Cats

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
doug
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Post by doug »

I mean the kind that go 'meow' and leave footprints all over your car. Anybody figure out a way to keep them from doing that ... the part about getting on the car., I mean.

Lethal methods are not an option here, so I don't want to hear about shotguns, ethylene glycol, etc.. This is the family kitty. One thing I have discovered is that yelling obscenities and/or saying 'bad cat!' have little to no effect. The cat won't listen to me. My latest tactic involves leaving small pieces of packing tape upside down on the car at night. The idea here being that since cats hate tape, if she gets some stuck on her she may associate that unpleasant sensation with jumping on the car ... and STOP DOING IT! Aargh!. It's a long shot, but the cat is beginning to drive me nuts. If anybody has a better idea, I'd love to hear it. Maybe I should take up meditation.
Guest

Post by Guest »

yea theres some cat that sits on my car... i dont mind but i think he has scratched it a few times... cant wait till i have a GARAGE!! other than that maybe honk the horn really loud when the cats on it.. usually when cats are scared of something a few times they wont go back
shifty
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Post by shifty »

Move your dog's bed right next to the car.

Record a dog barking and play it all night long.

Smear butter all over the car so it's too slippery for the cat to stand on.

Buy a car cover.

Build a really tall fence that even cats can't climb.

Move.

My favorite ideas. . .

Tie the cat to a tree every night.

It's target practice time!

I know none of these are really good ideas, but it was fun to think of them! :D
Guest

Post by Guest »

I'd take your tape concept one level higher.

Get some self adhesive shelf paper and using low stick masking tape, tape the stuff to the top of the hood, trunk deck, and roof, with the adhesive side up.

When the cat jumps up on your car, it will get the surprise of it's life. ~0 ~0 ~0

You might find it still stuck to the car, or even all balled up in the shelf paper. If you do, it's probably going to be really pissed off and won't likely jump up on your car again.

Rich
Guest

Post by Guest »

Another thing that works well if you actually see the cat jumping up and laying on your car.

The water hose with a high pressure nozzle.

Rich
spinedocab
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Post by spinedocab »

LOL...LOL again.

I have this exact problem, but with the neighbors cat. He never got up on anything in my driveway UNTIL I brought Gretchen home. Then I start to find muddy paw prints, and yes, some scratches in the clearcoat.

I keep the car covered, and she generally stays covered for a week or two ata time. I NEVER SEE THE CAT ON OR NEAR THE CAR WHEN IT"S COVERED. So a couple weeks ago, it was time for a drive, snow was gone, and I went for a nice, country road spin. Came back, parked the car, and waited for it to cool fully before covering again. When I returned from picking up my daughter somewhere, as we pull in the driveway , there's tiger, next to the car and about to jump up. How do he KNOW??

Anyway, he's a nice cat, but I'd rather he stayed off too.
RetiredDoc
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Post by RetiredDoc »

As soon as I park the car, I open the hood. For some reason, my cats won't jump up on the trunk to get to the roof, so the open hood keeps therm away.
Duke
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Post by Duke »

There are electrified pads you can buy and place on the flat surfaces of your car.

Personally, I would plug them into a 220 and make it a one shot deal for the cat.

No don't freak out Shawn (our resident hairy pussy lover), I'd like too but would not, it could damage my car. :p


[Edit by Duke M535Ti on [TIME]1109772468[/TIME]]
TT
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Post by TT »

12 gauge auto-loader.
Tim in N FL
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Post by Tim in N FL »

Rich,
I too am a cat owner (x2) and approve of your suggested "intervention" for dotrp's errant, engine-heat-seaking feline(s). Cats HATE to have their paws stuck to anything and they also don't like the garden hose treatment. Maybe you could sprinkle some black pepper on their favorite sleeping spot too?

I have found that DOGS do more damage than cats when it comes to the finish on my cars. My retired father-in-law (MD turned gentleman-farmer) used to have some farm dogs (mutts) that would jump on top of my car when we arrived for a visit. As you might imagine...I went ballistic!

Cheers,
Tim
fastpat
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Post by fastpat »

[QUOTE="dotrp"]I mean the kind that go 'meow' and leave footprints all over your car. Anybody figure out a way to keep them from doing that ... the part about getting on the car., I mean.

Lethal methods are not an option here, so I don't want to hear about shotguns, ethylene glycol, etc.. This is the family kitty. One thing I have discovered is that yelling obscenities and/or saying 'bad cat!' have little to no effect. The cat won't listen to me. My latest tactic involves leaving small pieces of packing tape upside down on the car at night. The idea here being that since cats hate tape, if she gets some stuck on her she may associate that unpleasant sensation with jumping on the car ... and STOP DOING IT! Aargh!. It's a long shot, but the cat is beginning to drive me nuts. If anybody has a better idea, I'd love to hear it. Maybe I should take up meditation.[/QUOTE]

On the rare occaisions I let my cats in thegarage, they're on the car right away. It lets them get up high to scout the rest of the garage for any things that might harm you, or a cat, and they want to see it before it gets them. If you want them to not get on the car as often as they do, provide a cat perch, one of those things PetSmart sells with all the carpeting already on it so they can sharpen claws, the higher the better.

That should do the trick. :cool:
kendogg1
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Post by kendogg1 »

I have to say, I'm definitely not much of a cat lover. I know when we had cats as a kid, if there was ever a cat on my dads chevelle, it was shot off the hood no questions asked, with his 22. I have to say, i think I would do this, too. If it was a neighbor's cat, I would give them one chance to keep it off my property. The neighbor would also be paying for a paint job if I were nice enough to let the cat live.
a
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Post by a »

uuhmn, you guys are a bit harsh on felines. Cleo's paw prints wash right off in the next rain. :D She earns her keep keeping down the mouse population which will cause real car problems.
shifty
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Post by shifty »

I hate cats. Almost as much as Indiana Jones hates snakes. I'm not scared of them, but I really dislike them. Some are better than others, and some are even pretty darn tolerable. But, there are many -- the kind that crawl all over your car! -- that are quite worthless animals.

But hey, everyone's entitled to their own opinion! Would you believe that there are some people in this world that don't like E28s?!

If you want the mouse population to decrease, though, buy a mouse trap! ;)
fastpat
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Post by fastpat »

[QUOTE="kendogg"]I have to say, I'm definitely not much of a cat lover. I know when we had cats as a kid, if there was ever a cat on my dads chevelle, it was shot off the hood no questions asked, with his 22. I have to say, i think I would do this, too. If it was a neighbor's cat, I would give them one chance to keep it off my property. The neighbor would also be paying for a paint job if I were nice enough to let the cat live.[/QUOTE]

I keep my cats, and dogs, inside, but anyone shooting my cats would get a stick of dynamite in return, in a most unpleasant location :@

I believe in total and final retaliation for a loss. :cool:
Velocewest
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Post by Velocewest »

Sticky paper (like shelf paper) is a good idea. The hose works, but all you really need is a squirt gun. Cats are much more trainable than most people imagine. Unlike dogs, I find they respond better to deterrents than rewards. Cats will walk a mile to avoid damp pavement, dogs will run through fire for a pat on the head and a treat.

I'm with Pat on the retaliation. Would you shoot my kid if he hit your car with his bike? Pets are family. I'd be happy to buy you a paint job, after I kicked your ass.
fastpat
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Post by fastpat »

[QUOTE="Shifty"]Move your dog's bed right next to the car.

Record a dog barking and play it all night long.

Smear butter all over the car so it's too slippery for the cat to stand on.

Buy a car cover.

Build a really tall fence that even cats can't climb.

Move.

My favorite ideas. . .

Tie the cat to a tree every night.

It's target practice time!

I know none of these are really good ideas, but it was fun to think of them! :D [/QUOTE]

My 80 pound Labrador is budds with one of the cats; he'd be very ugly to someone that messes with his cats. His other friend is an 80 pound Drahthaar, she agrees with what he decides, and worse, I'm their pack leader. :cool:
DMNaskale
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Post by DMNaskale »

My old neighborhood was overrun with cats, and I am not what one would call a cat person. It is no fun finding the little curls of clearcoat where a cat used its claws to stop his slide after leaping onto one of the cars, seeing the aftermath of a cat killing the baby birds you have been watching grow, or smelling the special stench of cat piss. However, it all comes back to the pet owner. A responsible pet owner wouldn't let their pet become this sort of problem. Cats are under the same leash law here as dogs, they should not be running around in a dense urban area pissing people off by being a nuisance. But as much as I might want to, I could never knowingly harm someones pet even though to me the life of one baby bird or little lawn alligator is worth more than a cat's, so it is a frustrating situation when these idiots let their cats run around and raise hell. Fortunately there are not nearly as many cats roaming around my new neighborhood. :p
Brian in TN
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Post by Brian in TN »

[QUOTE="Shifty"]I hate cats. Almost as much as Indiana Jones hates snakes. I'm not scared of them, but I really dislike them. Some are better than others, and some are even pretty darn tolerable. But, there are many -- the kind that crawl all over your car! -- that are quite worthless animals.

But hey, everyone's entitled to their own opinion! Would you believe that there are some people in this world that don't like E28s?!

If you want the mouse population to decrease, though, buy a mouse trap! ;) [/QUOTE]

Betta not "F" with my cats homey. You must admit mine are well mannered and somewhat cool. Sophie, the oungest of the 3 has grown in size since last time you were here. She is our SPECIAL kitty. Took the short bus in.
fastpat
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Post by fastpat »

[QUOTE="DMNaskale"]My old neighborhood was overrun with cats, and I am not what one would call a cat person. It is no fun finding the little curls of clearcoat where a cat used its claws to stop his slide after leaping onto one of the cars, seeing the aftermath of a cat killing the baby birds you have been watching grow, or smelling the special stench of cat piss. However, it all comes back to the pet owner. A responsible pet owner wouldn't let their pet become this sort of problem. Cats are under the same leash law here as dogs, they should not be running around in a dense urban area pissing people off by being a nuisance. But as much as I might want to, I could never knowingly harm someones pet even though to me the life of one baby bird or little lawn alligator is worth more than a cat's, so it is a frustrating situation when these idiots let their cats run around and raise hell. Fortunately there are not nearly as many cats roaming around my new neighborhood. :p [/QUOTE]

Most of what you say is true, Daryl, people who own cats should control them and feral cats should be rounded up and dispatched humanely.

As far as "baby birds" are concerned, their deaths due to cats and other predators such as racoons and skunks is a part of the fabric of life itself. There are predators and there is their prey. It's no great wonder why when man makes friends of other animals those animals are almost universally predators as well. Predators are always the smartest, most interesting animals. :p
Threeshifter
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Post by Threeshifter »

Get a 12 anaconda to guard your car.

No but really, one thing that could be done is to call a veterinarian and ask their advice. Vets can be quite clever with their humane remedies to animal nuisances. However, I cannot think of anything that cats really do not like other than the tape thing. Hot sauce or cayenne pepper might work as a deterrent but may have a more harmful affect on the paint then the cat.

Cats are pretty territorial too so if you could park in a different location the cat might not scout from your car, so build another driveway, or you could move. Or maybe you do not realize that the car actually belongs to the cat and you should be happy they are willing to lend it out to you.
booker
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Post by booker »

[QUOTE="Threeshifter"]Cats are pretty territorial too so if you could park in a different location the cat might not scout from your car, so build another driveway, or you could move. Or maybe you do not realize that the car actually belongs to the cat and you should be happy they are willing to lend it out to you.[/QUOTE]

LMAO! :D

My spot is clogged with roaming kitties. A new slut kitty showed up today. Wasn't the least bit afraid of my sharp-tooth hound, either.

Yeah, they get on my car, as well. Black car, that is...

Here's my thought: If you try to scare them with a hose, or yelling, or an air horn, or something, they will peel out for about 3 seconds before the get enough footing to leap off the car. Bad idea, IMO. I'd rather wash off kitty prints than try to buff out 16 sets of claw marks!

However, I do like the sticky paper idea. Hell, I might set up a video camera to catch the action! LOL It seems to be the best idea set forth so far.

As far as the bloodthirsty hatred of cats... Well... That cat lives, breathes, and thinks. Just like we do.

Does your car? %)
fastpat
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Post by fastpat »

Good points. My two dogs don't allow other cats in the yard, only their cats can roam the yard when I let them out for a brief stroll under my supervision. Yes, my cats return to the house when I tell them to go back in, assisted by the two dogs who know what "time to go in" means. :p

I believe the original poster of this question was dealing with his own cat. that's why I suggested he add a cat attractant that draws them away from his car. :)

Hope he's drawn some valuable suggestions from all this. :)
shifty
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Post by shifty »

[QUOTE="Brian Da Parts Pimp"]Betta not "F" with my cats homey. You must admit mine are well mannered and somewhat cool. Sophie, the oungest of the 3 has grown in size since last time you were here. She is our SPECIAL kitty. Took the short bus in.[/QUOTE]

Hey Pimpy, I said that some are better than others! Your cats are tolerable!

Sophie is definitely, uh, short bus special. . .
Mike E
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Post by Mike E »

I tried the butter thing suggested near the top of the thread (spread butter on the car!), but not with a car. My cat spent days licking the butter off my boat.
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