Bass Cat

[RoadRanger]

I have a cat that won't leave me alone when I'm practicing on the couch with headphones, insisting on rubbing up against my bass strings and making it difficult to play. I'm pretty sure the cat likes the vibrations - maybe thinking it's purring?

Anybody else experienced this?

 

[StyleOverShow]

Nope. Sounds like you have some musicals felines there. What type of tunes you playing?

 

[RoadRanger]

Nope. Sounds like you have some musicals felines there. What type of tunes you playing?

Cat seems to like most anything

 

[blue4]

Yes. I don't know if she's just jealous or if she likes the sound. she'll hang from the neck if I try to ignore her.

 

[catcauphonic]

No pics, no cat

 

[project_c]

I have a cat that won't leave me alone when I'm practicing on the couch with headphones, insisting on rubbing up against my bass strings and making it difficult to play. I'm pretty sure the cat likes the vibrations - maybe thinking it's purring?

Anybody else experienced this?

yes! i totally do. One of my cats thinks bass noise means it's lap time, i get disrupted at least once a day and i stupidly give in to her every time.

 

[lostreality]

My cat used to try and bite my headstock and tuners when I played. I think she was implying I play out of tune

 

[farshore]

I have busted my cat several times adjusting the EQ on my amp. She turns it up about 2dB @2k. I have told her many times that this is a bass, not a piccolo bass, but to no avail. Must be that cats can hear the higher frequencies better than humans. Fortunately, she never changes the compression. Possibly because that is controlled by a rotary knob, not sliders, so without an opposable thumb she is out of luck.

 

[tangentmusic]

Maybe she wants to learn how to play.

 

[Radio]

Ole Lester Young here, the music lover, takes off running when he sees me pick up a bass.

 

[staccatogrowl]

Your cat is probably attracted to you when you are playing because you are happy. I used to have a dog and cat that would always curl up at my feet when I played acoustic guitar. Then, I had another cat that hung around with me while practicing bass through headphones, only to scurry when my bass amp powered up, knowing what was coming next. I currently have two dogs that hang with me in my practice room when playing amplified electric bass.

I am always happy to play and practice. Having a four-legged friend around me while practicing makes me happier. Enjoy your companion.

 

[Beavisplaysbass]

I have a hartke kickback 12. Went a friends house to jam, hang out. I usually have the volume at noon, anyways.. Friend got worried cause his cats disappeared. Sure enough all three kittens were hiding inside the combo while I was playing! They entered through the rear port hole.

 

[AcadianBassman]

Cats have a thing where they like to have the attention as some of you noticed. That is why they gravitate towards people who do not like cats. They figure they should make the first move and say hi to any guests who do not pay attention to them. So, your cat probably just wants some attention or affection from you because your attention is focused elsewhere. Or, it could also be that you have a pretty cool kitty who's into bass Here are two of mine, Zoey a stray we took in enjoying my old bass and Lucifer (bottom), our fourteen year old senior citizen. He's deaf now but likes lounging on and in my cases when he can.

 

[beakertwang]

No problem with the cat, but the fleas won't leave me alone when I practice.

 

[bassfran]

Not bass so much, but always when we're on computers/tablets, etc.. "Pay attention to MEEEEE!" And he's right, of course. We should.

RoadRanger- be sure to keep 'em away from any ratfur cabs- those make purrrfect scratching posts.

 

[bongostealth]

I just have one question:

What's the best cat to have around for playing metal?

 

[JES]

I keep my Kala U-bass on a small stand on the floor. Both cats have played it. I am never fast enough to record them, though.

 

[ESPweasel]

Cool story. My Stupid Kat hates guitars but tolerates the bass.

Side note: A friend of mine said to be very careful when tossing used strings. I guess the skin, sweat, and salt built up on them is irresistible to dogs and maybe cats.

 

[fermata]

When I had a carpeted amp, one of my cats would sleep on it while I played. Another cat likes to nap in my case while I'm playing. I played flute for many years, but that was not as popular as bass (except with one cat, who would sometimes sit directly in front of me while I was playing).

Years ago, I had a violin-flute-cello trio, and we would practice in my little apartment, so it would get pretty loud. But my then-cat loved it and would sleep in the violin case, even when we played discordant 20th century stuff. He eventually went to live with relatives and was a great companion to my classical music aficionado uncle. Whereas his previous cat would leave the room for 20th century music, my cat enjoyed all styles. Also, his favorite toy was a low E acoustic guitar string (modified for safety so it didn't have any pokey parts).

 

[Ewo]

I have a cat that won't leave me alone when I'm practicing on the couch with headphones, insisting on rubbing up against my bass strings and making it difficult to play. I'm pretty sure the cat likes the vibrations - maybe thinking it's purring?

Anybody else experienced this?

Yep. Often, when I'm sitting in my straight-backed chair and woodshedding, our cat will jump up on my knees and start nuzzling my plucking fingers. She's amazingly persistent, even when I try to ignore her.