NO, CAT. MISTAKE. RETREAT RETREAT RETREAT
July 24, 2015 6:26 PM Subscribe
I didn't think a cat video would ever do this, but this kinda just made me sad. It also vaguely reminded me of Portal.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:37 PM on July 24, 2015 [24 favorites]
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:37 PM on July 24, 2015 [24 favorites]
I feel like some of these were placed more just to mess with the cat than to preserve the sanctity of a countertop.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:41 PM on July 24, 2015 [30 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 6:41 PM on July 24, 2015 [30 favorites]
Do not like.
posted by Huck500 at 6:44 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by Huck500 at 6:44 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
Good title. The spouse and i watched, flinched, laughed, and enjoyed. I mean, I feel bad, but the 'OH SHIT' reactions are pretty great.
posted by annsunny at 6:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by annsunny at 6:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Seems unnecessarily violent.
posted by Miko at 6:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Miko at 6:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
What evil is this?
posted by Artw at 6:47 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 6:47 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I like the ones where 0.5 seconds after the freakout they look around all nonchalantly like nothing happened.
posted by axiom at 6:48 PM on July 24, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by axiom at 6:48 PM on July 24, 2015 [14 favorites]
I guess the answer is "they were going to poop in there" but
A) Why do those cats want in the bath tub
B) Why keep them out of the bath tub
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 6:52 PM on July 24, 2015 [23 favorites]
A) Why do those cats want in the bath tub
B) Why keep them out of the bath tub
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 6:52 PM on July 24, 2015 [23 favorites]
Flagged for being awful to cats.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:57 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 6:57 PM on July 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
Why do those cats want in the bath tub
Some of my past cats have figured out it is a cool place to lie in the summer.
posted by Miko at 6:59 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Some of my past cats have figured out it is a cool place to lie in the summer.
posted by Miko at 6:59 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm having a hard time understanding what is so damned fragile or sensitive in these run-of-the-mill apartments that it's so critical to give the cats a death scare. I mean, the Christmas tree, yeah, I know what some cats do to that, so mayyybe. But the spider plant? Just move the damn spider plant. It's not like the spider plant is some rare precious species. The running water? Your cats are running water cats. Get them a fountain. Plus, if you're running water, you're probably in the room, so pick the damn cat up and put it on the floor.
posted by Miko at 7:05 PM on July 24, 2015 [13 favorites]
posted by Miko at 7:05 PM on July 24, 2015 [13 favorites]
A) Why do those cats want in the bath tub
B) Why keep them out of the bath tub
Plus, those people are missing out on the joy of a cat who does somersaults down the slope in the corner of the bathtub, like one of mine does. That right there is one of the best things about living with cats -- some of them do somersaults in the bathtub.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:07 PM on July 24, 2015 [12 favorites]
B) Why keep them out of the bath tub
Plus, those people are missing out on the joy of a cat who does somersaults down the slope in the corner of the bathtub, like one of mine does. That right there is one of the best things about living with cats -- some of them do somersaults in the bathtub.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:07 PM on July 24, 2015 [12 favorites]
I guess I should never have pets because besides the vaguely dickish placement of some of these (really? on the floor by the fireplace?) this actually seems super great to me. Getting cats off things they're not supposed to be on is such a pain in the ass, in my (extremely limited) experience.
posted by chrominance at 7:11 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by chrominance at 7:11 PM on July 24, 2015 [6 favorites]
"Why is that cat on the nuclear launch panel!?"
Nah it's cool that's Mr. Tibbs he's the head cat around here
"WHY DOES THAT CAT HAVE THE LAUNCH CODES"
Well I mean you know how cats are
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 7:13 PM on July 24, 2015 [51 favorites]
Nah it's cool that's Mr. Tibbs he's the head cat around here
"WHY DOES THAT CAT HAVE THE LAUNCH CODES"
Well I mean you know how cats are
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 7:13 PM on July 24, 2015 [51 favorites]
So I feel a little bad seeing other peoples' cats get surprised like that but if it were one of my cats, I'd be thinking, "serves you right you devious little bastard", cause I know how evil my cats are.
posted by octothorpe at 7:14 PM on July 24, 2015 [15 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 7:14 PM on July 24, 2015 [15 favorites]
evil.
posted by The_Auditor at 7:18 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by The_Auditor at 7:18 PM on July 24, 2015
Why wasn't this part of the metafilter birthday thread the other week?
posted by sparkletone at 7:19 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sparkletone at 7:19 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
If those bath cats are anything like mine once was, they may be setting it up in there because their cats have discovered what a great place to pee the bath is.
posted by pseudonymph at 7:28 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by pseudonymph at 7:28 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
Are those things radio controlled?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:29 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:29 PM on July 24, 2015
I'm having a hard time understanding what is so damned fragile or sensitive in these run-of-the-mill apartments that it's so critical to give the cats a death scare.
Oh, please, that is not a "death scare". That is the equivalent of a haunted house where something jumps out at you.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
Oh, please, that is not a "death scare". That is the equivalent of a haunted house where something jumps out at you.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 PM on July 24, 2015 [8 favorites]
...which you go to voluntarily, expecting and seeking out the experience.
posted by obfuscation at 7:31 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by obfuscation at 7:31 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
Oh, please, that is not a "death scare".
I think it's pretty rough. Cats are constantly vigilant and take stock of how quiet/dangerous situations are before getting into them, so surprises are pretty shocking to them (hence the pronounced self-saving reactions). The "hsss" sound is an aggressive sound to cats, associated with the vocalizations of another cat who is about to attack. This isn't a mild tactic.
posted by Miko at 7:33 PM on July 24, 2015 [13 favorites]
I think it's pretty rough. Cats are constantly vigilant and take stock of how quiet/dangerous situations are before getting into them, so surprises are pretty shocking to them (hence the pronounced self-saving reactions). The "hsss" sound is an aggressive sound to cats, associated with the vocalizations of another cat who is about to attack. This isn't a mild tactic.
posted by Miko at 7:33 PM on July 24, 2015 [13 favorites]
I have seen a cat react in exactly that fashion to being startled by a small plastic tupperware lid floating in her water bowl. These are not "death scares", they are cats overreacting to shit like they always do.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:35 PM on July 24, 2015 [47 favorites]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:35 PM on July 24, 2015 [47 favorites]
It may be because I have a skittish cat with a heart murmur, who is definitely capable of retreating to living inside our couch at much smaller provocations, but I just don't dig it. I'm really not into using startling and fear as a training tactic. YMMV.
posted by Miko at 7:38 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Miko at 7:38 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
Why do those cats want in the bath tub
My cat insists on drinking from the puddles of water left in my shower, so...
posted by Thorzdad at 7:41 PM on July 24, 2015
My cat insists on drinking from the puddles of water left in my shower, so...
posted by Thorzdad at 7:41 PM on July 24, 2015
I'm really not into using startling and fear as a training tactic.
I tried reasoning with mine, but they weren't impressed.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:44 PM on July 24, 2015 [27 favorites]
I tried reasoning with mine, but they weren't impressed.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 7:44 PM on July 24, 2015 [27 favorites]
One of my cats prefers to leave giant shits in the bath tub. We try to keep the bathroom door closed.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:46 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
The Amazon reviews are pretty fun. And mixed. If you don't move the thing every day, cats, of course, get used to it and work around it.
that's the SSSCAT for you. It has deterred the cat approximately zero times for every dozen times it sprays a human. We don't go near the counters anymore. Conversely, our cat has doubled his countergoing efforts; possibly to mock our attempts to curtail the incursions, for he knows good and well that the SSSCAT is on his side.
the sensor range is too broad such that it also catches human traffic.
Not only the product is not as sensitive as it claims to be, it sometimes goes off and won't stop
Sometimes it would not spray at all even when the cats have their noses right on the sensor, and sometimes it would fire multiple times when someone was just walking by.
I shouldn't worry about the cats. I think it would give me a heart attack.
posted by Miko at 7:48 PM on July 24, 2015 [14 favorites]
that's the SSSCAT for you. It has deterred the cat approximately zero times for every dozen times it sprays a human. We don't go near the counters anymore. Conversely, our cat has doubled his countergoing efforts; possibly to mock our attempts to curtail the incursions, for he knows good and well that the SSSCAT is on his side.
the sensor range is too broad such that it also catches human traffic.
Not only the product is not as sensitive as it claims to be, it sometimes goes off and won't stop
Sometimes it would not spray at all even when the cats have their noses right on the sensor, and sometimes it would fire multiple times when someone was just walking by.
I shouldn't worry about the cats. I think it would give me a heart attack.
posted by Miko at 7:48 PM on July 24, 2015 [14 favorites]
Seems far less effective as a "cat deterrent device" than a "cat torture device". After that 3 minutes of showing it making cats panic and run off (sometimes knocking over something), I'll bet there are 30 minutes of outtakes showing cats panicking and breaking things.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:50 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:50 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
I have seen a cat react in exactly that fashion to being startled by a small plastic tupperware lid floating in her water bowl.
or a scary thing
posted by en forme de poire at 7:52 PM on July 24, 2015 [22 favorites]
or a scary thing
posted by en forme de poire at 7:52 PM on July 24, 2015 [22 favorites]
These are not "death scares", they are cats overreacting to shit like they always do.
Things that make at least one of my cats react like this:
* Sneezes
* The door bell
* A phone ringing
* The vacuum cleaner
* The dryer buzzer
* The microwave bell
* The window air-conditioner kicking on
* Toast popping up
posted by octothorpe at 7:56 PM on July 24, 2015 [32 favorites]
Things that make at least one of my cats react like this:
* Sneezes
* The door bell
* A phone ringing
* The vacuum cleaner
* The dryer buzzer
* The microwave bell
* The window air-conditioner kicking on
* Toast popping up
posted by octothorpe at 7:56 PM on July 24, 2015 [32 favorites]
I like the ones where 0.5 seconds after the freakout they look around all nonchalantly like nothing happened.
I love the way cats try to pull the "I meant to do that!" look after they screw up. And the idea that it's a cruel torture device that's going to give your cat PTSD seems a bit off to me. I mean, it would behilar wrong to move the thing around the house randomly, but if it keeps Mr. Fluffikins off the shelf where you display your Fabergé eggs, I don't see the harm in it -- except, as noted above, that it's going to treat people the same way.
A bit of excitement in your housecat's life is nothing wrong. When they're young enough, they'll freak *themselves* out on a daily basis if you don't do it for them.
posted by uosuaq at 7:57 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
I love the way cats try to pull the "I meant to do that!" look after they screw up. And the idea that it's a cruel torture device that's going to give your cat PTSD seems a bit off to me. I mean, it would be
A bit of excitement in your housecat's life is nothing wrong. When they're young enough, they'll freak *themselves* out on a daily basis if you don't do it for them.
posted by uosuaq at 7:57 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
I might be a bit of a softie, but I just don't think introducing stress is a great idea. Some cats might not give a shit, but I guess I've always had PTSD post-strays and just didn't want to make their rehomed lives even more unpleasantly unpredictable than regular life has to offer. They know the rules. They test them. Whatever, they're cats. The clicker, removal, distraction, and simple crazy-reducing things like keeping their litter clean can all help keep pushiness down. At a certain point, if the Faberge eggs or the spider plant or whatever are that important to you, maybe just don't have cats.
posted by Miko at 8:04 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Miko at 8:04 PM on July 24, 2015 [5 favorites]
Why would you put one of those on the floor?!? The owners of the cat at 0:28 are just jerks.
posted by EmptyK at 8:19 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by EmptyK at 8:19 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
Everyone who's down on this thing doesn't understand cats.
No. I’ve been around cats since i was a newborn and i’m not young. Recently i have helped train my parents’ newish cat (from kitten to two-year-old now) to obey counter rules, including five weeks catsitting when he was at his worst rowdy-kitten behavior. Yes, it was a battle, but now won. His rules are complex: he’s allowed on one kitchen counter but none of the others. He gets it.
I see waaay to much potential for a cat to sprain a muscle or damage its spine or a joint when freaking out, especially those on counters. Dishes, sinks, etc. make it more dangerous.
posted by D.C. at 8:30 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
No. I’ve been around cats since i was a newborn and i’m not young. Recently i have helped train my parents’ newish cat (from kitten to two-year-old now) to obey counter rules, including five weeks catsitting when he was at his worst rowdy-kitten behavior. Yes, it was a battle, but now won. His rules are complex: he’s allowed on one kitchen counter but none of the others. He gets it.
I see waaay to much potential for a cat to sprain a muscle or damage its spine or a joint when freaking out, especially those on counters. Dishes, sinks, etc. make it more dangerous.
posted by D.C. at 8:30 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
I guess the answer is "they were going to poop in there" but
A) Why do those cats want in the bath tub
B) Why keep them out of the bath tub
A cat who lived with us, Locutus, used to enjoy getting into the bathtub at 4am to yowl at high volume, until someone got up to chase him out.
He also liked to get on the roof and yowl through the skylight like he was stuck until someone would get a ladder to get him down and he merrily scampered off the roof into the nearest tree.
in short:
A) because cat
B) because cat
posted by oneirodynia at 9:02 PM on July 24, 2015 [11 favorites]
A) Why do those cats want in the bath tub
B) Why keep them out of the bath tub
A cat who lived with us, Locutus, used to enjoy getting into the bathtub at 4am to yowl at high volume, until someone got up to chase him out.
He also liked to get on the roof and yowl through the skylight like he was stuck until someone would get a ladder to get him down and he merrily scampered off the roof into the nearest tree.
in short:
A) because cat
B) because cat
posted by oneirodynia at 9:02 PM on July 24, 2015 [11 favorites]
Oh, this thing would have just pissed my cat right the hell off. She would have found a way to shred it, or use it to rule the animal kingdom. I'd have a terrorist in a tuxedo, and this company would be to blame for the downfall of all dogkind.
posted by dejah420 at 9:08 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dejah420 at 9:08 PM on July 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
I can imagine a situation in which I'd be glad this exits. If it would work on my parent's corgi I'd be really impressed.
posted by cleroy at 9:10 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by cleroy at 9:10 PM on July 24, 2015
Apparently this product ships with a remaindered second-rate Foscam thrown in for free. Come on people, I know a lot of you bought high-quality GoPros even though you don't actually engage in X-treme sports, so put them to good use!
posted by Sunburnt at 9:17 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by Sunburnt at 9:17 PM on July 24, 2015
Sadly the Sssscat does nothing to deter squirrels from stealing all my tomatoes.
posted by teleri025 at 9:17 PM on July 24, 2015
posted by teleri025 at 9:17 PM on July 24, 2015
Yeah it looks like more than one of these owners placed it somewhere just to get a reaction shot from a cat. That's shitty behaviour.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:18 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:18 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'm working on a version of this to keep children from snooping around looking for Christmas presents. Basically, you store them on whatever high closet shelf you feel is most secure, and your kids, being your kids, will automatically be three steps ahead of you, but before making a big show of leaving them alone for a couple of hours because you "know you can trust them" you install the "Noel, 'Ell No!™" in the closet to better train them.
Once they hear the car back out the driveway and head down the street, they'll head right up to the closet, carefully open the door, and then
HEEEYYYYYY! WABBAJABBA! WABBAWABBAJABBA!!!
That's the the clown jumps out at them, dual-wielding Slinkies in just the most unnerving fashion imaginable.
He's very well trained, and they're just slinkies, so rest-assured, your children will be fine.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:37 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Once they hear the car back out the driveway and head down the street, they'll head right up to the closet, carefully open the door, and then
HEEEYYYYYY! WABBAJABBA! WABBAWABBAJABBA!!!
That's the the clown jumps out at them, dual-wielding Slinkies in just the most unnerving fashion imaginable.
He's very well trained, and they're just slinkies, so rest-assured, your children will be fine.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:37 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
cats do cat things. this is cruel.
posted by Ella Megalast at 10:06 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Ella Megalast at 10:06 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
I too found this sad and cruel; what an awful fear-based method of training.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:53 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 10:53 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
L-Noel-L™, surely
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:54 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:54 PM on July 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
(I wish to point out that even though I think this is kinda terrible I did laugh because I am a bad person)
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:08 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:08 PM on July 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Feeling doubly guilty here because not only did I laugh, but I'm also kind of enjoying imagining people reacting to the video in a similar fashion to those cats reacting to the Ssscat.
On a serious note, though, for people who don't think the air can is appropriate, how WOULD you get a cat to stay off of places they shouldn't be? Assuming there is an answer other than "let the cat go wherever she wants" (having stayed with a bathtub pooping cat before, and one that was cool with going straight from the litter box to the kitchen counter, I can see where that wouldn't always be great), what solution do you use? This seems pretty harmless to me (assuming, obviously, a healthy cat), and while I get that not everyone finds wounded cat dignity as guiltily funny as some of us apparently do, I'm not really sure what a kinder method would look like?
posted by DingoMutt at 11:54 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
On a serious note, though, for people who don't think the air can is appropriate, how WOULD you get a cat to stay off of places they shouldn't be? Assuming there is an answer other than "let the cat go wherever she wants" (having stayed with a bathtub pooping cat before, and one that was cool with going straight from the litter box to the kitchen counter, I can see where that wouldn't always be great), what solution do you use? This seems pretty harmless to me (assuming, obviously, a healthy cat), and while I get that not everyone finds wounded cat dignity as guiltily funny as some of us apparently do, I'm not really sure what a kinder method would look like?
posted by DingoMutt at 11:54 PM on July 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
I got through ten seconds of this and had to stop. Evil is an understatement. I have adopted special-needs cats and feral scaredy cats, and this just seems like the opposite of compassion. It actually makes me angry. Evil is an understatement.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 12:46 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by flyingsquirrel at 12:46 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Am I mistaking things or is the can giving off some kind of pre-blast hissing noise before fully discharging? And if so, is that adjustable or something? Because it sounds like I'm hearing something happening before thing goes all catbomb, and if so a louder hissing noise or maybe something that gets progressively louder as the cat approaches might actually have some sort of training benefit rather than just making for funny "Watch fluffy cling to the ceiling" videos. Glad you posted it though, parts where the cat wasn't potentially getting hurt or being antagonized for no real reason were funny, and now I know to steer clear of wasting the 35$ or whatever they want for this lame waste of CFC's.
DingoMutt, leaving aside the question of whether the can is appropriate, is it even useful? It looks like the cats seem to be learning that if they get within this one 4"x4" space they're going to be have a BAD TIME(tm) but otherwise they're still going to be getting cat ass all over everything you hold dear. So maybe put it in front of gram's ashes or something but don't be kidding yourself that your sandwich is ever safe.
My own strategy has been to train The Penguin to come down, and basically give him the come down motion whenever he get's onto somewhere. Also when I see him about to jump, I'll say no, wave a finger and do the old "eh eh eeeeeeh" routine. He's gotten a lot better since he was a kitten. That and mitigate. If I make food wipe down the counter or use the in-kitchen clotheswasher which he NEVER gets on for some noisy reason, etc. I had an old roomate come down to visit for a week who for some reason thought it was BEYOND RIDICULOUS that I put a towel over the dishes while they were drying. Okay, buddy but when you have that next sandwich imagine you're eating the cat's ass, because you probably are. Just sayin.
posted by mcrandello at 12:48 AM on July 25, 2015
DingoMutt, leaving aside the question of whether the can is appropriate, is it even useful? It looks like the cats seem to be learning that if they get within this one 4"x4" space they're going to be have a BAD TIME(tm) but otherwise they're still going to be getting cat ass all over everything you hold dear. So maybe put it in front of gram's ashes or something but don't be kidding yourself that your sandwich is ever safe.
My own strategy has been to train The Penguin to come down, and basically give him the come down motion whenever he get's onto somewhere. Also when I see him about to jump, I'll say no, wave a finger and do the old "eh eh eeeeeeh" routine. He's gotten a lot better since he was a kitten. That and mitigate. If I make food wipe down the counter or use the in-kitchen clotheswasher which he NEVER gets on for some noisy reason, etc. I had an old roomate come down to visit for a week who for some reason thought it was BEYOND RIDICULOUS that I put a towel over the dishes while they were drying. Okay, buddy but when you have that next sandwich imagine you're eating the cat's ass, because you probably are. Just sayin.
posted by mcrandello at 12:48 AM on July 25, 2015
I also wanted to add that the bathtub thing was particularly enlightening. I'd consider trying to teach him to use the spare br's tub for number 1 purposes if it didn't look exactly like the master bath's tub. Stretch that litter. Yes I'm a bachelor, why do you ask?
posted by mcrandello at 12:50 AM on July 25, 2015
posted by mcrandello at 12:50 AM on July 25, 2015
Horrible. Whilst I can understand the need to keep the cat off the vivarium, I didn't think it necessary in any of the other situations. In some cases, such as the Christmas tree, all it would take is for the cat to jump in the wrong direction and the whole thing would be knocked over anyway. I could also see the potential for a cat to hurt itself in some of those countertop scares.
If you have a cat you have a responsibility to keep it in an environment where it feels safe. This seems to me to be the opposite of that, introducing insecurity and unexpected daily shocks into the cat's life. This makes it more, not less, likely that the cat will find that corner behind the sofa to poop. It's also just not nice to scare a cat like that.
This isn't going to keep the cat off the countertop, so you'll still have to give the surface a quick spray and wipe with anti-bac cleaner before you prepare food on it. So why not just cut out the shock-and-awe tactic, let your cat live in peace and carry on with your countertop clean anyway.
posted by essexjan at 1:59 AM on July 25, 2015 [5 favorites]
If you have a cat you have a responsibility to keep it in an environment where it feels safe. This seems to me to be the opposite of that, introducing insecurity and unexpected daily shocks into the cat's life. This makes it more, not less, likely that the cat will find that corner behind the sofa to poop. It's also just not nice to scare a cat like that.
This isn't going to keep the cat off the countertop, so you'll still have to give the surface a quick spray and wipe with anti-bac cleaner before you prepare food on it. So why not just cut out the shock-and-awe tactic, let your cat live in peace and carry on with your countertop clean anyway.
posted by essexjan at 1:59 AM on July 25, 2015 [5 favorites]
I shouldn't worry about the cats. I think it would give me a heart attack.
Precisely. I am 100% certain that I would set one of these things up and promptly forget it, until GAH JESUS FUCK
[wide shot of house]
[gadget breaks through window, sails out into the yard]
[close shot of cat sitting smugly having watched the whole thing]
posted by sidereal at 2:08 AM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
Precisely. I am 100% certain that I would set one of these things up and promptly forget it, until GAH JESUS FUCK
[wide shot of house]
[gadget breaks through window, sails out into the yard]
[close shot of cat sitting smugly having watched the whole thing]
posted by sidereal at 2:08 AM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
I had a clever cat who discovered the bathtub was the ideal place to play with the mice he caught. They couldn't escape up the slippery sides of the tub. One morning I found a little mouse who had managed to climb the shower curtain cowering on the curtain rod.
posted by Jode at 3:35 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Jode at 3:35 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
WHERE THE FUCK IS THE TRIGGER WARNING
*posts comment while hiding under bed*
posted by Susu pitchounette at 3:40 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
*posts comment while hiding under bed*
posted by Susu pitchounette at 3:40 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
i want my cats to chill in the bathtub, because they eat any spider that might be there that otherwise would end up floating in my bathwater
posted by angrycat at 6:48 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by angrycat at 6:48 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
L-Noel-L™, surely
You there! You're on the marketing team! Now, does anybody know if clowns have their own special skid row or anything? Because that would really help ease our operating costs.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:51 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
You there! You're on the marketing team! Now, does anybody know if clowns have their own special skid row or anything? Because that would really help ease our operating costs.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:51 AM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
So I'm the only Bohemian slob who just lets the cat go on counters (and tables)? Mefi, reminding me for the 3rd time in two weeks how different I am (as I sit here eating cottage cheese and sometimes drinking milk with dinner).
posted by NorthernLite at 8:10 AM on July 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 8:10 AM on July 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
Metafilter: Well I mean you know how cats are
posted by brand-gnu at 8:40 AM on July 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by brand-gnu at 8:40 AM on July 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
Add me to the list of folks who think this is hilarious, and not at all harmful to the cats. Especially in light of people using those scat mat things that deliver an electric shock.
posted by brand-gnu at 8:41 AM on July 25, 2015
posted by brand-gnu at 8:41 AM on July 25, 2015
I can imagine a situation in which I'd be glad this exits. If it would work on my parent's corgi I'd be really impressed.
I'm really impressed that your parents' corgi can jump up on counters.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:05 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm really impressed that your parents' corgi can jump up on counters.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:05 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
I want a 5-7 foot version with a tri level height activated spray for my front door area. I want the 3-4 foot optional pamphlet disburser, also the Flight of the Valkries motion activated audio discombobulation system.
posted by Oyéah at 9:50 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 9:50 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Plus, those people are missing out on the joy of a cat who does somersaults down the slope in the corner of the bathtub, like one of mine does. That right there is one of the best things about living with cats -- some of them do somersaults in the bathtub
My cat has bathtub parties but I am not invited. She thumps around in there meowing crazily having a great time but if I go in to see what is up she is just sitting in there looking up at with big innocent eyes. I'm beginning to think that surveillance might be needed.
posted by srboisvert at 9:52 AM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
My cat has bathtub parties but I am not invited. She thumps around in there meowing crazily having a great time but if I go in to see what is up she is just sitting in there looking up at with big innocent eyes. I'm beginning to think that surveillance might be needed.
posted by srboisvert at 9:52 AM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
Why do those cats want in the bath tub
One of my cats refuses to drink anything other than water pooled in the tub drain from a slowly dripping tap. If the tap is not dripping at the right rate (approximately one drop per 3 seconds), then she refuses to drink, but will either sit in the tub to remind you to fix it, or, if she's really thirsty, aggressively stalk you around the house like a zuni fetish doll.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 10:22 AM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
One of my cats refuses to drink anything other than water pooled in the tub drain from a slowly dripping tap. If the tap is not dripping at the right rate (approximately one drop per 3 seconds), then she refuses to drink, but will either sit in the tub to remind you to fix it, or, if she's really thirsty, aggressively stalk you around the house like a zuni fetish doll.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 10:22 AM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
Ok, yes, if your cat is a cat with PTSD, a fragile rescue cat, or has a heart condition, obviously don't do this. Don't do this just for fun by putting it randomly around the house.
But I am not upset at the idea of discouraging a healthy cat from getting up on a counter where food is served with their litterbox-polluted little paws and butts (and their love of tearing into any kind of food). And when done right, it seems to take only a few goes before they just decide it's not worth it and go find something else to do.
Bathtubs, too, I guess; mine plays but does not poop in there, so it hasn't been a problem for us.
posted by emjaybee at 10:24 AM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
But I am not upset at the idea of discouraging a healthy cat from getting up on a counter where food is served with their litterbox-polluted little paws and butts (and their love of tearing into any kind of food). And when done right, it seems to take only a few goes before they just decide it's not worth it and go find something else to do.
Bathtubs, too, I guess; mine plays but does not poop in there, so it hasn't been a problem for us.
posted by emjaybee at 10:24 AM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
cats vs cucumbers
the eternal struggle
posted by lalochezia at 10:38 AM on July 25, 2015 [17 favorites]
the eternal struggle
posted by lalochezia at 10:38 AM on July 25, 2015 [17 favorites]
Dear NASA,
Cost-saving measure for your next launch: instead of rockets just strap cats to the spacecraft. Fill the launchpad with cucumbers.
posted by phunniemee at 10:49 AM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
Cost-saving measure for your next launch: instead of rockets just strap cats to the spacecraft. Fill the launchpad with cucumbers.
posted by phunniemee at 10:49 AM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
That cats vs. cucumbers thing is incredibly great!
Who knew cats had such a powerful, reflexive fear of snakes?
posted by jamjam at 10:57 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Who knew cats had such a powerful, reflexive fear of snakes?
posted by jamjam at 10:57 AM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
As a solution for those who don't like this method, double-sided tape works really well, for keeping them off counters and preventing scratching on furniture. However, it doesn't work for spraying. It occurred to me that some of the lower areas in the video might have been to prevent that. I'd like to think thats what it was instead of just picking on the cat.
Also, for those of you with cats who like to play in the bathtub, ping pong balls are great. We had a cat that liked to play with one there. It was the best noise. ping ping pingpingping! It was a great disappointment he decided he hated the bathtub after slipping in when it was wet. Goofy cat.
posted by annsunny at 12:13 PM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
Also, for those of you with cats who like to play in the bathtub, ping pong balls are great. We had a cat that liked to play with one there. It was the best noise. ping ping pingpingping! It was a great disappointment he decided he hated the bathtub after slipping in when it was wet. Goofy cat.
posted by annsunny at 12:13 PM on July 25, 2015 [4 favorites]
some of them do somersaults in the bathtub.
Video.
On the subject of this video. Yes, sometimes it's necessary to discipline animals. Like sometimes it's necessary to discipline children. Now fucking laugh it up.
posted by howfar at 1:03 PM on July 25, 2015
Video.
On the subject of this video. Yes, sometimes it's necessary to discipline animals. Like sometimes it's necessary to discipline children. Now fucking laugh it up.
posted by howfar at 1:03 PM on July 25, 2015
My cat is impervious to yelling, sudden noises, squirt guns, and (soft) objects thrown at him when he's misbehaving. He always stops what he's doing when I use canned air (not motion activated; the kind you buy to clean your keyboard). All I have to do is pick it up and he runs off.
posted by desjardins at 1:08 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by desjardins at 1:08 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Not only the product is not as sensitive as it claims to be, it sometimes goes off and won't stop
I had the same experience. Was trying to stop our cat from destroying the carpet at our bedroom door, but aside from giving him a minor scare a couple of times -- the same kind of scare he gets when a random dust mote drifts by -- it didn't deter him at all. But there were a few times where I tried to set it up, but it went off while I was setting it up and then just didn't stop until I turned it off. Useless.
During the very brief period when we tried to allow him downstairs (before we set up our aquariums), even if this thing worked consistently it would have taken about six of them to keep him off our counters.
posted by Foosnark at 1:26 PM on July 25, 2015
I had the same experience. Was trying to stop our cat from destroying the carpet at our bedroom door, but aside from giving him a minor scare a couple of times -- the same kind of scare he gets when a random dust mote drifts by -- it didn't deter him at all. But there were a few times where I tried to set it up, but it went off while I was setting it up and then just didn't stop until I turned it off. Useless.
During the very brief period when we tried to allow him downstairs (before we set up our aquariums), even if this thing worked consistently it would have taken about six of them to keep him off our counters.
posted by Foosnark at 1:26 PM on July 25, 2015
Eventually I gave up on yelling, scolding, scented sprays, painter's tape and ancient curses, and finally covered that entire section of (remaining) carpet with plastic carpet protectors like they have for office chairs.
posted by Foosnark at 1:27 PM on July 25, 2015
posted by Foosnark at 1:27 PM on July 25, 2015
I know it seems cruel to scare the cats like this, but in my case it really is mostly for safety and sanity. I have two curious cats that couldn't stay off the kitchen counters - not only did they grab food at every chance (poisoning risk), but also occasionally turned on the water tap (flooding risk) and stove (fire/burn/death risk). Believe me, I tried everything before shelling out a small fortune for a can of air with a motion detector on top. What didn't work (in order of desperation): removing and gently scolding no, treats and praise to get down, hand clapping, alternative surfaces to sit on, double sided tape, tin foil, clicker training, shaking a can of coins, water spray bottle. What did work: a few days with Ssscat.
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 3:54 PM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 3:54 PM on July 25, 2015 [6 favorites]
This isn't a first resort or an option to use in lieu of training cats. This is an option you use when the cat is smart enough to understand that it only needs to be trained when you are around, but wastes no time being where it shouldn't be when you aren't.
If it makes you feel any better, it will invariably startle you instead when you forget it is there, while you cat watches with a smug expression - which has the upshot of preventing the cat from extracting revenge via some other method.
Clearly you shouldn't use this on a fragile cat or one with a heart condition, and deploying it without damned good reason and trying everything else is just cruel... I've deployed it once, an a "the cat needs to stop doing X or it goes" scenario - It only was set off maybe three times by the cat, but probably 40-50 by me.
My cat would be posting videos of my reactions if he could (and they'd be hilarious.) It would still be worth it, because it worked - He's been fearless his whole life, and he still is, and I have seen no negative effect - Certainly less scary to him than him deciding it would be fun to poke a platypus water container (which is for all practical purposes a bag of water with a screw on lid) and then getting completely drenched by it, or any of his other mishaps that were worse than some hissing air. For him, I don't think it was about fear -- I think it was more about something not me making a sound at him when I wasn't around, and him being caught by some sort of all-seeing invisible cat lord.
posted by MysticMCJ at 4:58 PM on July 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
If it makes you feel any better, it will invariably startle you instead when you forget it is there, while you cat watches with a smug expression - which has the upshot of preventing the cat from extracting revenge via some other method.
Clearly you shouldn't use this on a fragile cat or one with a heart condition, and deploying it without damned good reason and trying everything else is just cruel... I've deployed it once, an a "the cat needs to stop doing X or it goes" scenario - It only was set off maybe three times by the cat, but probably 40-50 by me.
My cat would be posting videos of my reactions if he could (and they'd be hilarious.) It would still be worth it, because it worked - He's been fearless his whole life, and he still is, and I have seen no negative effect - Certainly less scary to him than him deciding it would be fun to poke a platypus water container (which is for all practical purposes a bag of water with a screw on lid) and then getting completely drenched by it, or any of his other mishaps that were worse than some hissing air. For him, I don't think it was about fear -- I think it was more about something not me making a sound at him when I wasn't around, and him being caught by some sort of all-seeing invisible cat lord.
posted by MysticMCJ at 4:58 PM on July 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
MetaFilter: All-seeing invisible cat lord.
(I'd be grateful if someone could explain the cucumber reactions though---is it really that they think it's a snake? How do they react to, I don't know, a tube sock or garden hose? I like cats but I've never lived with one.)
posted by seyirci at 8:22 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
(I'd be grateful if someone could explain the cucumber reactions though---is it really that they think it's a snake? How do they react to, I don't know, a tube sock or garden hose? I like cats but I've never lived with one.)
posted by seyirci at 8:22 PM on July 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
That looked like the same cat in both those "fear of cucumber" gifs; I don't think it's so much that "cats" are afraid of cucumbers so much as it's that cat who is.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:33 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:33 PM on July 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Actually, this device looks pretty low key compared to the Blender Defender.
posted by happyroach at 2:21 PM on July 26, 2015
posted by happyroach at 2:21 PM on July 26, 2015
That looked like the same cat in both those "fear of cucumber" gifs; I don't think it's so much that "cats" are afraid of cucumbers so much as it's that cat who is.
I should have noticed that but I didn't -- and I couldn't find any other examples of cats afraid of cucumbers.
But as far as being afraid of snakes is concerned, there's a (highly speculative) view out there that cats are imitating snakes when they hiss:
I should have noticed that but I didn't -- and I couldn't find any other examples of cats afraid of cucumbers.
But as far as being afraid of snakes is concerned, there's a (highly speculative) view out there that cats are imitating snakes when they hiss:
That Snakelike Soundposted by jamjam at 2:31 PM on July 26, 2015
A hissing cat does sound like a snake. Some experts in feline behavior believe that cats actually developed this habit by imitating snakes. Mimicking another species is a survival tactic among animals. A snake's deadly, distinctive noise gets hair-raising notice from most species, from humans to horses and everything in between. In borrowing from the snake's vocal repertoire, cats send signals of their own mixed emotions: They're scared, but ready to attack potential foes. Instinctive feline hissing illustrates the cat's version of the sports maxim that the best offense is a good defense. A cat on defense -- whether a mom cat defending her litter from unwelcome attention or a resident cat bravely confronting a new vacuum cleaner -- is a tangle of taut nerves. Determination edges fear to the sidelines in hopes that a stream of hissing will be enough of a weapon to stay safe.
And really, the mimicry -- if such it is -- is not limited to the hiss; cats' eyes have slitted pupils very like snakes', and with its ears back a cat's head is even similar in overall aspect to a snake's.
posted by jamjam at 6:45 PM on July 26, 2015
posted by jamjam at 6:45 PM on July 26, 2015
Some experts in feline behavior believe that cats actually developed this habit by imitating snakes.
But....many cats have never seen a snake. I don't understand how this is supposed to be a heritable or behavioral trait if it's mimicry. If you've never seen and have no concept of 'snake,' making a sound like one would not be scary. However, if you're really aware that other cats make this sound right before they go medieval on you, you'll totally be wary of it, but you'll associate it with cats...not snakes.
posted by Miko at 9:34 PM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
But....many cats have never seen a snake. I don't understand how this is supposed to be a heritable or behavioral trait if it's mimicry. If you've never seen and have no concept of 'snake,' making a sound like one would not be scary. However, if you're really aware that other cats make this sound right before they go medieval on you, you'll totally be wary of it, but you'll associate it with cats...not snakes.
posted by Miko at 9:34 PM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
You're right that it would have to be programmed into a cat's genes in some fashion rather than a purely learned behavior, Miko, though it could need a trigger such as seeing another cat do it, I suppose.
Genetically programmed mimicry is found in many species spread across a number of phyla:
posted by jamjam at 1:45 PM on July 27, 2015
Genetically programmed mimicry is found in many species spread across a number of phyla:
Models tend to be relatively closely related organisms,[9] but mimicry of vastly different species is also known. Most known mimics are insects,[2] though many other animal mimics, including mammals, are known. Plants and fungi may also be mimics, though less research has been carried out in this area.[10][11][12]I'd like to see more about cross-species mimicry among mammals, but so far I haven't found much.
posted by jamjam at 1:45 PM on July 27, 2015
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No really, I feel awful.
Seriously!
posted by mudpuppie at 6:37 PM on July 24, 2015 [20 favorites]