Cats and Guitars

[ncognito]

Up until a few days ago we had one cat and one dog.  We now have that and one six month old rambunctious kitty.  In my little music room just off the kitchen my guitars either sit on wall hangers or floor stands.  I like to be able to grab any one at more or less arm's reach.  The room environment is monitored and adjusted for humidity.  Neither the cat nor dog have been a concern, but Mokum, named for a carrot variety, is full of energy.  I don't want him scratching my guitars.  Can he be trained not to come in here?  Do I have to close the door all the time?

         DAVE

[BenF]

Try lemon juice along the floor at the door, kittens hate it.

The best way to stop cats scratching is generally to give them something better to scratch. A simple cat tree or a few scratching posts should keep them
occupied. They are animals of habbit though, so act quickly.

They hate getting wet too, so a spray bottle of water is a good way to dicipline them if you catch them near your guitars. They learn quick.

Failing that, you would probably need to shut them out. The only foolproof way of deterring cats is lion poo. Great to keep strays out of your garden (zoos sell it for that purpose) but probably less suited to your music room

[ST]

Hi Dave,

I've had cats and guitars together forever. I have as yet to see a cat exhibit a greater interest in a guitar than I was displaying at the moment. So if a guitar is languishing on a stand, the cats pay it no mind. But let me pick it up and start playing or restringing it, then it becomes the most interesting thing in the universe.


I have never had a cat related mishap although there have been a few close calls where a kitten has bumped something off a high shelf above a guitar. I no longer have any high shelves above guitars.

Having said all that, if you are concerned please put your guitars in cases until the kitten settles down. They do settle down (eventually).

[ncognito]

Lion poo, Puff the Magic Dragon and a squirt gun filled with lemon juice?  Well, of course those are the three cat repelling remedies that everyone suggests.


Thanks for the suggestions Scott and Ben.  Mokum does have a few course fiber welcome mats that he's encouraged to scratch.  For the time being I'm closing the door when I'm not in here.

        DAVE

[ncognito]

ST--

Thanks.  I don't have any high shelves above my instruments, but I do recognize the need to dicipline myself in terms of preventing accidents by being more aware.  My dog, Rupert, a golden retriever, occasionmally gets excited really wagging his tail.  I once leaned a guitar aginst the couch (What laziness!  I have stands right nearby)  Now two of my guitars have tiny "customised" dings as a reminder.    I lucked out.  The damage could have been much worse.

         DAVE

[dermot]

and maybe try to keep the case closed while playing, the cat pee smell is impossiable to remove....

[BenF]

and maybe try to keep the case closed while playing, the cat pee smell is impossiable to remove....

if I leave a case open it has 4 cats sleeping in it within a minute.

[ST]

I have a cat that will sleep in the case of the guitar I am playing. It doesn't matter if there are other open cases lying around. He will find the case that belongs to the one in my arms. I don't know how he knows.

[dcarey]

Do NOT let a cat sleep in the case. It will steal your guitar's mojo!

[unclrob]

I found that if you put down an eletrical grid in a 3 foot radious around your guitar this will deter them from even get close.Works with dogs too......

[ColdShot1]

   I wouldn't let that scary cat sleep any where, esp. in my case! Love cats, but the light caught that ones eyes just right!
   Alot of dogs don't like the higher notes when played, so will leave the room, unless the just love you to death, as mine does, & will moan constantly. Some say they're singing, I call it animal abuse!
     J

[Zohn]

if I leave a case open it has 4 cats sleeping in it within a minute.

yip, and each time I remove the Guitar it's "just for his highness' convenience".

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[dcarey]

yip, and each time I remove the Guitar it's "just for his highness' convenience".

Spooky, here's what 'Moose' looks like in the daylight: he has one green eye and one yellow eye...hence the strange reflections with the camera flash.

[ST]

I fit.





Really.

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[ST]

Oh where or where is my Guitar?

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[ST]

My life is bereft of all joy.

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[letus]

haha, those dear cats are well fed