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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Michael Brooks on November 19, 2007, 09:27:29 AM
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We have a 6 month old kitten. It's the first cat we've ever had. Since I've been married, my experience is with Basset Hounds and they're too short to mess with the building board. y1 I've discovered that cats and building model planes can be a problem. The cat has broken lots of things by just being a cat (I have about 6 of my wife's angel figurines to repair). She's discovered the joys of chewing on balsa and taking flying leaps onto plans laid out on the table (she seems to really enjoy this). One morning, she was playing with one of my building pins (the ones with the yellow plastic top and are more like needles). n1 I quickly took it away from her but still have no idea how she got hold of it. My current situation is such that I have to build on the dinning room table so just shutting the room off isn't an option. I spent a very frustrating Saturday afternoon trying to work on the Perky I got on my birthday but didn't get very far. While I tried to build, the cat was in what my wife calls "Kitty Siberia" (my son's room -it's actually his cat). Because the cat has to be let out at some point and I can't leave things on the table after the cat was let out of my son's room, I didn't get very far. Truth is, at this point, I've pretty much decided that building and the cat don't mix so I'm at a standstill. HB~> Hopefully, I'll get a separate shop sometime soon but until then, anyone have any suggestions?
Mike
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Cat stew??? LOL
My dad has a cat like that. Jumps up on the computer keyboard while he's trying to type, etc.
Maybe you could build some kind of case to put all your building supplies in when your not building to keep the cat out of them, then put the cat out when you are building and spread out everything.
Or maybe you could build a cage around yourself and then build inside it while the cat is in the house. LOL
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Chewing on balsa is a new one for me. Cats are smarter than humans, so she will quickly realize there's nothing to be gained by this.
I am "owned" by two cats and they are wonderful creatures and great helpers. They have jumped up on the building board once or twice, but quickly learned there was no food up there, so they moved on to other explorations. Unless you startle the cat, it will not step on anything fragile. Mine are incredibly agile and careful about where they put their paws.
Cats are naturally inquisitive and will check things out. Usually they move on to other things just as fast. I would give your cat a few more weeks to get acclimated to you and your hobby. Then she will probably ignore you.
"You're nobody until you've been ignored by your cat". -- Cat owner's creed. LL~ LL~
Take care,
Ron
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If you have a garage setup a table out there. If not try to do the delicate stuff whil the cat is in Siberia. Then when it is out and on the prowl work on more easy stuff, like sanding or more simple steps. I have fun with my cat. He is pretty much over model planes now but at one time he would get into everything. Once I came out to find him sitting on my Saturn foam wing. It was just freshly sheeted. When I told him to "Get!" He jumped and the claws dug in!! ARRRGGGHHH!! Filler to the rescue. Another time I was working on my Geo Wing jig and out of nowhere on my jig lands a White Ball of Fur!! All four paws landed between ribs and spars!! He just ahd to know what I was doing up there and made the leap. I very carefully lifted him as to not startle him so he wouldnt tear it up if he jumped off from my words of "Get!" I dropped him on the floor and leaned back and took a deep breath. Other times I find him hiding in the funniest places. He loves my lost foam jig box he will sleep on it or in it or next to it. It is funny. When that box is out he comes lurking. Good luck with your new freind.
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I can't recall where I got this but it isn't mine.
The dog thinks -
He feeds me.
He shelters me.
He loves me.
He must be a God.
The cat thinks –
He feeds me.
He shelters me.
He loves me.
I must be a God.
LL~ LL~ H^^
Bill
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Three cats own us, Michael, and the only way I can build in peace, let alone little pieces, is to keep the door to my shop closed. Cats have the ability to levitate, but unfortunately, the landing process is less graceful, as they really don't know in advance just what the landing area is like ahead of time.
Good luck!
Ralph
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We are owned by two cats, one completely ignores me and anything I'm doing the other one thinks if I'm involved she needs to be helping.. Actually cats can be somewhat trained.. A squirt bottle of water and a firm "Mine" gets the point across fairly quickly. Pretty soon all you need to say is "Mine" and she will leave whatever it is alone.. At least when I am around...
Oh ya she does a pretty good job of keeping my shop mice free..
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I to am owned by two cats. One of which chewed all of the tops of the wing ribs on my Twister. He didn't miss one rib.
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Try this:
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my wife has two cats, which she refers to as "her babies" - They jumped onto my building table once . - just ONCE - a firm smack on the backside followed by chasing them yelling, made it a one time thing - ....sounds cruel - but works a treat
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I seem to recall a peanut size rubber band powered model, wingspan less than 13", a shoe box and a curious cat in my past. It didn't turn out good for the 1/32" wing ribs, lol. >:(
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Dogs have masters; cats have staff. Tom H.
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I need to dispell the rumor that all cats respond to the spray bottle treatment. Mine has taken it upon itself to better my aim, he plays tag with the spray from the bottle. My Dachshund is pretty mucht he boss though the cat outweighs the dog by nearly 2 pounds. (my doxie weighs 8 lbs) the cat was raised from a kitten with the dog but somehow the whole whose in charge dynamic was never quite understood by the cat. My Oriental had a FP 35 in it that HAD installed on it a beautifull prop that Pat Johnston had reworked for me. Man that motor LOVED that prop. Yes it was a beautifull tigerstriped maple prop! My cat thought he should test the fiber integrity of that prop, well at least it still looks pretty good though the teeth marks are rather distracting! I did get even though, He tried it with one of my APC props,, lol somehow that didnt hold his interest for long. I know he has been on my building bench but cant catch him at it the sneeky twit! M problem is I love cats first off, and second, if I lost this cat,, my doxie would be lonily. THey play and wrestle all the time, sigh, guess Im stuck.
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It depends on the cat. I had a black tom cat that always hung out in my shop. I think he got high off the dope fumes. He would come in, jump in the chair I have by the TV and just go to sleep. Never jumped on the bench once, but seemed to like hanging out with me.
The next cat was a male, Flame Point Siamese. He was a pest. Always getting into things and I had to run him out of the shop regularly. He was a pain in my backside. We never got on all that well.
The current cat in a very old female Seal Point Siamese. She wanders in and poked into the corners and under the benches and wanders out again. If it's summer, I have to check the shop before I lock up since she will find some out of the way corner to sleep in. She has gotten herself locked up in there a couple of times, but is too old to jump up on the bench.
The male tabby we have isn't around much. He's the hunter and the only reason sometimes I know he is still in the vicinity is he will leave little, dead animals lined up on the deck. Guess he wants me to know he's paying his way. Wish he'd go after the rats in the barn.
The dog, well, we call her Whacked Out Psycho Mutt for a reason. Can't let her near the shop. Or anything else breakable.
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Well, Orville and Wilbur (orange tabbies and yes they are litter mates) are well behaved in the workshop and they sit with me often. They are even allowed in the basement shop on their own. Yes, once as a kitten, Wilbur clawed a freshly sheeted panel. I roared at him (I think I'm the big cat!) and we have never had an issue since.
hapy with the furries,
Dean Pappas
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We usually have a pair of cats, though we lost one recently (19 years old!) so are down to one. She is not in the least interested in model aircraft.
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Well when I went to VSC last March we only had three cats, two female and one male. When we got home with the deranged toy poodle they did not think too much of her. The male cat finally decided that she was a playmate and it was fun watching run, jump and wrestle each other. One of the females hisses and slaps at her trying to knock some sense into her to no avail. The other psycho female cat just tolerates her. They have all been in the basement with me at one time or another and have never bothered the planes or my building area. In fact one of the females likes staying in the basement for the mice she catches. Did take the pooch to the field with the granddaughters one weekend and she seemed to like it. Especially when we were done flying and took the leash off of her. The poor deranged dog just loves to run. She really loves to irritate the cats. Have fun, DOC Holliday
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I am currently owned by three cats, one actually likes me heven know why. He is "Benson the bold" eight pounds of feerless Burmese terror. They live in the house, I build in the garage. Even when they do go in the garage none of them seems interested in my planes, but there is no way I could build with Benson in the room. He feels oblidged to oversee EVERYTHING I do, to make sure I don't mess up of course. People own dogs, cats own people!
Andy
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Maybe there's some hope. Hard to tell at this point. My son swears that things will calm some when Freyja gets a bit older. I've tried to avoid using one of the spray bottles around my modeling stuff but that may be what it takes. Freyja did, however, break the first spray bottle by knocking it off the counter. I'm still not sure it was an accident. Before it's over, I guess there'll be some tales to tell. Anybody ever $$coted a cat to make it behave? >:D I'm still not sure naming the daughter of one of the neighborhood cats after a Norse goddess was a such a hot idea. ;D
She's a "bit" bigger now but when this picture was taken, we sure didn't know she'd grow to be the "devil kitty" as my wife calls her when Freyja's being ornery.
Mike
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Mike,
Paint a circle around your bench - with thin CA ! LL~ LL~
Just don't forget to pull the cat loose, when you quite for the night. LL~
Just kidding. I love cats.
Our old Tiger cat can't keep up with our one year old pup, so he lives in the garage now. Comes in for a few minutes at a time, but soon tires of the pup jumping on him, and goes right back to the garage.
He doesn't hurt the pup, just doesn't have patience with her.
In his younger days, the cat loved to sharpen his claws on my ceiling tile building board! Went through my entire supply of fibre board ceiling tiles in short order, and shredded a few kit plans in the process. Then he just stopped for some reason? ???
Our Red Nose Pit Bull gets along great with the pup and the cat, but gets between them immediately when they get too rowdy! They don't argue with him, but he would never hurt either of them. Smartest and sweetest dog we have ever owned.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/BillAdair/RAMSEY.jpg)
Bill
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More cat pics:
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Our latest cat is a three leg cat. She is missing her right rear leg. That has the advantage in that she can not jump very high, like onto my building table. But she does not get as much exercise as she should missing that leg. It is only when she walks is it noticeable that she is missing a leg. When she runs, it is hard to tell.
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Cats and model planes don't co-exist where I live. The coyotes eat them! The cats that is....they haven't bothered the airplanes yet.
Randy C. LL~
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My best friend for 22 years, an apple head lilac point Siamese.
Enzo liked to be around people and he liked to watch me work. If I put him on the workbench, he would just sit and watch. He showed some curiosity bet never touched anything.
Activity wise, what he seemed to like most was riding in a car. ~^
If I said "Enzo, want to ride?", he would go to the garage door and wait to get to the car.
He would also listen - If I said "play dead", the result was what you see in the second picture. n~ n~
Bob Z.
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Mike,
Get Diane and bring the "Devil Kitty" by the store today. I think I can help you out. VD~ VD~ VD~
Your friend,
Zuriel
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http://jflores.com/jokes/chowmein.htm
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How to give a pill to a cat and a dog
CAT:
1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As the cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and vigorously rub cat's throat.
7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make a note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
8) Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9) Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10) Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of your last tetanus jab. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12) Ring fire brigade to retrieve the friggin' cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.
13) Tie the little @#!*#^~!'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table, find heavy duty Pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
14) Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15) Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
DOG: Wrap pill in bacon, cheese or peanut butter. Make him beg.
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Hey Zuriel,
For some reason, I can't get Diane to go along with your suggestion. Maybe she knows us too well. y1
Mike
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Mike,
Bring the cat with you next time you and Z-Man come across the river. We will let it try and catch Ryan's Bi-Slob. LL~ LL~ LL~
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How about Don Corleone??????????????????????
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Michael,
The key word in your first post was "6 Month old KITTEN". Don't worry, they do grow up! the bad news is they usually take on the attributes of their staff! Good luck. n~
And Scott, (post # 29) That was THE funniest piece I've ever read. You are surly a cat owner! BTW, that's why I usually have the vet prescribe liquids with a squirter! LL~
Ward-o (too many cats ago)
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For Scott - did you ever think of pouring the beer or whiskey down the cat's throat? After enough of that, it will probably eat ALL the pills! 010!
Blessings,
Will
P.S. No hangover for you that way and the cat's HO will be gone in a couple of days. DK^
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Scott,
Man, I laughed at that. You really only appreciate it after you have tried giving a cat a pill.
Thanks for that, I needed it.
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You guys may never believe this, but we had a cat that we took to the vet at about the same time every year. Its been a while so I can't remember if her annual checkup was in September or October. Anyway one fall she disappeared about two weeks before her appointed checkup and we didn't see her for a few weeks then one morning she showed back up as if nothing had ever happened. She was an indoor/outdoor cat so at first we figured that she wondered off, went somewhere for a visit, found a new home, or possibly met a bad end. After she came back I couldn't help but wonder if she was intentionally trying to dodge the vet.
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Scott, THANK YOU!!!
We are presently sans felines, but have had some times with them...
Our most recent, Bill the Cat (remember the Bloom County comic strip? AAAACK! ?), seemed an ordinary pale tabby tomcat kitten, until one day, while I was playing with him, I learned something. He had a digestive problem. As I swung him around our outside patio by his 'armpits', he painted an earth-tone stripe on same.
Several months with oatmeal added to his CalCan helped him outgrow it...
He was an indoor/outdoor cat, and my shop - a one-car garage w/o AC - usually had the "people-door" open. He visited occasionally. One day, while I had an I-beamer on the board, he - as one of us here called it - "levitated" over the scene of the action. ..and landed at a dihedral break - appropriately ...
NOTE: Even adult cats can be picked up by the scruff of their necks. ...and bowled out the door like I was trying to make a 7-10 split. ...mostly on his (retired male) butt... He got the point. It took him weeks to come near me again, longer before he even looked in the open, side, people-door to the shop/garage. He seemed almost apologetic, seeking my acceptance, after that, but we remained good buddies for years after that.
Until, one night, he tried to butt a car out of his way on a neighborhood street. The car won...
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I have cats and Basset hounds. I have never had a cat bother an airplane, but watch out for the female bassets. I have Had two different females climb unto my building board and destroy everything up there. The first was a foster basset named Flash, the second was our Ruby Doo, and at 70 lbs it is amazing were she can climb to! y1
Leroy
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I "think" the cat and I are working out an understanding. I was able to spread plans out on the table more than once yesterday and the cat calmly laid on the plans and watched. I didn't mess with her until she got bored and started chasing her tail on my Shark 35 plans,. That got her banished to the floor which she took well. Maybe there's hope.
Wow, I've never had a basset mess with my model plane stuff. The two we currently have with us are females but the small one just turned 14 (slowed down a lot) and the big one (70 lbs) is about 10 and has some back trouble. My wife had a male basset when we married. He and I didn't get along too well most of the time (my fault. I'd never had "alpha dog" issuses with a dog before). One birthday, I had a terrible day at work, was in class until late that night, and arrived home to find the male basset up on the dining room table with his face buried in my birthday cake. I'm still not sure how he got up there.
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Scott
Your post # 29 reminded me of helping a friend with his pet that had gone on a hunger strike.
Four of us each grabbed the pet and Bob used a tool that looked like a caulking gun filled with pureed food for the pet. As we all held on, Bob pumped the food down it's throat.
O, I forgot to mention the pet was a 10 foot long Boa Constrictor!!!
The Boa was his wife's pet she had raised prior to their wedding.
Clancy
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Ty
She also had a 12 foot Python, a 5 foot Diamond Back Rattler and a 30 inch Massasoga Rattler (the most deadly rattler in existence).
Clancy