Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum
The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

Keeping cat out of TV/Xbox/Stereo

robotbeboprobotbebop Registered User regular
edited March 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
In the last few weeks my cat has become obsessed with all the wiring around my TV area (Xbox, TV, Home theatre in a box) and it is driving my fucking mad.

NOTHING I do sticks, nothing! I point the water bottle at her and she just looks at me stupid, I yell at the top of my lungs and she looks at me stupid, I put her somewhere else and she just runs back to the TV area. I play with her and the second I turn away she's back there.

I. can't. fucking. take. it. any. more.

EVERY five fucking seconds that I am not paying attention to her I have to get up and get her out of the cables. This is especially frustrating when I'm actually trying to get something done and not just fucking around.

She has toys, lots of toys. Shit I wouldn't care if she was shredding my shitty furniture. I just want her out of my TV stuff!

I need something to keep her out and make it stick. I'm going to get some of that anti-pet spray tomorrow but I'm wary of how well it works based on other anecdotal evidence.

Please, I need something.. anything... before I go insane.

Do not feel trapped by the need to achieve anything, this way you achieve everything.

Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
robotbebop on

Posts

  • Aoi TsukiAoi Tsuki Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    By "wiring," you mean a bunch of cables sticking out the back of everything? Is she chewing on them, or just prowling around and knocking shit loose? (Mine somethefuckhow got back there and screwed with the TV as I was finishing up the Labyrinth of Memories in Vesperia and I almost made myself a catskin rug.)

    If she's chewing on them, pet stores sell tubes you can put over them. You slit the tubes, squeeze the wires into 'em lengthwise, and nothing can get to them--it was designed to keep free-running rabbits from frying themselves.

    You can also resort to wacky shit like bordering the TV area with cardboard on which you've applied sticky double-sided tape; my friend's mom swears it keeps them off the furniture because they hate stuff sticking to their paws. But she has kittens on everything, so I dunno.

    Aoi Tsuki on
  • FeralFeral ＭＥＭＥＴＩＣＨＡＲＩＺＡＲＤ interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    Like Aoi says, there are a number of products you can use to wrap up those cables. Plastic tubes from pet stores or fabric cable wrap from electronics stores.

    Then you can spray those tubes with bitter spray (available from any pet store).

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • Post BluePost Blue Redmond, WARegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    Cats hate citrus.

    Post Blue on
    Moments before the wind.
  • TigressTigress Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    You can also try wiping them down with vinegar. They don't like the taste or smell of it.

    Another tactic is going back there yourself and seeing if there's a toy back there or something. Sometimes, my cats get super-attached to a particular mouse that they knocked back there and are trying to get at it and satisfy their hunting urge.

    Another tactic is breaking down several large boxes and stuffing them back there so it's uncomfortable to maneuver.

    Hope this helps.

    Tigress on
    Kat's Play
    Rhesus Positive wrote:
    On the subject of death and daemons disappearing: arrows sure are effective in Lyra's universe. Seems like if you get shot once, you're dead - no lingering deaths with your daemon huddling pitifully in your arms, just *thunk* *argh* *whoosh*. A battlefield full of the dying would just be so much more depressing when you add in wailing gerbils and dogs.
  • SideAffectsSideAffects Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    not sure how hot it gets back there, but many cats HATE sheets of tin foil. You can just lay a big sheet over the area

    SideAffects on
  • ViolentChemistryViolentChemistry __BANNED USERS regular
    edited March 2009
    SideAffects wrote: »
    not sure how hot it gets back there, but many cats HATE sheets of tin foil. You can just lay a big sheet over the area

    This can backfire. Tin foil is my cat's favorite thing ever.

    ViolentChemistry on
  • mugginnsmugginns Jawsome Fresh CoastRegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    Grab one of these:

    http://www.amazon.com/Premier-SSSCAT-Automated-Cat-Deterrent-Kit/dp/B0002XI7CI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1236346387&sr=1-1

    It sprays the area with this citrus spray every time he goes near. Even after it has run out the cat won't go near it anymore. It has a pretty big range on the motion detector, though, so you probably want to aim it so you won't be walking in front of it.

    mugginns on
    E26cO.jpg
  • CFluxCFlux Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    My cats were chewing on cables in my av setup, I lost 2 toslink cables to them. What we did was get this really fowl rosmary spray that the petstore had and coated everything. Then I got a really good squirt bottle for accuracy because if you have the bottle it doesn't do any good if you just wave it at them.

    Now the cats don't go into the entertainment center at all no matter how warm and cozy it is in there.

    CFlux on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    I don't know if it was just a quirk, but my cats used to be scared to death of fans. Set up a fan near your entertainment center and it might drive them away, if you're averse to spraying your electronics with stuff.

    PolloDiablo on
  • NatheoNatheo Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    How long have you been at this? I kept at it for awhile and now she doesn't fuck around with the cables. Of course I got her when she was a kitten, so it may have been a growing up thing.

    Natheo on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • ArminasArminas Student of Life SF, CARegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    Since you apparently have a spray bottle, drop by the grocery store and pick up a small pack of rosemary. Grind up some, mix it up with water and spray it in the area that you don't want your cat going. If this doesn't work out, well, now you have rosemary to season some food with, like chicken. :D

    Er, I wouldn't recommend spraying exposed ends of your wiring or the wall outlet or the actual electronics, you know, just a little at a time. I don't think you'll need a huge amount of this.

    Arminas on
  • FFFF Once Upon a Time In OaklandRegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    Is it warm back there? Cat's have a nose (whiskers) for warmth.

    Either way, I'd go with the tubing. It'll keep the cat from chewing and make the cabling look better.

    FF on
    Huh...
  • DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2009
    put a bunch of tape sticky-side up all around the area.

    Doc on
  • fuelishfuelish Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    What I have done, after replacing several hundred dollars in chewed thru cables, is run my cables in groups and put them in spiral wrap and split corrogated wrap, taping all junctions. I then sprayed the covering with bitter apple.
    Also, anytime I find a cat behind the equipment I use this:
    2009-02-25dogs-bikes-lizard-shot-1.jpg

    fuelish on
    Another day in the bike shop Pretty much what it sounds like. The secret lifestyle, laid open.
  • robotbeboprobotbebop Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    What is that? An airsoft gun?

    Also, I couldn't find any bitter apple spray :( I did find this stuff that's supposed to keep them away from plants. So far she's just sniffing the areas I'm spraying, displaying no sign of disgust.

    robotbebop on
    Do not feel trapped by the need to achieve anything, this way you achieve everything.

    Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
  • ShadowfireShadowfire Vermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    CFlux wrote: »
    My cats were chewing on cables in my av setup, I lost 2 toslink cables to them. What we did was get this really fowl rosmary spray that the petstore had and coated everything. Then I got a really good squirt bottle for accuracy because if you have the bottle it doesn't do any good if you just wave it at them.

    Now the cats don't go into the entertainment center at all no matter how warm and cozy it is in there.

    I would be careful with a squirt bottle... electronic equipment and all that. I find a can of compressed air works better.

    Shadowfire on
    PSN: Bradcopter | Steam: Shadowfire
    https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
  • yalborapyalborap Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    robotbebop wrote: »
    What is that? An airsoft gun?

    Also, I couldn't find any bitter apple spray :( I did find this stuff that's supposed to keep them away from plants. So far she's just sniffing the areas I'm spraying, displaying no sign of disgust.

    Off-brand nerf gun, I do believe.

    yalborap on
  • fuelishfuelish Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    robotbebop wrote: »
    What is that? An airsoft gun?

    Also, I couldn't find any bitter apple spray :( I did find this stuff that's supposed to keep them away from plants. So far she's just sniffing the areas I'm spraying, displaying no sign of disgust.

    It is a Buzzbee shotgun(Nerf knock off) the cats are drawn to the sound of it being cocked and lose interest in the wires(I don't really shoot them with it, tho it would not hurt them).

    You should be able to get bitter apple from Petsmart or your vet.

    fuelish on
    Another day in the bike shop Pretty much what it sounds like. The secret lifestyle, laid open.
  • robotbeboprobotbebop Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    fuelish wrote: »
    robotbebop wrote: »
    What is that? An airsoft gun?

    Also, I couldn't find any bitter apple spray :( I did find this stuff that's supposed to keep them away from plants. So far she's just sniffing the areas I'm spraying, displaying no sign of disgust.

    It is a Buzzbee shotgun(Nerf knock off) the cats are drawn to the sound of it being cocked and lose interest in the wires(I don't really shoot them with it, tho it would not hurt them).

    You should be able to get bitter apple from Petsmart or your vet.

    ahh, nerf guns.. that sounds fun and effective.

    Petsmart is also the first place I checked, they were out :(

    robotbebop on
    Do not feel trapped by the need to achieve anything, this way you achieve everything.

    Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
  • robotbeboprobotbebop Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    The plant protector spray? zero effect

    Anybody want to adopt an adorable kitten?

    robotbebop on
    Do not feel trapped by the need to achieve anything, this way you achieve everything.

    Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
  • JaysonFourJaysonFour Classy Monster Kitteh Registered User regular
    edited March 2009
    If it's a kitten, it doesn't know any better. You just have to persist with moving it away and telling it "no" when it gets up there.

    Might just be bored- a couple of those plastic milk-jug rings and my cats are in heaven.

    She might be looking for warmth, too. Kittens need warm places to sleep to keep healthy.

    JaysonFour on
    steam_sig.png
    I can has cheezburger, yes?
  • AsiinaAsiina ... WaterlooRegistered User regular
    edited March 2009
    When I was trying to keep my cats away from the christmas tree, I bought that cat-away spray and it didn't work at all, but tinfoil did.

    It varies from cat to cat, so try using things you have around your house before you go buy a bunch of crap that might not work. Tinfoil, citrus, cardboard, tape. See what you can do with it. Can you somehow block the area to your cables? Nothing will be a better solution than to just plain ole keep him out of the area.

    Asiina on
  • ViolentChemistryViolentChemistry __BANNED USERS regular
    edited March 2009
    Yeah, my cats know that when I pick up my Maverick they need to stop messing with whatever it is they already know they're not supposed to be messing with. Haven't shot either of them with it, but they've seen me shoot various things around the apartment and know what it does.

    ViolentChemistry on
Sign In or Register to comment.
Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum