06-17-2010, 06:44 PM
Cat Proofing.............This subject has been beat around the forum world for many years and threads like these tend to take on the atmosphere of jokes aplenty and no real solutions. At least I've never seen a solution that will work in my world!
The problem...4 cats. Two are too fat and lazy to get on the layout. The other two are lean, nimble and eager. One of those 2 is stealthy and can slink around the layout without disturbing a tree, piece of rolling stock or any minute bit of detail. The other one though, is like a feline version of the Tasmanian Devil. Where he passes, destruction ensues.
Shutting the cats out of the railroad room is out of the question. That would require moving 2 litter boxes to the living areas upstairs and that would be no good. (electric shocks, dogs and machine guns are also not options). When nobody is home to nail the cat with a squirt bottle is when the problems arise.
The cats are part of the family and not leaving. Therefore we all must learn to live together in peace and harmony!
Since I am at the stage where I want to do a complete overhaul/re-build on my current layout, I want to incorporate a cat proofing solution into the overall design. I need to prevent cat access to the under side. Idea: Run the fascia entirely down to the floor and build in a couple access doors.
I need to prevent access to the layout's surface.
Idea: Use thin, bendable plexiglass panels that extend high enough to foil a cat's efforts at flying leaps. These panels could be slid in and out as necessary and could be attached by sliding into some type of channel mounted to the fascia. Any ideas on how to make a channel or groove to slide the plexiglass into or any other serious ideas would be welcome. Thanks in advance!
Matt
The problem...4 cats. Two are too fat and lazy to get on the layout. The other two are lean, nimble and eager. One of those 2 is stealthy and can slink around the layout without disturbing a tree, piece of rolling stock or any minute bit of detail. The other one though, is like a feline version of the Tasmanian Devil. Where he passes, destruction ensues.
Shutting the cats out of the railroad room is out of the question. That would require moving 2 litter boxes to the living areas upstairs and that would be no good. (electric shocks, dogs and machine guns are also not options). When nobody is home to nail the cat with a squirt bottle is when the problems arise.
The cats are part of the family and not leaving. Therefore we all must learn to live together in peace and harmony!
Since I am at the stage where I want to do a complete overhaul/re-build on my current layout, I want to incorporate a cat proofing solution into the overall design. I need to prevent cat access to the under side. Idea: Run the fascia entirely down to the floor and build in a couple access doors.
I need to prevent access to the layout's surface.
Idea: Use thin, bendable plexiglass panels that extend high enough to foil a cat's efforts at flying leaps. These panels could be slid in and out as necessary and could be attached by sliding into some type of channel mounted to the fascia. Any ideas on how to make a channel or groove to slide the plexiglass into or any other serious ideas would be welcome. Thanks in advance!
Matt