Hey all.

 

First off, the cats (yes, plural) have to stay! The Mrs will not allow any de-clawing, electrocution etc. Spray bottles etc aren't an option, so I'm down to mechanical means.

 

For the moment, my monitor Audio MA3s (with pretty much irreplaceable EMI elliptical bass drivers) have got a second set of grilles (held on with large rubber belts) over the top of the originals. These are needed for protection from the feline's proclivity for using speakers as a scratching post. It typically wouldnt bother me, however the bass drivers are mounted shallow in the cabinet  so that they may be clawed through the speaker cloth. And then we'd have a string of kitty disappearances to deal with!.

 

So I'm looking into metal speaker grille as an option. Any advice as to where I might get this type of product in oz (SA to save from damage via postage would be optimal) ? Im keen on finding a reputable product that is built specifically - I can source security door mesh anywhere. And also, what are the thoughts of my fellow SNers as to the effect such a grille might have on the sound?

 

 

Thanks muchly in advance

 

Stu

 

 

As someone with a similar problem think bigger - protect the entire speaker when not in use with a wooden box covered with a suitable cheap cover like wallpaper or contact, something the OH won't object too much with.

 

Changing the grills will only have bad impacts on the sound.

Small carpet square at the base of each speaker with lots of upturned thum tacks

I have cats as well, as kittens one of them destroyed the grille on my sub so I took all the grilles off, looks better and they've never touched the bare speakers.

I can understand your Mrs wanting to avoid de-clawing etc but the spray bottle is one of the few things that has worked for me.

 

As a fellow cat owner, I've had the same problem. My only suggestions are to provide ample scratching posts (position them in high traffic areas) and of course the spray bottle. I took the step of switching to stand-mounters and have not lost a grill since. Otherwise, as Kazz mentioned above, keep the grills off if you can trust guests/kids/drunk people.

It's winter. Hat your cats. Win-win

Compromise time then , Stu - if the Mrs won't allow a little gentle torture then she needs to allow a little aesthetic corruption. 

 

I'd rip on down to Bunnings and purchase some PVC coated garden mesh , roll-up & join to the required diameter ( allow maybe 2 - 3" inch clearance around speaker ).

 

Just lift them out of the way & hide when you settle in for a listening session.

We have a cat in our household who hasnever shown any inclination to use speaker cloth for claw sharpening, so I guess we are fortunate. 

 

Your problem, from a cat safety point of view, is particularly relevant to owners of electrostatics.

 

Speaking of shocks, our neighbour in defiance of animal health advisors, got one of those collars that could send a brief zap to an animal whenever it showed annoying behaviour. He used it to discourage his Doberman, who used to howl and bark at the 12.40am mail plane as it came in to land at Essendon Airport. It worked, and it was needed, because the dog had taught its newly-arrived companion dog to do the same thing.

 

Hi Stu your misses says "No declawing or electrocution", how about a 10 or 20 watt laser reflected around the speakers by mirrors ;-) I once had a problem with a cat that would sit on my car at night leaving sand and fur on the roof and bonnet. I set up a 120 db siren to be triggered off a ir sensor , the kind that turn your outdoor lights on automatically. The siren went off two nights in a row then no more, I wish I had a camera to record the cats reaction.

Gees, i love you guys, sounds like you need to be subjected to more photos of kittens.

Back in 2009 i posted the following two images. (The photo of the speaker got a bit distorted for some reason)

The two cats are stilll here but i gave up on the rolled up plastic mesh speaker covers. They can catch on your speakers as you pull them off and anyway it turned out that the bare speakers were of no interest to the cats.

Felis catus is often an arboreal species. Their fondness for cilmbing and scratching trees and branches is well documented. Provision of one or preferably multiple scratching posts will usually address the urge to scratch your furniture. Owning pets, or sharing a household with others that own pets, requires recognition that you are providing and sharing the habitat of another species with strong natural behavioural traits. If you are not prepared to provide a suitable environment then you will have problems.

Remember, its a poor and not particilarly bright farmer that complains his cows always want milking.

Edited July 6, 201510 yr by Briz Vegas

what are the thoughts of my fellow SNers as to the effect such a grille might have on the sound?

 

Something like pictured in post #11 ... or even something which appeared to block the sound more.... will not actually have any affect on the sound of a woofer.

 

The only concern would be any noise generated if vibration was coupled to it through the floor, or from the speaker (if it were touching the speaker)....  so just make sure it doesn't rattle.

This:

 

 

This:

Lol.

Hey guys, thanks for all your replies. I particularly like the doggie shaped speakers.

 

The stands the speakers are on tilt them up slightly, meaning that even without the grilles in place the  speakers are somewhat inviting (they've left all other bare speakers alone, but I caught one reaching up to stretch out on a bass driver the other day, hence the emergency second grille I mentioned above).

 

The reason squirt bottles wont work is that they have access all hours (read: have the f**%**n run of the joint). I'm actually very impressed with Chill3's advice: a carpet square with thumb tacks. It may seem a bit excessive, but they should only experience a sharp ouch in their paw once or twice before learning to stay clear. Apparently they wont walk on scrunched up alfoil either. Will let you know how it goes!.

 

Stu

Edited July 7, 201510 yr by disco75

Further to Chilli3's idea, I have found on kitty forums that the vinyl carpet protector stuff has adequate spikes to keep em off. That might go down better with the boss methinks...

 

The reason squirt bottles wont work is that they have access all hours (read: have the f**%**n run of the joint)

 

Same here.

 

I have large horn speakers  (90cm x 60cm mouth) .... and the best way I could describe how my cats use them is like "skate ramp".   They run from one end of the room, to the horns, jump up INTO the horn mouth, use it as a banked 'turning circle' ... and take a flying leap off them, and run back to the other end of the room.     I think they started doing this to "catch" whoever it was inside the speaker.... but now it's just their fun-run-play routine.

 

My solution.   I mount the horns so they will not fall.... and I accept how lucky I am that the cats let me use their big playthings for music making purposes.

 

I actually have a plan (in the pursuit of sound quality, not cat entertainment) to suspend the horns on ropes fro the ceiling  (meaning they could swing if not well restrained).   This could get dangerous.

 

 

I can't lock them out.... because they have to go through the music room to get to their outside access point.... but I wouldn't want to lock out my little buddies anyways  

 

I should take some video sometime.   All the ones i have are in particularly poor lighting   (it's a man cave).

Cat Repellent Spray.     'Could be used on the surrounding floor (?)     Needs to be applied every 24 hours!

 

http://www.petsplus.com.au/pet-shop.asp?id=1534

Edited July 7, 201510 yr by peterr

 

 

I can't lock them out.... because they have to go through the music room to get to their outside access point.... but I wouldn't want to lock out my little buddies anyways  

Yep, I hear ya. I like the little buggers on my lap whilst zoning out to some nice pink floyd pressings (Meddle comes to mind) with a single malt of a night time. I get it that blokes arent supposed to like cats (not entirely sure why), but dammit I just do.

 

...BTW, hilarious account of their antics. Good luck with the suspended horns!

Cat Repellent Spray.     'Could be used on the surrounding floor (?)     Needs to be applied every 24 hours!

 

http://www.petsplus.com.au/pet-shop.asp?id=1534

Interesting. Might have to investigate further. Cheers!

Cheap option (it's been working for me on my WP's) - a large garbage bag over the whole speaker (by large I mean LARGE). The cat hates to touch it and hasn't been near the speakers since. It's easy to take the bag off for serious listening, otherwise, they just stay on..

Get a new Mrs and tell the old one to take the vermin with her.

As others have mentioned, plenty of scratching posts around the house and 1 near the speakers. Our cat has never touched speakers but did give a new Italian leather couch in our upstairs retreat* a going over recently. We put a post behind the couch and he hasn't touched the couch since. The other thing you can get is a feliway diffuser http://www.feliway.com/au . My wife is a vet and regularly advises use of these to good effect. We have one upstairs and one downstairs from when we moved into the house and have just kept them going since as the little bugger had a habit of urinating on our beds. He now sleeps on our bed all day without issue.

 

*Who builds the retreat near the kids bedrooms? It will just become their retreat room when they get older.

Get a new Mrs and tell the old one to take the vermin with her.

Hey there. I take it that BNIB (re the Denon cart for sale, in your sig) means brand new in box?...Thats a pretty good price amigo. Something for me to think about I reckon....

Edited July 7, 201510 yr by disco75