cats and speakers - looking for clues

I had a fully clawed cat for 13 years and he NEVER once touched a speaker grill or any furniture AFTER he had access to a couple scratch poles. I made one 8 feet tall out of 4x4 wrapped in 3/8" hemp rope; he shredded the hemp, and often rested at the top of the post to ambush me as I walked past by jumping onto my shoulders. 
I also trimmed claws with nail clippers once a month or so. 
A little care, and cats are a NON problem with your speakers. 

I’d worry more about dogs, but no personal experience. 

I have had both cats and speakers for decades and haven't had any issues.

First of all, I have a separate audio/tv room in my basement. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a door.  So, I simply put a shower curtain on an expanding rod across the entry way and a cheap baby gate in place and they forgot there is anything behind it. So, they don't go into the room until...

Second, when I am listening to the stereo or watching a show, the cats are with me. As I keep the original plastic bags the Magnepan LRS shipped in over the speakers when not in use (keeps dust off) and a plastic sheet over my equipment shelf (same reason), they don't bother anything because they don't like plastic and finally...

Cats tend to claw things especially when they are bored.  We have lots of toys and little trouble.

So, if you don't have a separate room that can be enclosed, try a plastic dust cover for the speakers and the equipment. It's not the most aesthetic solution, but it's simple, it's cheap, it's easy to remove and it seems to work.

Keith

We have had cats for 38 years, no problems. Plenty scratching devices has worked.  

Be kind to animals.

My cats got rambunctious and managed to dent the metal dome tweeter in a Monitor Audio GR-20 speaker. I used some sticky tape to pop it back in place. They have since passed on. I really miss those guys.

@kymanor1 “Just get rid of the cat, horrible pets if you can call them that”

I can sympathise as cats can make people scratch, but if l had to personally make a choice, l would be far happier having speakers as pets.