Bassists with cats, advice needed

Hippos Melas · #1 10-18-2010, 11:56 AM

So I live alone in an apartment and it gets lonely here because most of my friends live a good walk away and I've got no girlfriend at the moment. I've decided that getting a pet is a good idea to help liven things up around here. Furthermore, I'm a cat guy, and have decided I'm getting a kitten.

My question is: do any of you with cats have trouble with them using your basses as scratching posts or something? My friend's cat claws up their sofa pretty badly and I plan on not declawing my cat (I read several articles saying this is a horrible idea). I'm going to get a scratching post obviously, but scratches don't look well on my Honeyburst Sterling.

Cosmo420 · #2 10-18-2010, 12:00 PM

First of all, I am 100% against declawing a cat.

As far as scratching, the best way get them to not scratch something is give them several alternatives. Scratching posts, those cardboard scratching things etc. Sprinkling them with catnip from time to time will keep their interest in it.

I don't think you have to worry about your bass though. I've never seen a cat scratch something rough. When they scratch, they are actually sharpening their claws. In the wild they usually do that on trees or something else abrasive. In homes they usually use things covered in fabric. It seems like the rougher the texture the more they are drawn to it. Being that your bass is not covered in fabric, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Dogs, on the other hand, have been known to chew up many a wooden item. But, you don't need to stress about that.

**bassybill** · #3 10-18-2010, 12:03 PM

Your bass will be okay, but keep cats away from cabs covered in rat fur (carpet), they'll destroy it in minutes.

Totally with both of you on declawing. It's mutilation and actually illegal here in the UK.

Selta · #4 10-18-2010, 12:11 PM

It's just a training thing. My cats have free reign over the studio, just like the rest of the house. Neither use my cabs (or sofa, chairs) as scratching posts. We have a couple of the cardboard scratchie pads and such around the house to keep that from happening.

DudeistMonk · #5 10-18-2010, 12:54 PM

Mine likes to play bass and acoustic (he plucks with his teeth and then mutes strings that I pluck, it's pretty funny) but he never scratches it...

If your really worried put in a gig bag when your not around...also get a squirt gun, it's good for saving blinds, couches, etc. My cat has no interest in any posts or cardboard or catnip for that matter...just my 10 dollar ikea rug(which I let him him scratch) and the couch arm(which makes him get wet). My cat is not down right destructive but they are like children, they give you attitude and sometimes you gotta put them in their place by tossing them down a hallway and locking them out of your room or making them wet so they don't fall out a 13th story window by climbing the screens a la Super Mario to get a moth.

Choose carefully... they are more like people than dogs, they have personalities and you can't really train that out of them.

Strat-Mangler · #6 10-18-2010, 01:00 PM

I'd just hang my bass on a hook that's high enough for the cat to not even get to it.

As for the cabs, I don't have an answer to that.

If your stuff's in a separate room though, you could keep that closed until the kitten grows into an adult. Hell, people do it with kids, so why not with cats?

Rocker949 · #7 10-18-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Your bass will be okay, but keep cats away from cabs covered in rat fur (carpet), they'll destroy it in minutes.

Totally with both of you on declawing. It's mutilation and actually illegal here in the UK.

+1

Hippos Melas · #8 10-18-2010, 01:06 PM

I'm just worried I'll come home from class and find my cat's claws being worked through the grain of my Musicman. I'll never declaw my cat.

I also live 4 stories up in a building, so I can understand the whole squirt gun thing. That works best though? I'd rather not fling my cat down a hallway haha. I do like animals with personalities, though; I do want a friendly cat, so I'm trying to get one that's younger that I can raise to be social or is already social. Not to change topics, but any advice on how to identify a social cat in a group (ID the social cat in the mix...lolz)? I plan on adopting one from the Wisconsin Humane Society.

Yerf Dog · #9 10-18-2010, 01:09 PM

Wall hanger FTW.

bassbrad · #10 10-18-2010, 01:09 PM

We've never had any problems with our 2 cats and our instruments or furniture. We do have scratching posts and pads all over the place. I do have some scuffing on a 1x10 covered in Ozite carpet but that was just too hard to resist.
Now if only we could toilet train those buggers and get rid of the litter box......

Kwesi · #11 10-18-2010, 01:19 PM

Release them into the wild. It's where they belong.

Jim Nazium · #12 10-18-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strat-Mangler

I'd just hang my bass on a hook that's high enough for the cat to not even get to it.

That's what I do. Basses are hung on the wall up high, good amps are in the closet, practice amp doubles as a scratching post but I don't mind.

I'd encourage you to visit a local shelter or rescue organization. There are lots of kittens and cats that need good homes.

Good luck! Post pics.

thefruitfarmer · #13 10-18-2010, 01:28 PM

FWIW I don't feel the OP should be keeping a cat at all.

Just my opinion but....

The cat will be alone for most of the time and will not be going outside?

The OP is asking how to identify a friendly cat in a group?

@Hippos

Have you ever kept a cat before?

They need attention and to be able to go outside to hunt mice and things.

I suggest you think carefully about this idea - a cat kept in an apartment all day without company (they are social animals) will piss in the corner and claw things.

Hippos Melas · #14 10-18-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefruitfarmer

FWIW I don't feel the OP should be keeping a cat at all.

Just my opinion but....

The cat will be alone for most of the time and will not be going outside?

The OP is asking how to identify a friendly cat in a group?

@Hippos

Have you ever kept a cat before?

They need attention and to be able to go outside to hunt mice and things.

I suggest you think carefully about this idea - a cat kept in an apartment all day without company (they are social animals) will piss in the corner and claw things.

I am in my room all but the less than 5 hours a day I go to class and/or leave for a meal. I'm a pre-law student and do nothing but study (edit: and play bass). If attention is what you're worried about, I can assure you that won't be an issue. I understand that they're supposed to be able to hunt mice, but if it were in my regular house back in Illinois, there are not any mice for it to hunt there (AFAIK). I have not kept a cat before personally but I have been involved with caring for cats many times before.

Selta · #15 10-18-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefruitfarmer

FWIW I don't feel the OP should be keeping a cat at all.

Just my opinion but....

The cat will be alone for most of the time and will not be going outside?

The OP is asking how to identify a friendly cat in a group?

@Hippos

Have you ever kept a cat before?

They need attention and to be able to go outside to hunt mice and things.

I suggest you think carefully about this idea - a cat kept in an apartment all day without company (they are social animals) will piss in the corner and claw things.

**Staccato** · #16 10-18-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Your bass will be okay, but keep cats away from cabs covered in rat fur (carpet), they'll destroy it in minutes.

Totally with both of you on declawing. It's mutilation and actually illegal here in the UK.

And, if you have any amps with open back-where the speaker is visible, keep an amp cover (or other cover) over it. Don't leave a bass in a chair, sofa, or floor (keep OHC or gig bags closed/zipped).

Keywords: Claw, Urine (Cats will mark their territory, and can spot/stain/odor furniture or bass gear during this feline process).

whatiswhat · #17 10-18-2010, 01:42 PM

My old roommate's cat pissed all over my first cab. It still has this nasty piss stain on it though I've cleaned it thoroughly several times.
Be warned

Hippos Melas · #18 10-18-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stacatto

And, if you have any amps with open back-where the speaker is visible, keep an amp cover (or other cover) over it. Don't leave a bass in a chair, sofa, or floor (keep OHC or gig bags closed/zipped).

Keywords: Claw, Urine (Cats will mark their territory, and can spot/stain/odor furniture or bass gear during this feline process).

Any advice for removing urine from furniture? I have had several pets (guinea pigs and bunnies) and if they peed on me I just had to do a load of laundry. FWIW, I don't think I'm a bad candidate for a pet owner. I've got years of experience and I love animals.

hover · #19 10-18-2010, 02:04 PM

cats are not social animals, dogs are. Cats are feircely independent animals with an agenda when yer around: I can haz food? I can has petz. That's it. They will cuddle with you only for one of those two reasons.

I doubt the cat will be attracted to your bass because it's not a rough-ish surface conducive to clawing. If you're worried, as said earlier, get a wall hanger. If that's a no-no in an apartment (I never understood why, you pay a security deposit for such a reason), then keep it in a case or gig bag.

And I agree totally with the declawing issue. One of the most inhumane things you can do to a cat, leave it defenseless and maimed. Could you play bass without fingers? Same parallel thing here for a cat.

DudeistMonk · #20 10-18-2010, 02:09 PM

Not to sound like a crazy cat lady but my cat is incredibly social, 'flops' in front of everyone he meets to be picked up, delivers 'head bumps of love' to everyone, sleeps on top of me and it's rare that he is not in sight...he is my shadow. He also must be part dog cause he plays fetch (and better than my dog did).

When we pulled him out of the cage at the shelter he head bumped us and was purring instantly, so despite his horrible cat cold we took him home.

Also males tend to be more social than females who are more 'catty.'

Cats are the perfect animal to be alone all day, they are actually a solitary desert creature (domesticated in Egypt) in the wild and spend about 16 hours a day sleeping to conserve energy before hunting at night, so yeah, don't worry about that stuff...we get him ping pong balls to play with if he gets bored but most of the time he just sleeps in the closet somewhere.

Ps. I don't hurl my cat like a baseball or something... I toss him down the hall, 5 feet, underhand... I have a three strikes your out policy for fuzzballs climbing my bedroom screen at 1:00 am.