Cats and Wiring

[StewRRFan]

We have a cat which has taken to chewing the wiring under the layout.  Has gotten to the standard 20 gauge wire, DCC power cord and DCC connectors.  All the wiring is fairly tight to the decking.  The layout cannot be separated from the cat via a room, wall etc and cannot get rid of the cat.

Any suggestions? TIA.

[eric220]

You could try a cover of aluminum foil. Cats generally don't like the texture.

[nickelplate759]

Higher voltage (not current)  ?

Other than that, try making it taste bad.  There's a product called "bitter orange" that might discourage your kitty.

[carlso]

Buy a low voltage cattle fence from Lowe's/Home Depot, run the wiring under the table in a crossing pattern (do not let the wires touch each other), plug in the low voltage transformer and I can almost guarantee that if the cat gets into it once, the tingle will not hurt the cat, it will not do it again. Our cat is so darned curious it would watch me string the wire.

Carl

[TLOC]

Hi

We had a cat years ago that loved all the CAT5 wiring in the house. so went to Home Depot--not cheap anymore but it worked:

GE
Model # 43037
Internet # 203716823   
Chat Offline
6 ft. Cable Neat Organizing Tubing - Black

best of luck

[RBrodzinsky]

Try putting some Olbas Oil around the underside of the layout, and even on some of the wiring. Smells like wintergreen and eucalyptus, but cats don't like it. You don't need much.

[peteski]

Try putting some Olbas Oil around the underside of the layout, and even on some of the wiring. Smells like wintergreen and eucalyptus, but cats don't like it. You don't need much.

That would keep me away too - I don't like wintergreen flavor! 

[nkalanaga]

Get some heavy plastic sheeting and staple it to the joists, to cover the wiring?  If the layout is "finished" there shouldn't be a need for frequent access. and the plastic could be cut (carefully) and reattached for emergency repairs.  If you live in an area with cold winters the clear plastic sold for temporary storm windows would be one suggestion, as it's both tough and cheap.

It would also keep stuff stored under the layout from snagging wires when it's moved.

[nscaler711]

Sprinkler system!


Wait... Wiring.... Hmmm

I've heard of deodorant, anything citrus(?) this: http://www.amazon.com/Cord-Protector-CritterCord-Protect-Hazardous/dp/B000EH2I5O

Just do a google search, too...  Found this topic: http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Cats-from-Chewing-on-Electric-Cords-and-Chargers
Everything I have heard I read in that link above.

[JanesCustomTrain]

Orange peel, that's right, from the fruit.

Jane

[Philip H]

close the door to the train room?

Keeps my tabby and calico out . . . and they have enough other places to explore they aren't too fussy about it.

[Cajonpassfan]

close the door to the train room?

Well, I built my train room next to the family room, with a wide connecting door we used to keep open so that my wife and I could be in proximity and I wouldn't feel like a recluse and she like a lover scorned. For years that worked well as our old kitty was no problem and stayed mostly on the floor.
But now we have two new kitties that think n scale cars are perfect mice size to bat around so I have to keep them out and have to keep the door shut. Hate it. I do feel like a recluse and my wife started referring to the train room as the "basement"....
So today after stumbling on this thread, I ordered SSSCAT, a water spraying, noise inducing gizmo with a proximity sensor from Amazon that's supposed to keep cats away....we'll see if that works.
To be continued, Otto K.

[basementcalling]

Rewire with noose shaped slack areas and just wait.   

[delamaize]

Can of tuna fish and a Cattle prod. lol

[up1950s]

Put the cat in a 55 gal drum and punch some holes in the lid . When the cat turns 10 plug up the holes .