My #@%$ Cat Destroyed My ARC REF 5SE. Soliciting Suggestions.

Maybe replace the ARC with a CAT. I bet the unit is worth at least $500.

"Homeowners insurance doesn't cover repair or replacement because owning a pet means you assume liability/responsibility."      Makes sense!     After all,  whose fault is it, that you have a, "#@%$ cat" (your own description) in your house?          

That is very bad luck. Repair should be possible though, but finding the right person to do it will be difficult. Have you considered replacing it, even temporarily, with something different while waiting for a used one at the right price.

I use a DIY valve preamp which I quickly threw together to see if it was what I hoped it would be, intending to do a more serious build when time allowed. This pre with only mediocre parts outperformed my expectations but from long storage had developed a hum.

Not having the time to rebuild the way I would like I chose, after much research, a unit from Ed Schilling of the Hornshoppe called 'The Truth'  It is solid state, nothing to look at and has no gain, but is simply amazing and I doubt now if I will bother to rebuild my valve amp. Retail about $1300 because I asked for upgraded OCC input wiring and a remote.

A long and entertaining review of this by Arthur Salvatore:http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Linestages.html

So sad about that pussy!!!

One of our cats jumped up on turntable and lashed out at the air-arm ruining My VdH EMT cartridge. I went digital (for a while).
Today a new turntable and a riaa recomended by Fremer: Van den Hul "The Grail" that can compete with the very best. I got mine at usd 3500,- lightly used in the UK. They come very rarely for sale, so people must be very satisfied