Hi all,
I have been thinking for a while to get one or two kittens/cats. My biggest concern is that the kittens/cats may ruin the locos and cars on my layout as they are so curious... What is your experience? Do you have kittens/cats? How would you prevent them from touching your cars on your layout? I am seirously considering to have two kittens but I am worried about my trains...
Jerry
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Ok... I heard you...Thanks, Bear!!
Nothin wrong with cats but I have never had a dog jump on the layout or the Grand Piano. Our dogs report to the trainroom door at the first whistle and to the big screen TV when the Hockey Night in Canada music starts.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Actually the problem is pet hair getting into wheel bearings, gear boxes and electric motors and literally gumming up the works. Animals (and humans) constantly shed hair, so that hair is easily blown by air currents onto your layout. Do NOT let pets into the train room. Keep the door shut except when entering and leaving and shoo the beastie out if they get in while you are doing so. If you need the door open, install a gate.
pet gates for doorways - Bing images
Check out "SMT Mainline" on Youtube and see how many times he has to clean hair from the works of the dead locos he fixes.
smt mainline - Bing video
Whatever you do don't let them get your log-on credentials for the MR site!
Wilson_blog by Edmund, on Flickr
Dogs have owners — cats have staff!
Good Luck, Ed
Our cat lived out in the courtyard for 18 years, she is now 'old' and has come to live in Br. Louie's room. Her jumping days are over, but we still love her.
Train room is on the third floor of the library building, and she has never even been in that building. However LIONS *are* Welcome in the train room. That is why it is called "The Route of the Broadway LION"
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
My wife and I have had cats all of our adult lives. We keep them indoors. They are excellent companions. Sure, their personalities are different than that of dogs, but they are not what Wayne purports them to be.
Back to the OP's question. Adult cats are much less inclined to jump up onto layouts, but kittens are capable of all kinds of circus acts. I would keep kittens out of the layout room.
Rich
[Edited by admin to remove quote of deleted post.]
Alton Junction
Wayne,
I'm happy to say that your experience with cats was NOT my experience growing up. We always had 4-6 indoor/outdoor cats at a given time and they were - more often than not - loving and affectionate - even when food was not present. They all have their own personalities and some are more friendly, playful, and curious than others.
Jerry,
I would encourage you to get the kittens/cats but keep them out of the layout room, if at all possible. No reason to test the waters when it comes to your locomotives and rolling stock. Pet hair is another good point already mentioned.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
We had kittens/cats all our married life until recently. Only one was interested in getting into the train room. Then he would watch intently. The odd time the paw would stretch out and derail a train.
Getting him out the train room was impossible; until he wanted to come out. Most days I would leave him until he decided he had had enough. He never damaged anything in the train room throughout his 18 years of life.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
We have always had a cat or two, they have NEVER had access to the train room.
It is not even a question........
Sheldon
We had a cat. I had a girder bridge made from a 2 x 10 over the duck under about 60" above the floor. After we went to bed one night I hear this strange repetitive sound from the basement. When I got down there the (expletives deleted) cat is on the bridge swatting hoppers into the chasm and enjoying the resultswhen they hit the floor. Worst part is when I went to get him he knocked about 8 more in one fell swoop when he tried to get away. My wife still thinks it was hilarious
In my experience, once the cat sees the trains run, they become fair game. So, either don't operate the railroad when the cat is in the room, or declare (negotiate ?) the train room as off limits.
Jim
tstagemore often than not - loving and affectionate - even when food was not present. They all have their own personalities and some are more friendly, playful, and curious than others
My beloved little Cheddar Cheese (a bright orange American shorthair) isn't food motivated in the slightest. He's affectionate and walks needless miles every day following me around. He has overcome his fear of power tools so that he can watch me work on things. He'll steal screws from you too. He purrs his loudest rolling around in saw dust. My wife accuses him of loving me too much.
Her cat, Pepper, loves her more than I've ever seen any animal love a person. If we get loud, for any reason, he thinks I'm angry at her. He'll jump up and run at me, making an aggressive meow, arched back, and hissing while she's yelling at him to stop. Never seen that before.
hardcoalcase In my experience, once the cat sees the trains run, they become fair game. So, either don't operate the railroad when the cat is in the room, or declare (negotiate ?) the train room as off limits. Jim
Yes, State Game and Fish have suggestions for you if you meet a (mountain) LION in the wild. Their besrt suggestion is "Don't act like food"
The only cats now in the train room ---
IMG_5651 by David Harrison, on Flickr
IMG_5649 by David Harrison, on Flickr
I like cats and you would think being married to a Vet we would have a few, however, over the years we both developed allergies to them and rabbits. So it is no cats and only wild rabbits which there are plenty of outside.
Just last week I installed a 6" high clear Lexan guard around one side of my layout, about 25 feet. My cat got onto the yard there and knocked a few cars to the floor. Thankfully nothing that couldn't be repaired. I've had layouts and cats dating back to the mid 90s and this guy is the first to ever jump up on a layout. All the other 3 were girls, maybe like human girls, female cats are not interested in model railroads?
We have two cats, Snowflake, about 2 1/2, and Whiskey, 10 months. My layout is in disarray, but parts of it are still at least accessible. Snowflake, a female Siamese, isn't the least bit interested. Whiskey, a male orange Tabby, will play with everything, and I sometimes find uprooted pieces of fence and trees scattered around the house.
In my younger years, our cats were never interested in the layout.
Cats are a good reason, however, to keep your under-table wiring neat and protected.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
The cats we had growing up didn't seem to care about the train layout and knew better not to walk on it. Some people will intentionally set their pets on the layout because it's funny for a quick video but this will only confuse them, making them think its OK.
Hello All,
Our cat believes the pike is her domain...
That little critter never had a chance!
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
It must depend on the cat.
We had a male Maine Coon mix for 13 years. Pluto (Pootie) was a big, front-declawed indoor cat. His litter box was at one end of the 13 by 35 foot furnace/train layout room, so he was in the train room every day.
He never seemed interested in what was on that long benchwork over his head. Or on any kitchen countertop for that matter. He was friendly, and never a problem at any time. His biggest flaw was to lay flat out in the most popular traffic areas so you had to step over him, not caring how close your foot got. He wasn't a vertical creature, except to jump up to come sit or sleep with you when the mood struck him. He was a good kitty.
- Douglas
I love my cats. The only way they get into the train room is when I carry them in for a visit, then I carry them out. Otherwise a door keeps the peace. Do not mix them except very carefully, like when I carry them in and out.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
hjQi Hi all, I have been thinking for a while to get one or two kittens/cats. My biggest concern is that the kittens/cats may ruin the locos and cars on my layout as they are so curious... What is your experience? Do you have kittens/cats? How would you prevent them from touching your cars on your layout? I am seirously considering to have two kittens but I am worried about my trains... Jerry
I'll respond specifically to your question. I've explained above that our cat was no problem.
My wife is very good with pets, and she swears that the key to picking out a good kitty is to select the one that comes to you and rubs and shows affection, even in the cage. When they are very young they are all curious or scared, but the ones who don't attack your finger or run away from it seem to be the most human compatible kittys. She says that affection is a personality trait, and not something that is learned by cats.
I don't know if this helps with trains, but our cat was not really the independent personality type that gets sterotyped. He seemed to always want to be around humans and sort of acted like one. When he wasn't sleeping, he was more interested in us than the things around him.
BEAUSABREpet hair getting into wheel bearings, gear boxes and electric motors and literally gumming up the works. Animals (and humans) constantly shed hair, so that hair is easily blown by air currents onto your layout.
Very good point. I never thought about that. Thanks!!
gmpullmanWhatever you do don't let them get your log-on credentials for the MR site!
Ed, do we have any posts of yours that were actually typed by your cat?
richhotrainAdult cats are much less inclined to jump up onto layouts,
Good to know. I think it only taks one or two years for cats to become adults. So sounds like something can be handled..
tstageI would encourage you to get the kittens/cats but keep them out of the layout room, if at all possible.
Thanks, Tom... The hair thing is really what I didn't expect but is a very good point.
NorthBritOnly one was interested in getting into the train room. Then he would watch intently.
David, this is amazing! Did you teach him how to run trains?
ndbprrcat is on the bridge swatting hoppers into the chasm and enjoying the resultswhen they hit the floor
That is what I am worrying about... I guess that you may feel lucky that those were hoppers not your sound locos... Thanks for sharing!
ATLANTIC CENTRALthey have NEVER had access to the train room.
Sheldon, how did you do that? I would image we may sometime forget to close the door to the train room.
I do have Cats but they don't come in the train basement but I do have other things that get on the tracks and get run over like spiders.
Russell
hardcoalcaseonce the cat sees the trains run, they become fair game
Jim, this is interesting...
NittanyLionMy wife accuses him of loving me too much. Her cat, Pepper, loves her more than I've ever seen any animal love a person.
That is cool. So you and your wife are equal...
NorthBritThe only cats now in the train room
That is the safest way to have a cat in train room, David...
DAVID SMITH1234All the other 3 were girls, maybe like human girls, female cats are not interested in model railroads
That is an interesting observation.Northbrit has a male cat watching his trains...
MisterBeasleySnowflake, a female Siamese, isn't the least bit interested.
Another evidence that female cats are not interested in model railroad.
MisterBeasleyCats are a good reason, however, to keep your under-table wiring neat and protected.
This is another good point. Thanks!
jjdamnitThat little critter never had a chance!
She/he is so cooool about your train....
Seems to be very like what jjdamnit just posted... Very cool cat!
mlehmanwhen I carry them in for a visit, then I carry them out.
Mike, how often do you take them to visit your train room?
Doughlessselect the one that comes to you and rubs and shows affection, even in the cage.
Hi Douglas,
Thanks for the tip on selecting kitten/cat. I also heard what your wife said. Very good suggestion. Thanks!
hjQi Good to know. I think it only taks one or two years for cats to become adults. So sounds like something can be handled.. Jerry
Our Whiskey is ten months. He's already heavier and a bit larger than our significantly older Snowflake. But, he's not an adult by any means. We got him on to adult cat food a few months ago, which he is thriving on, but he's more like a rambunctious teenager right now. He eats everything he sees but he's become our lap cat, happy to sit on our laps as we read.
I think cats get into the Family Zen the way children do.
MisterBeasleyHe eats everything he sees
I like this.... Kind of little my sons when they were small...
hjQihow often do you take them to visit your train room?
Not real often. generally when I'm in the mood and they are calm.