My Cat made my AMP his scratching post!

[RudeMood]

I no longer have cats, but yes they did use my Aggie GS112 for scratching once. I just kept my rig covered with a blanket after that.

They are now in kitty heaven scratching Entwhistles rig...

 

[heath_the_great]

PETA will be paying you a very serious visit soon

jauqo, its the RSPCA over here

 

[Tomass]

shoot the piece of $hit cat and buy a dog!

Dogs can be even more destructive than cats, our Dobberman dog has a big mouth which it seems to destroy stuff with frightning efficency, but she hasnt touched any of my eq. Just destroyed a couple of cds, towls, pillows, a tv remote. *Hides Behringer pedals*

 

[guy n. cognito]

Speaking as someone who has spent hundreds of hours volunteering at various humane socities: If you come down to the choice between declawing the cat or dropping it off at the local pound, just have it declawed. I can't tell you how many hundreds of cats I have seen sent to their deaths because they were destroying the owners house, but the owner was to "sensitive" to have it declawed. There were times I would see two or three come in on a single Saturday.

 

[Thunder Lizard]

There are clothes "defuzzers" that do a pretty nice job of making carpet look newer again. And they're not all that expensive.
If there are tears, carefully glue them back down and wait till it dries before using the "defuzzer". If there are holes, carefully applied matte black spray paint will show up a tiny bit for the first while, but soon blend in, and it hides bare wood (not to mention protecting it).

 

[HassBacker]

Don't declaw your cat, it'll get the crap kicked out of it every time it goes outside. Buy the spray, but also buy or make one of those carpet covered cat poles. The cat will figure out pretty quick what it can use it's claws on. They need something.

 

[paulraphael]

Seriously guys, scratching behavior isn't hard to correct. Given the chance, dogs, kids, and girlfriends are capable of doing much more expensive damage, and in my experience are a lot harder to re-educate.

Blast Tyrant has the right idea ... catching them in the act and making it an unpleasant experience. The other side of the equation is giving them a good alternative. They have to scratch something ... it's how they shed the worn out outer layers of their claws.

If you go to a more cat related site you can probably get some excellent advice. My cat got the message when i built him a killer scratching post ... some irresistably plush carpet scraps wrapped around the leg of a loft bed. Some catnip rubbed into it helped get his attention. He's never messed with speakers or furniture after that.

 

[Aussiephoenix]

Seriously guys, scratching behavior isn't hard to correct. Given the chance, dogs, kids, and girlfriends are capable of doing much more expensive damage, and in my experience are a lot harder to re-educate.

Ouch... yeah, they can. Leave the poor cat alone. he's telling ya something... "Heeeeeeeeey! Get me a scratch pole, or I'll rip your cab to shreds!" they work better than a cab.

the spray might be a good idea too, coupled with the scratch pole

 

[Joe Nerve]

It's better to simply cut the cat's paws off than declaw it. The cats seem to accept this and go with the flow (considering themselves amputees) a lot better than when they just loose their claws. Other cats tend to feel more sorry for them also, so they get their asses kicked a lot less too. Clawless is defensless, pawless - well, ya just can't NOT feel bad for them.

I don't buy carpeted amps specifically for the reason that my cats will destroy them. One of my cats now uses my gigbags as a scratching pole. He's pulled my bongo (that sounds messed up) to the floor more than once. My cats understand a firm NO! Just gotta catch them in the act though.

If ya got cats and ya love em, you have to accept what goes along with the territory. I'm a cat lover all the way. DOgs are stupid. Just kidding just kidding.

 

[Sonic_Death]

All I have to say is that "My Cat made my AMP his scratching post!" is a hell of a lot better in comparison to my dilemma:

"My Cat made my AMP his liter box!"

 

[Matthew Bryson]

For some weird reason, it didn't have much effect on the puddys. SOOOOOOOOOO, I waited until I caught them in the act and maced their ass with the anti-cat spray.

Well, being as I had said how great the anti-scratch spray has worked for me - I probably should admit that even though the directions do not recommend spraying it directly on the kitties, that is what I do - I wait until I catch them in the act and hit 'em with the spray, they run away mad and I spray down the rest of the cab or furniture or whatever and the problem seems to be solved in one application, but I do catch them in the act and spray a bit directly on the kitty. The spray I use is almost completely odorless (it smells like a very mild soap) but they sure do seem to hate it!

 

[Horny Toad]

Speaking as someone who has spent hundreds of hours volunteering at various humane socities: If you come down to the choice between declawing the cat or dropping it off at the local pound, just have it declawed. I can't tell you how many hundreds of cats I have seen sent to their deaths because they were destroying the owners house, but the owner was to "sensitive" to have it declawed. There were times I would see two or three come in on a single Saturday.

I've had more than one vet tell me the exact same thing.



Link Removed

 

[secretdonkey]

A few observations based on my personal experience:

* A cat will likely overcome her aversion to the deterrent spray stuff. Same with aluminum foil and every other similar tactic I have ever tried.

* A cat can claw through the thickest carpet/fabric until there's nothing but bare wood left. Given that a cat can utterly destroy the item over time, any talk of a cat being less destructive than a dog or human is really beside the point. A cat can and will utterly destroy fabric/carpeting, period.

* IME, attempts at negative conditioning teach the cat to avoid the behavior ONLY WHEN YOU ARE PRESENT. Every attempt I've ever made to associate punishment with a specific act has yielded nearly 100% success while I am present, and close to 0% success while I am absent.

Back when I had cats in my house I had no choice but to close doors to rooms where undesirable behaviors might occur. Of course I frequently shut the cat INTO said room instead of out, despite very reasonable diligence in avoiding this. One would think that a cat would avoid a room she'd been shut into for days without food or water. Of course within a couple of days the cat can't wait to get back into that room she's denied access to. She'll go in and HIDE because she knows you don't want her in there, thus making another lock-in almost inevitable. Funny way those critters roll, I could never seem to reason my way around this lose/lose pattern.

I have never been able to apply reason to what I can discern of feline motivation in such a way as to control the situation and environment in my home so that me and the cats are both happy. Therefore I am now cat-free and fully intend to remain that way.

 

[TheSuzie]

Speaking as someone who has spent hundreds of hours volunteering at various humane socities: If you come down to the choice between declawing the cat or dropping it off at the local pound, just have it declawed. I can't tell you how many hundreds of cats I have seen sent to their deaths because they were destroying the owners house, but the owner was to "sensitive" to have it declawed. There were times I would see two or three come in on a single Saturday.

Yeah, I was coming for the perspecitve of someone who would NEVER give up a cat just becaue of that behavior. If it comes down to making a cat homeless, then declaw it and keep it for sure. But if you are just too damn lazy to to train your cat or throw a blanket over your cab, then IMO you should get off your ass and deal with the situation rather than declaw. I've done it and it isn't that difficult.

My two cents,
S

 

[BuffaloMO]

I have 4 cats. They destroyed my couch :scowl: , but haven't touched my amp. I kept the box the amp came in and keep it on the amp except when it is being used.

 

[ibz]

Speaking as someone who has spent hundreds of hours volunteering at various humane socities: If you come down to the choice between declawing the cat or dropping it off at the local pound, just have it declawed. I can't tell you how many hundreds of cats I have seen sent to their deaths because they were destroying the owners house, but the owner was to "sensitive" to have it declawed. There were times I would see two or three come in on a single Saturday.

+1

Declawing makes much more sense when put into perspective.

Or just declaw his fronts legs and leave the hind legs clawed. This way the cat still has all the abilites to get traction and scratch themselves, but not destroy any stuff in your house. This includes you cabs, makes more sense to me.

 

[The BurgerMeister]

what's up with all these canadians and their animal rights?
i'm canadian too.
here's what i say:
let the cat do what it wants.
it'll make a good story over beers after the gig.
(by the way, everyone needs a healthy dose of a show called "penn and teller's BULLSH*T."
it was (is?) on showtime. get it. watch it.)
yes.

 

[murphy]

So let's see ... you would do the same thing he did, only to a human being. Yes, you are the enlightened one.

Why do you think it's ok to torture an animal that has no choice in its own destiny? and not think the person in control should not be accountable?
Do you apply that to children and anyone else who is defenseless?
I believe we have a responsability to care for and protect those not able to protect themselves........and thet means protection from abusive humans that mutilate animals, rape women. hurt children etc etc

If you have cats learn peaceable solutions to behaviour problems.
I have 4 cats and none of them scratch my cabs...they understand that when I say "OI!!!!!" they run and don't repeat that behaviour.
Perhaps more time is needed communicating both ways to reach better respect and understanding

 

[Rick_no7]

My cat likes to lay on top of my old Kent combo when I'm playing the ultra low end stuff.

I found out that if I ever wanted him to run off, to just turn down the bass, crank the trebble, and snap the G string(Coincidentally I bet that works with women too).

 

[Aziandoll]

Wow, thanks everyone! I'm going to buy some of that cat spray today. I can't get rid of the cat, sorry...hubby wouldn't let me do that, it was my bday present. I'll let you all know how it works out.