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cats and speakers - looking for clues

My family decided to get a cat. Being an audio-hobbyist for past 20 years, I have collected a modest line of speakers. In a few conversations with friends, I have been warned that speakers and cats do not mix very well. I am certainly curious, not so say anxious to know more, before it is too late.

Does anyone in this group host, or used to host a cat (or cats) and speakers  under the same roof ? Could you please share your experience  ? Should I be concerned that a cat will use my speakers as scratching posts ? Can it be mitigated/avoided somehow ?  If the risk is high, whats the best strategy to deal with  the situation, outside of obvious, such as barricading my speakers in a dedicated room ?

I'd truly appreciate any hint or clue that can help. 

Best - Pete.

pete_a
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,454 posts
 

I wouldn't risk it. We have a cat. Equipment is in closed off areas. Non-leather sofas are shredded. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,826 posts
 

I was interested in a used pair of ML Aries a local guy was selling. This was a while ago.
Called and arranged for an audition and purchase if all was well. And it wasn’t. When I walked in, there were several loose parrots (don’t know the kind but they were decent size) flying around. The electrostatic panels were thoroughly covered in bird poop. One of the birds then landed on top of a speaker and dropped a healthy deuce right down the panel probably thinking that I couldn’t look more surprised.
This is probably the funniest audio experience I ever had. 

bahston
29 posts
 

Great stories.

Love the bird story about dropping a deuce, priceless.

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,447 posts
 

I have a sample set of 2 cats. 1 (the current one) is a great cat; not at all a destructive cat. HOWEVER like all cats he is highly attracted to sparkly glinting metallic bits. And unfortunately, the central gold horn of a Tannoy Canterbury driver is especially tantalizing, especially when playing (cone movement causes the outer edge sparkle to waver & shimmer) and with sunlight hitting it. We had such an incident, where I was luckily right there to chase him off, but his claws gave the driver surrounds a good glancing blow. Fortunately the surrounds on these speakers are a VERY robust doped textile - so no harm done. But I know from experience that the usual butyl rubber surrounds MELT LIKE BUTTER when faced with cat claws. 

If you have a non-destructive cat like this, then always keep grills on while your cat is around - my cat has no interest in speakers without the shimmery bits that are so like his toys. If you have a destructive cat then all bets are off. In general this will vary a lot by cat.

 

fatdaddy2
527 posts
 

The only speakers I had a problem with were Acoustat 1+1s, which the cats (when they were small kittens) used to run up and sit on the top of the speakers. Didn't continue once they had grown, and I just replaced the speaker socks before selling them a number of years later.

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