Most 3-rail stuff is durable enough to stand up to the 'Godzilla' act from most cats.

But I've always wondered how HO or N scale guys handle their feline friends? A cat could seriously mess up stuff in the smaller scales.

I had a cat once but she was a mouser who lived in the garage so this has never been an issue for me.

We have always had semi-feral cats.  Over five decades, maybe two or three trains have been knocked off a shelf or track - not a bad record.  When they get old and sick, they forget where to pee, and cat pee can eat holes in brass or die cast if not cleaned up within a day or so.  Never any problem from fur.

If you don't like cats, well, something wrong there.

 

However, when I had a cat or two, one of them would love to come in the layout room (then in the house) and play - with the wires, the buildings, the boxcars. All normal, cat-play stuff, but destructive, So I had to keep her out. Percy, the tom, cared not one whit about the layout. Go figure.

 

Anyway, felines: best animal ever. 

Cat hair?

 

No problem....

 

 

 

Now that's humorous!

In real life if you tried to shave a cat you would look you went through a world war and were on the losing side. Have you ever tried to bath a cat? If so then you know what I mean.

 

Lee Fritz

Been there, done both. At a Bachelor's party that got slightly out of hand we stuffed the Bride's fuzzy cat into a rubber boot and gave it a "Lion" haircut. Wish we had taken pictures. The Bride was more upset than the cat....

 

When my older son was 4; in an effort to "help" his cat's flea problem "Nuked" the cat with "Skin So Soft". The cat was more than happy to sit in the laundry sink to get shampooed. BTW, Dawn really does work.

I like cats but I've never been fond of hairy floors or litter boxes so my cat enjoys the outside country air.

Gilly, you must have some docile cats!

Every time I tried to give a cat a flea bath the cat went into destroy the human mode, scratching and hissing and a full scale fight. That's why I mentioned it.

However I have seen a cat swim in water because a dog chased it. Even though most cats hate water they will go into it to save them self.

 

Lee Fritz

I have had cats all my life, and had to bath some at times.  We are certain some know of the experience of being on the receiving end of that activity.  As of now, we have two female felines who enjoy being vacuumed with our central vac hose.  Others run for cover and sometimes hide for hours.  Whenever the cleaning ladies come over, my tomcats Katman and Abby always head for the upstairs train room, and I find this a good time to join and get some work done on the trains/layout.

I have never given my cats a bath. They have always been well groomed. I had one roll over and out of the den rain gutter and fell into the swimming pool. He was really embarrassed. Not for falling in but for having had to do the "dog" paddle.

Two cats in the residence.  While Sylvia Siamese likes batting a Lionel wooden barrel across the kitchen floor so that it skitters noisily, Norma Bates Kitteh (aka Inspector Number 12) is the railfan of the family: 

 

For all that, not much of a cat hair issue... ;-)

Mitch

^^^ Katjira is great! ^^^

Nice pictures everyone !
I wish this thread would keep going. As for cat hair affecting the trains, I've never had a problem. My cat Cream ,that I lost recently was a fixture on my layout and a great helper much like Mitch's pal. I miss her greatly and just adopted another orange baby. She's not my Creamy but helps fill the void.
Mike

This is "Chip". She decided to come live with us about a month ago. She showed up at our door and has become a great kitten. She's follows us everywhere including anything I'm doing with trains. Had to show you our other favorite cat. A good friend's big cat in the fields of California with Vicky. Zamba was the best big cat I ever filmed. We filmed him for years with his owner Ron for Marine World. When he died it was a great loss for every one that worked with him. Don

Sorry didn't mean for this to get off topic. Ron is a professional big cat guy that kept and raised big cats for Marine World/Africa USA. Lets get back to kitties. Don

Mitch - wow, that first pic brings back memories from childhood. Dad had bought some used Lionel trains at a church bazaar event. When my brother and I were old enough, he set them up in the basement on a table on sawhorses. LW transformer, the signal on left. Still have those, though the wires are brittle and the transformer is shot - years of storage in hot weather in Arizona. Our Siamese cat didn't jump up on the table much - can't remember if she was allowed in the basement.

Nice pix.

David

Some funny stuff here!  Lol

 

my take is that cat hair in the gears has not really been an issue with anyone.

 

My wife has 3 cats and 2 can't be gone soon enough.  I guess I have to take ownership of the 4th cat as I sort of rescued him when I ran over him 3 times with my train at the Whitewater Valley Railroad 4 years ago.  I figured if he would let a train run over him 3 times and not budge, he deserved my attention.   He was sitting/laying next to the rail so he was clear of the train itself so there was no injury, however, I was amazed that he stayed put after 3 passes over about 6 hours.   To this day, absolutely NOTHING startles him.  Not doors, not popping balloons, not doorbells, not clapping hands.  I'm telling you nothing startles him.  Absolute coolest cat in the world.  He was named Rails and even though my wife made sure he was healthy, he became my cat.  

 

When my daughter was smaller and took baths, Rails actually jumped IN to the bathtub with her.  LOL!   Still cracks me up.   

 

 

Over the years had many Lionel holiday layouts on the floor and never really any issues with cat hair.  Biggest issue is with the cats laying right on the tracks. One thing I've noticed with LGB (G Gauge) is the cat will move out of the way when the train is heading towards them.

  

That "Rails" is a very unusual cat....one of the things that make them interesting critters.

I have seen this as a joke posted on U tube or something like that. You don't ever wash a cat that way!!

 

Lee Fritz

I like cats, but when their bladder goes nuts its time to say good bye.

 

 

What are litter boxes for? An indoor cat must have a litter box! Also a cat expert I know mentions having at least 2 litter boxes for one cat and 3 litter boxes for 2 cats.

 

If a cat pees on something in the house you have a problem that needs immediate attention. Could be another cat outside causing your indoor cat to get upset, cats rely on scent more then you realize and can smell another cat even through a closed window.

 

Lee Fritz

yes... and the problem was the cat...

 

Now we have a dog

 

 

Thanks, Sam. I needed a chuckle!!! A "Kitty-Swirly". I love it.

 

To be honest, my Step #1 was to take a tight fist full of fur/hide and grasp them very firmly by the scruff of the neck. You'd be amazed at how docile this makes even the baddest of felines.

 

Before you think I'm a meanie, this is no different than how a mother cat carries her kittens. And, it elicits the same response by the cat, even after they're an adult.

I'll never know if it's a problem; no animals allowed in train room, nor drinks, or anything else that would add to the many tasks of keeping it "ship shape".

C.Sam... Lee is correct, that is never a way to bath a cat, or any animal.  We understand the need and effort at humor. But, I have, and others I am certain, seen too many animals mistreated.  That is why my wife and I run an animal rescue, to help those who need it, and to exchange love between us.

scale rail and phillman... Thank you for being as you are, kind enough to take in a deserving cat and give them a good, loving home.  God's creatures are many, and we are but one of them.  I cannot help but wonder if many individuals would wish to be treated in the same manner as they treat cats, and one another.

 

A word to the wise.....  It is a Federal offense to intentionally do harm to any domesticated animal in the United States.  I know what many think when I tell this, and do not believe it.  But, I personally know of two men who, in defense of their farm animals, found out the very hard way, and served time for it.  Yes..FACT!  Also know of a pre-teen boy who handed his pellet rifle to another boy when walking.  The owner of the dog he shot (not harmed, actually) called the police and the OWNER of the pellet rifle was charged with a felony and it cost his parents a lot of attorney fees.  YES... FACT!!   Please, think before you ever act.  You are much bigger and what do you have to prove?  With Halloween coming, we keep all our cats inside all day when it gets closer.

J. Daddy... Lee is so correct.  If you have a cat, and dogs too, that has a urinating problem, they need taken to the vet.  They are trying to communicate something is wrong the only way the know how.  before anyone has care of an animal, they have GOT to know that animal.  Just as anyone with a child needs to know that child.  It is the same, actually, no difference.  Don't you, everyone, wish to be understood and treated with love and respect?  It is the same with all creatures, cats and dog included.

 

Jesse

Some folks like cats, some like dogs, some just don't want anything furry.  That's why they have electric pets, (i.e. trains).  TEHO.  My house has all three!

Gotta love the cat/train pics.Some are sooooo funny.Nick

I have cat { Princess Eliana } she is a tux cat; also a silver schnauzer named(Heidi). The trains don't bother the dog; she can lay on the bed and sleep while I run trains. He cat on the other hand sits on the bed and watches as the trains go round and round the big loop; all the while her little head spins around following the trains. The trains are high upon a shelf, even with the top of the doors that come and go to my room. Once I caught the cat; some how she had found away to climb up to the tracks and was walking around. The only thing I worry about is trains taking a 7 foot fall to the carpeted floor. I am lucky I've only had on spill, caused by me, no broke trains, wouldn't want cat to do that though. Don't have train and cat pics together but do have a couple of shots of the dog and cat sleeping in the same chair together and a pic or of the railroad in the clouds. Yeah they love their Mommy too.LOL

 ......

Seconded.  Both Sylvia and Norma are "second hand" kittehs; Sylvia came from a co-worker whose wife was about to give birth, so Sylvia needed a new home.  Norma's story was even worse; her former owner was a drug addict who murdered her boyfriend.  Somebody came for the pit bulls, but Norma was left to scrounge garbage cans until another of my co-workers brought her in and I adopted her... 

 

Sylvia is snoozing on the bed and Norma is purring under the desk as I type this.    Happy kittehs! 

 

Mitch

Feline King Kong Attacks New York

Tthat video was hilarious and not for the faint of heart.

Well, buddy had to supervise while I crawled under the train table to re-wire some areas.  He pointed out some obvious dangling wires and found every dropped screw so cats do serve a purpose.

Despite my joking around, I really do like cats. However, that video makes me cringe. Makes me very grateful that we have a GSP now, instead of a cat.

 

On duty guarding the crossing.

 

 

Plus this...

 

 

No need to look in the timetable to know who has authority over this interlocking.

Mitch, thank you for taking in Sylvia and Norma.  Sounds as if they could not be in a better loving, caring environment and with a kinder individual.

Mr Nabisco, thank you for the pics of a beautiful Lady Calico.  How many know Calico kitties are almost all female.  Should anyone ever have a male Calico cat, you will have a rare cat, indeed. 

 

Jesse

Yes Earl,my cats are always in charge of operations.

 

Thanks for the kind words about my calicos. I've alwats had calicos and tortoise shell cats. I think torties are female only also.

 

My cats love the trains. They would ride on them if they would fit.