Double Bass That Darn Cat

[Who da Ville]

My wife's cat sprayed the endpin of my bass while it was resting in the corner. I don't think much got on the wood, but it caused some staining on the end pin, & there was a smelly spot on my gig bag.

So she washed the bag, I pulled out the end pin, & she took off the rubber knob & cleaned it up real nice while I wiped off the wood with a wet towel. She also cleaned up the corner, & sprayed some sort of anti-cat-piss product to remove the smell.

It appears that she also sprayed some of that stuff on my end pin bracket (or whatever you call it...) when I wasn't looking. Now I can't get the endpin back in the bracket; it's too tight. I tried a little 3-n-1 oil on the pin with little improvemet. I think the wooden sleeve that the pin passes through absorbed the liquid (she swears she only sprayed the outer metal part) and swelled, so the endpin now is too tight.

I've let it dry for at least a day, & it's still too tight.

So, should I go ahead & sand it out, or should I wait longer for it to dry? Any pointers or 'don't do that's' I should know about?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[360guy]

Let everything dry out.
And... Enjoy that new set of cat gut strings!

 

[quiltkitty]

You can get a cleaning spray at pet stores that neutralizes the odor and takes out the stain. We have four cats - I know of what I speak.

 

[Fran Diaz]

Being patient might be the best advice, but maybe you can (cautiously) use a hair dryer to speed up the process. Be careful you don't unglue any seams.

 

[Mossmatic]

And... Enjoy that new set of cat gut strings!

Or... or... Get the cat fixed... Then it won't spray anymore.

 

[1st Bass]

Actually, that won't fix the cat at this late date. We had a "fixed" cat that sprayed anything that didn't move, 'til the day he died. Most irritating feline habit. Obviously he was an outdoor cat, as he couldn't be trusted indoors. All our cars had streaks on the tires, etc., etc.

 

[iiipopes]

Cats and musical instruments don't mix. Period. Choose one or the other. Deal with it if you don't. Sorry to be harsh. But that is life. Flame away as you will. It will just evaporate the cat piss that much quicker.

 

[RSBBass]

OK iipopes, here your flame. I have had musical instruments all of my adult life and have had four cats during that time, two currently. I have never had damage to an instrument from a cat. I had my dog chew a natural skin drum head but no damage from a cat. I suggest you take your ignorance elsewhere.

 

[Michael Case]

First to the OP, have you tried loosening the thumb screw? Maybe it turned and is blocking the endpin.

Second to iiipopes, I grew up with dogs, had musical instruments, no damage. Currently I have a cat for, she has lived with us for about 9 years. I've never had to worry about my bass with her.

 

[iiipopes]

Those who have had good luck with their pets, I'm glad you have had good experiences, but it will not last forever.

 

[Who da Ville]

Thanks for the comments. I just tried again a couple of minutes ago. It was a bit tight, but the endpin went into the sleeve, so I guess my problem's over for now. The wood must have been swollen with the moisture & is shrinking back now that it's drying out. I'm happy I didn't pull out the sandpaper.

I'm lucky he didn't get more p!ss on the wood.

FWIW, the cat's been fixed since he was a kitten, but still gets in trouble a couple of times a year. If it was up to me, he'd have been gone long ago, but I still like being married...

I'm trying to keep the door to my room closed.

thanks again.

 

[bass81800]

Never had any problems with cats and basses in the last 10 plus years, as long as I have been playing bass. This includes upright basses and electric basses. Currently, both of them leave the basses completely alone. I had one kitten in the past who decided the F hole was a great perch for climbing up the bass, but guess he decided it was not any fun, never happened again. and no damage done. Made for a great photo, though.

Bass bags are another story and one of my cats has pretty much claimed ownership of it, but cat hair is generally harmless, and it does not stay outside its closet for long.

My only advice is to have female cats.

 

[George700DL]

Never had any problems with cats and basses in the last 10 plus years, as long as I have been playing bass. This includes upright basses and electric basses. Currently, both of them leave the basses completely alone. I had one kitten in the past who decided the F hole was a great perch for climbing up the bass, but guess he decided it was not any fun, never happened again. and no damage done. Made for a great photo, though.

Bass bags are another story and one of my cats has pretty much claimed ownership of it, but cat hair is generally harmless, and it does not stay outside its closet for long.

My only advice is to have female cats.

Cats rule!!! I second that - I never ever had any issues with cats and instruments - and that includes fragile instruments like violins and panpipes. Nothing ever got knocked over or damaged. I'd be much more concerned about kids and instruments.

Oh yeah, whenever I get ready to put the bass in a bag, there is a good chance there is a cat or 2 inside already.

George

 

[Feral Feline]

Cats are CL!

During my more than 4 decades on this planet I've always had cats and NEVER a problem with them relating to instruments around the house as I grew up, and no problems now that I have instruments of my own.

Currently, my two cats both love sleeping in/on my gigbag and if the bass is in the gigbag one of them will perch atop it.

The only time I have a problem (again, not related to instruments) is when Me, Myself & I have left cleaning the catbox too long and one cat makes its disdain for MY sloven behaviour. Any "problem" of any sort that I've ever encountered with my cats has been my fault.

Regarding the OPs problem or anyone else here with cats:
Regardless of gender, cat urine is powerful stuff. Our dog's urine is barely a 9v battery compared to the giggawattage power put out by our cat's kidney.

Health & Safety:
Cat urine contains ammonia, which is un-ionized, and has the formula NH3. Ammonia reacts with available moisture in the respiratory tract, oral cavity, eyes and the skin to produce ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium is ionized, and has the formula NH4+. Excessive ammonium hydroxide disrupts lipids in the cell membrane leading to cellular breakdown. Thus, a variety of ailments can be induced by cat urine odour. So beyond the foul smell, for your own health and your cat's (or cats') health it's good to keep things clean.

For getting rid of the pungent Cat Odour various products are available, but I've found the following to be the most effective:

Pet Scentsations' "Dog & Cat Stain and Odor Remover".

It is an enzymatic cleaner in liquid form dispensed from spray bottles. It's non-toxi and biodegradable. Works on other stains such as blood, fecal material, grass, dirt, red wine, tea, coffee etc. Also good for when you're doing laundry, you fellow cat owners will know where I'm coming from.

Another product to try is "Urine-Off Cat & Kitten Odor & Stain Remover", a USDA certified Biobased Product. It works, but isn't quite as efficacious as the Pet Scentsations product.

Of course both products are safe around pets.


Neither with my DBs nor my Jaguars have I ever had a problem with a cat knocking them over, spraying them, clawing them or otherwise molesting them. The gig bags are occasionally used as a scratch pad (which is fine, the cordura's tough), but mostly used as sleeping pads.

Nothing lasts forever, sure – we're all going to die.
Meanwhile my cats and my instruments peacefully co-exist, and they're all keepers.

Cheers,
FF

 

[bassdude51]

Cats and musical instruments don't mix. Period. Choose one or the other. Deal with it if you don't. Sorry to be harsh. But that is life. Flame away as you will. It will just evaporate the cat piss that much quicker.

Yeah, deal with it!

Animals in a home is a nasty thing! A box with open feces and urine. Hair, dander, smells, damaged furniture and musical instruments!

There have been some recent articles about dangerous parasites and other very unhealthy things in cat poop. The dangers of open feces is a, duh!!!!

Whenever I walk into a home where there's 2 or more cats or dogs.................I gasp from the oder!

If we had a child that pissed and pooped around the house, we do something about it. But our beloved pets are dismissed of their nasty habits.

If your cat sprays on your stuff, either get rid of it or enjoy the smell!

 

[George700DL]

Yeah, deal with it!

Animals in a home is a nasty thing! A box with open feces and urine. Hair, dander, smells, damaged furniture and musical instruments!

There have been some recent articles about dangerous parasites and other very unhealthy things in cat poop. The dangers of open feces is a, duh!!!!

Whenever I walk into a home where there's 2 or more cats or dogs.................I gasp from the oder!

If we had a child that pissed and pooped around the house, we do something about it. But our beloved pets are dismissed of their nasty habits.

If your cat sprays on your stuff, either get rid of it or enjoy the smell!

I've been to other cat owners' houses, and the only time there is an issue is when the owner doesn't take care of the animals (cleaning the litter boxes regularly for example, or the crazy lady with 20 cats).

Having pets is a commitment for sure, but not exactly difficult. Cats are one of the cleanest animals on the planet. My cats have NEVER peed or crapped anywhere other than in their litterboxes (which are quite private).

From a sanitary perspective, I'd be more concerned about houses where people wear street shoes. I make everyone take their shoes off as soon as they enter the house

George