mystery machine Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 A cat is habitually damaging my paintwork - I started a thread about it a couple of weeks ago. http://forums.sidc.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=122140 Since I posted that thread, the animal has been back at least twice and caused further damage to the bonnet and wing. In the thread above, a few folks were kind enough to suggest deterrents: powders, infra-red sonic alarms, etc. I appreciate the help, but unfortunately none of these methods have had the desired effect. My latest idea is to mount a sonic sounder from a sonic cat repeller somewhere near the car's bonnet. I would like to wire the device to the car's electrical system. I could then switch it on permanently whenever the car was parked outside my house. The current drawn by these devices is very small and I don't believe it would drain the car's battery. I'd be grateful if anyone could help with the following (it's been a few years since I mucked about with a car's electrical system): Where I should take an electrical feed from? (the fusebox?). How do I route the wiring from the fusebox through the bulkhead and into the engine compartment? Are there any safety concerns I should heed when adding a new electrical item and mounting a device in the engine compartment? Many thanks.
scoobymark Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 air rifle does not need power or maybe use one of those super soaker water pistols, that will scare the sh@t oot of them not sure about your electrical stuff, iam sure there is a spark on here who will sort you out
mystery machine Posted October 5, 2008 Author Posted October 5, 2008 The problem with the water gun approach is that you have to catch the animal in the act, or near your property - and this seems to occur overnight. There's a also slim chance that it could be a fox, given the claw-shape of some of the marks. However, I believe that foxes are repelled by the same high frequencies as cats - which hopefully makes this latest idea a worthwhile conquest...
mystery machine Posted October 5, 2008 Author Posted October 5, 2008 I take it it's illegal to electrify a car's bodywork? Could be a quick road to rust, mind...
phil_g Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 (edited) How about a car cover, thats what ive ended up doing as a temp job. Its not stopping them staying off my car, but its stopped the damage. Ive looked into water sprinkler systems, but its needs to be a motion sensor one. The motion flood lights, the sonic repellent. I got the car cover from ebay, its one of those universal jobs made of cheap thin material. If it works well, I will splash out on a better one. Edited October 6, 2008 by phil_g
emoe Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 A car cover would be the best idea and the easiest. Although you can affix the ultrasonic system to the car so that it automatically triggers when the car is switched off. I am guessing this is one of the SILENT type that only the animals can hear and repels them?? Ok, then, you need to make sure its 12v. Wire the negative to a good point on the body, then you need a NORMALLY CLOSED type relay.( Normal relays are normally open, so that when the power is put to the Relay, it turns on) the one you want is when the power is put to the relay it switches off. Wire this in with an earth, a Supply wire (that will feed the system sounder) and take this from the battery with an inline 10a fuse, an ignition signal line, taken from the Fuse box. The line to the unit itself needs to have a 2 pole switch wired in for you to disable the system manually while the car is switched off, (for parking in a car park where its not needed etc etc) Wire the system up and then when you switch off the car the Siren will automatically activate until you switch the car on or disable it with the manual switch. Second method is to wire in about 4 separate washer jets, affixed into the header panel under the windscreen and plumb them to a secondary washer motor. Then wire this motor the same way, but use either a motion sensor or Light sensor system from maplins to trigger the system. Wire the trigger system into the FEED to the washer pump, so that when the system is armed and the motion sensor is activated then the washer pump runs and soaks whatever is on the bonnet. Hope that helps.
mystery machine Posted October 6, 2008 Author Posted October 6, 2008 emoe - thanks for all the great advice, very helpful - appreciated. I may have to go down this route, so I'll keep you posted. Is there a fuse box in the engine compartment on these cars? (sorry, I'm being lazy). Cheers again, yer a diamond phil_g- you're right, some sort of cover would be the best way to go - glad to hear that's working for you too. I'm trying to find out if anyone can tailor-make one that covers only the bonnet and wings, but no joy so far. As for a full cover, I'm a little reluctant because I'm concerned that it might attract another sort of attention - i.e. teenage kids/neds who might think it would be fun to rip the cover off and sling it into a ditch. I mean, my car is on the driveway, and there generally aren't many neds passing my house, but some little kint was brazen enough to rip out the siren I was using to deter the cats from keiching on the grass. Just don't want to tempt the bams by presenting them with a 'challenge'. Ye cannae win with this lark. Keeping expensive delicate stuff out in the open is fraught with difficulty, eh?
emoe Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 emoe - thanks for all the great advice, very helpful - appreciated. I may have to go down this route, so I'll keep you posted. Is there a fuse box in the engine compartment on these cars? (sorry, I'm being lazy). Cheers again, yer a diamond phil_g- you're right, some sort of cover would be the best way to go - glad to hear that's working for you too. I'm trying to find out if anyone can tailor-make one that covers only the bonnet and wings, but no joy so far. As for a full cover, I'm a little reluctant because I'm concerned that it might attract another sort of attention - i.e. teenage kids/neds who might think it would be fun to rip the cover off and sling it into a ditch. I mean, my car is on the driveway, and there generally aren't many neds passing my house, but some little kint was brazen enough to rip out the siren I was using to deter the cats from keiching on the grass. Just don't want to tempt the bams by presenting them with a 'challenge'. Ye cannae win with this lark. Keeping expensive delicate stuff out in the open is fraught with difficulty, eh? yes mate, theres a fuse box with a good power output source in the engine bay. If you spend a couple of quid on some loom wrap then you can make the intsall look like a factory kit!!
~ ~ Cal ~~ Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 Not need for all that stuff...... Ring fence your whip with this lion turd ( TRUST ME.......it works !! http://www.cat-repellant.info/html/silent-roar.htm Cal
mystery machine Posted October 6, 2008 Author Posted October 6, 2008 yes mate, theres a fuse box with a good power output source in the engine bay. If you spend a couple of quid on some loom wrap then you can make the intsall look like a factory kit!!Thanks again emoe - you're a credit to this forum.
emoe Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 Thanks again emoe - you're a credit to this forum. WHOA steady!!! im not so sure about all that mate!! but thanks for the kind words, just trying to help people out!! Cal have you got one of those bad boys then?? they look pretty darn good mate!!
tosh 32 Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 i would just put some rat poison in some cat food and put down round the car that will sort the little bar steward
mystery machine Posted October 6, 2008 Author Posted October 6, 2008 WHOA steady!!! im not so sure about all that mate!! but thanks for the kind words, just trying to help people out!! Credit where credit's due mate. Without mentioning any names, I've been subject to both extremes on this forum today.
~ ~ Cal ~~ Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 Cal have you got one of those bad boys then?? they look pretty darn good mate!! You can buy it from a garden centre for less than a tenner and sprinkle it round the affcted areas - worked a treat when they were dropping their guts underneath living room window !
mystery machine Posted October 6, 2008 Author Posted October 6, 2008 Not need for all that stuff......Ring fence your whip with this lion turd ( TRUST ME.......it works !! http://www.cat-repellant.info/html/silent-roar.htm Cal Cheers for the suggestion, Cal. Although I'm wondering if I'd have the same problem with that as with the powder repellent - i.e. it keeps them off the grass/drive but they don't seem to mind jumping onto the car to avoid it. Unless I stuff some on top of the intercooler and allow the fumes to waft oot the bonnet scoop, mind...
mystery machine Posted October 6, 2008 Author Posted October 6, 2008 Although maybe if I could get hold of an actual Lion..... stick it on one of those extendable dug leads
emoe Posted October 7, 2008 Posted October 7, 2008 Although maybe if I could get hold of an actual Lion..... stick it on one of those extendable dug leads ;) :D do you not think the Lions claws might inflict a bit more damage to the paintwork mate!!!!
speech Posted October 7, 2008 Posted October 7, 2008 Second method is to wire in about 4 separate washer jets, affixed into the header panel under the windscreen and plumb them to a secondary washer motor.Then wire this motor the same way, but use either a motion sensor or Light sensor system from maplins to trigger the system. Wire the trigger system into the FEED to the washer pump, so that when the system is armed and the motion sensor is activated then the washer pump runs and soaks whatever is on the bonnet. Unfortunately there is a rather major flaw with this idea!! Do you have cats? If you did you would know that when they are startled they leg it, as you are trying to do with the water to get them off your bonnet. Startled cats will try to move as quickly as possible and will attempt to gain maximum grip on the surface they are on to propel themselves forward - for a cat maximum grip=claws out! Therefore, the worst thing you can do when a cat is on your car is try to scare it away, especially throwing/shooting water at them! Agree with Cal on the Lion dung/urine, have heard that this works quite well.
mystery machine Posted October 7, 2008 Author Posted October 7, 2008 Therefore, the worst thing you can do when a cat is on your car is try to scare it away, especially throwing/shooting water at them! I'm sure you're right - scaring the cat off the bonnet will likely result in a paint-scratching as it scrambles away, but if it's the same cat that's habitually making marks on the car (and my money says it is), then it could be a price worth paying to scare it off for good Having said that, I agree with you - the objective should be to deter the cat from even approaching the car, or using a cover to ensure that if it does climb onto the car, it doesn't leave any marks.
mystery machine Posted October 7, 2008 Author Posted October 7, 2008 do you not think the Lions claws might inflict a bit more damage to the paintwork mate!!!!Aye - and it could be a rude awakening for next door's guinea pigs too...
emoe Posted October 7, 2008 Posted October 7, 2008 Aye - and it could be a rude awakening for next door's guinea pigs too... AHA"""" theres the culprit!! Its a guinea pig!!
mystery machine Posted October 7, 2008 Author Posted October 7, 2008 AHA"""" theres the culprit!! Its a guinea pig!! FECK - you're right! I wondered why they had all those little ropes and pick-axes outside their pen. I thought perhaps they did the hill-climbing at weekends or summat. Fly bams!
emoe Posted October 7, 2008 Posted October 7, 2008 FECK - you're right!I wondered why they had all those little ropes and pick-axes outside their pen. I thought perhaps they did the hill-climbing at weekends or summat. Fly bams! PMSL!!! you need to stop smoking!!!! ;) :D
mystery machine Posted October 7, 2008 Author Posted October 7, 2008 PMSL!!! you need to stop smoking!!!!It's the medication I tell you, the medication......nurse!!!
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