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Prop Plug CAT-astrophe — Parallax Forums

Prop Plug CAT-astrophe

HarleyHarley Posts: 997
edited 2010-04-21 05:19 in Propeller 1
This maybe waay off Prop topics, but does anyone know if there is anything (liquid or otherwise) which might be offensive to cats?

For about a year now, I've allowed one or more of our cats (mother, or three kittens now 2 y/o) in my laboratory. Last week I found the PropTool couldn't 'see' the Propeller. Found the retractable cable had 3 of 4 conductors chewed apart cleanly near the Prop Plug end.

Seems I recall someone had a cable-chewing cat. Might there be anything which would help, other than keeping them out of the lab?

I reordered both a retractable and a shielded cable April 15; no word yet from Parallax if the order shipped; now is Monday PM.

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Harley Shanko

Comments

  • mctriviamctrivia Posts: 3,772
    edited 2010-04-20 01:58
    keep the cats out. they reck a lot more then that.

    Also this thread should have been in the sandbox. Though litter box is a more fitting term in this case [noparse]:)[/noparse]

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  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2010-04-20 02:10
    I find that if I keep the bull dog in the lab, the cats either stay out, or are too busy watching the dog, and/or clinging to me, to mess with anything else.

    I know they have bitter apple spray for dogs, but I don't know if it works on cats.

    Mctriva: For some of us, keeping the babies (i.e. pets) out of the lab (or anywhere else for that matter) is not an option.

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    John R.
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  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-04-20 02:28
    Fortunately, my cat (Browser) isn't interested in electronics -- just the boxes they come in. So he gets to spend hours every day ensconced in my shop. But I've heard that cats find citrusy smells repugnant, and I believe there's an app (spray) for that. Check with your local pet shop. But why not try something positive instead? A potted catnip plant (or just cat mint) in your shop may provide an alternative distraction. smile.gif

    -Phil
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-04-20 02:34
    My grandson likes cables too !

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  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2010-04-20 02:44
    I wonder if it's because of the electricity, are they attracted to it then, like rodentia?· They go after live/electrified cable, but they leave dead wire alone.· Curious.
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2010-04-20 02:47
    But your grandson is easier to deal with. You could threaten to throw him overboard! Cat's just don't seem to get "Do you want to go back to the pound?"

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  • Andrey DemenevAndrey Demenev Posts: 377
    edited 2010-04-20 03:26
    My cat Boris is a real cable-chew-oholic [noparse]:)[/noparse] His favorites are mobile phone chargers, but he likes USB and phone line as well [noparse]:)[/noparse] Fortunately, he knows that entering the room corner where I do things is dangerous to his health, so he keeps out [noparse]:)[/noparse] But my wife suffers a lot from his habit. We have tried different chemicals that are advertised to keep cats out - without success.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2010-04-20 03:36
    My 3 cats love chewing cables, shoes, the handles off a guest's expensive leather handbag...

    Keep the soldering iron handy. I've rebuilt my mobile phone charger cable about four times. A big glob of hot melt glue at least slows them down getting to the wires.

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  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-04-20 03:40
    Dr_Acula said...
    Keep the soldering iron handy. ...
    Oh, man. Going into that paragraph, I was afraid you were advocating some sadistic form of behavior modification. freaked.gif

    -Phil
  • pacmanpacman Posts: 327
    edited 2010-04-20 03:58
    Not that I advocating it of course, but I've heard that Aspirin dissolved in milk is a _very_ effective form of behaviour modification for cats....

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  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2010-04-20 04:23
    Harley said...
    This maybe waay off Prop topics, but does anyone know if there is anything (liquid or otherwise) which might be offensive to cats?
    You could probably install a loud fountain with running water.· Some cats don't like the sound of running water while others do.

    I owned a Husky and he was an unruly dog.· We bought that noxious spray stuff to keep him off of furniture and the only thing it did was keep people off of couches.· The dog still kept getting up on the couch.· He chewed everything in site; glasses, remote control, college I.D., cassette tape, etc.· He would jump his leash or the fence and run the neighborhood and I would spend many hours chasing him.· What I've learned is to never turn your back on an animal.

    The only thing you can do is probably hang yarn from doorknobs and plant grass in flowerpots that won't tip.· You'll probably want to buy cabinets or tupperware boxes that the cats can't get into.· We have a cat that loves to eat ribbons off of balloons (my son loves balloons).

    I read in the news about a toddler who put a live USB cable in her mouth and got third degree burns.· That is·about 500 MA or about five volts if I'm correct.·

    ·
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-04-20 04:40
    Regarding (the evil, cat-hating) pacman's comment, and for those who don't know, aspirin, like chocolate, is toxic to cats.

    I've found that certain sounds seem to be an irritant to cats. Lately, I've been working on the audio subsystem for the S2 robot. Browser can be sound asleep in his box atop my storage shelves, and I can be on the phone or chatting with visitors, or the neighbors could be weed whacking or mowing. Nothing seems to phase him. But as soon as I try new sounds on the S2, he's awake and on his way out the door.

    -Phil
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2010-04-20 04:49
    No no, Phil, the soldering iron is for soldering the wires together!!

    As for behaviour modification for cats, for me it usually is "aargh, the cat chewed my download cable again". Bad cat [noparse][[/noparse]in a soft voice]. Bad cat [noparse][[/noparse]scratching cat behind ears]. Bad cat [noparse][[/noparse]oh, are you hungry, do you want some food?]. Ok, I'd better feed you before I go out to the shed and fix this up.

    From the cat's point of view, I think the message is perfectly clear.

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  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2010-04-20 05:14
    Dr_Acula,

    LOL! Spoken like a true cat owner! (Or is that ownee? smile.gif )

    Cats will be cats, and cats do what cats do. They just need good alternatives to "bad" behavior. For example, this long-ago retired leather hiking boot is Browser's alternative to the leather couch:

    attachment.php?attachmentid=69599

    Hint: It wasn't suede when I bought it.

    -Phil
    old_boot.jpg
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  • K2K2 Posts: 693
    edited 2010-04-20 05:20
    Pepino wasn't too happy with some of the comments.
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  • KPRKPR Posts: 189
    edited 2010-04-20 12:52
    Lets all sing... join in if you know the words... "If I had a hammer...."

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  • pacmanpacman Posts: 327
    edited 2010-04-20 14:00
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) said...
    Regarding (the evil, cat-hating) pacman's comment, and for those who don't know, aspirin, like chocolate, is toxic to cats.

    -Phil

    touch
  • K2K2 Posts: 693
    edited 2010-04-20 14:45
    "...let just say the cats were still well fed."

    Wow! Talk about giving till it hurts your all!

    I would ask what part the the cats began eating first, but I won't.

    In an attempt to be slightly more helpful, my two cats don't care for the smell of 2,4-D. But it's likely you don't either.


    [noparse][[/noparse]Edited for no good reason]

    Post Edited (K2) : 4/20/2010 7:27:05 PM GMT
  • RickBRickB Posts: 395
    edited 2010-04-20 15:14
    Find some deer repellent with Bitrex at your local garden store. Wipe the object to be protected with a sponge or rag soaked in the stuff.

    Rick
  • HarleyHarley Posts: 997
    edited 2010-04-20 17:58
    Thanks, everyone for the hints and comments. Yeah, I know not everyone is a cat (or dog, horse, etc.) lover.

    I'll have to keep the retractable cable retracted when not in use and they are in the room and I'm not. yeah.gif

    More members liking cats that I'd suspect.

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    Harley Shanko
  • yarisboyyarisboy Posts: 245
    edited 2010-04-21 02:42
    My big alpha female calico used to chew cords. I hung old coily cords off the bench for her from the old bell 103 handsets. They were her favorites. After the vet pulled a bad tooth out of her she lost all interest in cords

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  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-04-21 05:19
    The best solution is to give the cat its own place.

    humanoido

    Parallax CatLab Inventory
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    Cassette Tape, Expensive Leather
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    Tank with Fish, TV & Remote, Large
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    Pots, Glass Jar of Cookies, Cat
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    This was a project accomplished some time ago and
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    Post Edited (humanoido) : 4/21/2010 5:54:48 AM GMT
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