cats and speakers - looking for clues

I wouldn't worry about it.  Most cats will be indifferent.  Over many years I only had one cat who thought the grill cloth made a convenient scratching post.  My best cat story though is about the late and sorely missed Ben.  He liked music and would sit at my feet and listen actively, head moving back and forth from left to right speaker as musical elements caught his attention.  He preferred Classical music, particularly Beethoven symphonies, #7 especially.  Who he could not abide was Rod Stewart.  Literally reacted to his voice as though in pain and would bolt from the room.  As Rod was a favorite on a local FM station, this could happen without warning.  Ben would look at me as though I had betrayed him after each and every encounter.  I miss Ben.

I've owned several different species of pet all my life. Dogs,cats,birds, reptiles and some exotics,(Coati, Leopard, Armadillo, Honey Glider, etc) the only pets to have ever caused damage to and speaker/equipment, were my big birds, Macaws and Cockatoos. 

I had cats and fancy stereos for the past 40 years and was always able to control them by saying no as they approached within 2 feet of equipment and speakers . Teaching them no came in handy for many reason besides stereo. With a few cats, the word no had to be reinforced a few times with a gentle spritz from a squirt gun but they tend to learn fast 

Probably the best thing to do is to have carpet or put a tough rug by the speakers.  They’ll use that instead if they fail to use scratching posts. This will be better for room acoustics anyway.

You could also cut out and tape pizza boxes over the grill until they’ve become acclimated to ignoring the speakers. I generally use the most oily and ugly pieces just for kicks.

@kingbr 

I’d be more careful of cables

Excellent point that’s easily missed.

@erik_squires 

The one real issue for me is with speakers that are easy to tip over.

Another excellent point. I’ve have a number of busted tower + bookshelf cabinets and drivers.

I have 3 cats and have had as many as 7. Never had an issue with anything. We do have a scratching post that they use but other than that no special anythings.