actually avoided it all together, and stayed out of the room.

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 723 posts
Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:12 AM

The only thing that really worked for me ,was a closed door.

I believe cats belong outdoors. but others living here feel different, so I keep the door shut

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, January 30, 2020 9:08 AM

I would avoid things like telephone poles with artificial thread wiring, and of course catenary.  Don't leave loose parts like figures around.  I would make sure nothing can be knocked off the edge of the layout in the middle of the night.  No loose ballast or coal.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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