Of Kittens and Turntables

[duderduderini]

So we got a kitten 4 weeks ago and have spent endless minutes using a squirter bottle everytime it went near my stereo.. It had gotten the message but of course today whilst I was out , my good lady got sidetracked, and kind of didnt see the calamity involving the Kitten, The German Sheperd and The Poodle (standard so it is big AND Stupid). Kitten apparently attempts jump onto turntable to evade playful dogs.. Lid is not hinged to mY TD125 so it must of hit the tonearm /cartridge on its way to meeting gravity by way of my tube amp.... Is it ok to be close to tears at 47 years of age?
So I got my 150mlx Audio Technica on the 24th of December last year and I am writing its obituary tonight..... cantilever broke clean off. When I bought it the Aussie dollar exchange rate was very good, unlike now (.64 USD to the AUD) and of course its price has nearly doubled from LP gear since I bought it.
The long and the short.. I am without vinyl capability as I sent my only spare to Ray (AT 440ML) in the states so Until he has sent it back I cant afford to fix the darn thing.. I am also worried the RB300 might be bent as it must have taken a whallop.
Why am I telling you this? I really hope its therapy as I am really upset and really angry.
God bless the pets but couldnt have they come out and said they didnt like my vinyl system before trashing it.
So as we know pets and stereos are not compatible.
Nick

[moray james]

You could spend just a very little of your new spare time in building one of Nanook's 2 dollar unipivot tonearms. It can replace the Rega and free the Rega for a cash sale. The simple building will make you feel better and the cash may help you to rearange your phono system for the better.

DIY tone arm vs rega?
unipivot vs blade as bearing
a continuation of DIY TT bearing...But now Tonearms!
a continuation of DIY TT bearing...But now Tonearms!
making a tonearm...
HELP!!! anyone sourced a DIY bearing?

[dsavitsk]

Originally posted by duderduderini
So as we know pets and stereos are not compatible.

Neither are cats and water bottles. It is cruel and, as you have discovered, largely ineffective. I say your TT deserves what it got in retribution.

Now, find a better way to keep the cat off (hint, cat's don't like citrus and will stay away from places that smell like it.)

[tomtt]

Originally posted by duderduderini



So as we know pets and stereos are not compatible.


Nick

opposite experience here.


as i sat down to listen, after puttin the vinyl on,

the cat walks over to the turntable (a cheep pioneer mid fi),

steps up to, and on, the speed control switch with his front

leg/paw, speeding the table to '45 rpm' .

steps on the switch again

with his back leg/paw restoring the speed to 33.3.

which got my Attention.

and then he

lays down right on the 'table/plastic cover.

the fact that he weighed about 12 pounds,

and had quite long hair, damped the 'table immensely.

Which removed alota noise from playback.

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Honest to God , kittens can be a real trial for one's patience.


yet cats are may be the most spiritualy astute animal,

that waste their time with people.

the insanity that goes with kittens,

is more that worth while,

they are true friends as they get older,

as long as they are treated fairly.

treated fairly in Their opinon,

as animals aren't as full of 'Bull Stuff' as people.

[duderduderini]

To dsavitsk
I take exception to your sanctimonious accusation that squirting a little bit of water on a kitten that is 3 months old is cruel. I dont throw the water bottle at it thanks very much and it is an effective method of deterance.This is what Vets recommend and further more I lived with one for 2 years. Furthermore citrus is probably toxic and that is not something I would use.
Thank you so much for pointing out that the Karma gods have ,with glee punished me for my dispicable act of cruelty.
I will have you know sir that I care for my pets in a way few do, so I would ask you to keep your opinions on water and cruelty to yourself.
If you think You have offended me, you have, and if this was not a public forum I would really let you know just what I think of your "Holier than thou" judgement.
So dsavitsk keep your judgements for other people but I sir will not stand for it.
You got that?

[dsavitsk]

Cats are not smart enough to make the logical connection between the squirt of water and behavior. They are, however, smart enough to make the logical connection between being squirted and the person squirting them. That is, squirting them simply makes them fearful.

http://blogs.catster.com/cat_tip_of_...training-tool/

Maybe this will be helpful for your problem

http://blogs.catster.com/cat_tip_of_...-a-booby-trap/

For the record, I didn't suggest feeding the cat citrus. That would indeed keep the cat away permanently. Just finding something that smells like it and putting it there will keep the cat away. Vinegar will work, too, but it will likely keep you away as well.

[Nanook]

we ended up with 6 cats at our house. The newest is under 6 mos old, and needs to be spayed (or whatever they do to female cats...)

Youngest one has created almost all the problems: 2 of the younger males (and they are "fixed") began spraying and marking territory all over my front room, including the audio rig!

One of the oldest males (we have 2 old males, both been "fixed") began doing the same but to no effect (thankfully 'cause he's a big SOB.).

I use a 1/2 and 1/2 solution of vinegar and water.... All I have to do is catch them doing it and shake the squirt bottle and they stop and let out like no tomorrow.

I don't condone creating fear in pets, and usually if I verbally reprimand them they stop instantly.

As far as the arm goes, I've had a cat jump on my table whilst listening to it (I nodded off for a second). The $2.19 tonearm easily survived. And hey, it cost $2.19, so if it didn't , who cares?

stew

[a.wayne]

Cat Fight Gentlemen


Back to tonearms , so far it has been riveting .......@ 2.19 i think i could splurge a little and step up the 6 .00 version the uni-pivot is the way to go and very doable with what has been laid out .. Bravo !

[Nanook]

I'll attach a couple of photos...

[Nanook]

the coin is used to mimic a cartridge, CDN 25¢ , mass= 5.0 grams (1999)