# Cat-proof drones **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541 "2017-08-13T15:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/1 "2017-08-13T15:21:40Z")
I’d like to buy a small drone to mess about with it and as a cat toy. I’m not sure what features are desirable aside from the ability to remain undamaged after being smacked by fluffy paws and to not hurt the cats. Any suggestions on what I should be looking for? (Yes, pictures will follow info) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/2 "2017-08-13T16:26:57Z")
You mean [like this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDIaPmREohA)? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/3 "2017-08-14T15:47:39Z")
I think the props are going to be pretty good at lacerating kitty paws no matter what kind you get. For sure the smaller and lighter the drone the safer they’ll be. Which, fortunately, equates to cheaper for you when the cats promptly destroy the thing. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/4 "2017-08-14T17:13:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I think the props are going to be pretty good at lacerating kitty paws no matter what kind you get. I would worry about that. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/5 "2017-08-14T17:32:32Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > You mean [like this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDIaPmREohA)? So, this is what happens when you combine DIY drones with dad jokes > [@LSLGuy](#): > > I think the props are going to be pretty good at lacerating kitty paws no matter what kind you get. For sure the smaller and lighter the drone the safer they’ll be. Which, fortunately, equates to cheaper for you when the cats promptly destroy the thing. They’ll certainly smack it around but it’s unlikely they’ll do more than that so I’m wondering how easily drones like these break when they hit the ground: > **[Not Found: 404 Error](https://www.newegg.ca/404)** > > Shop > **[Not Found: 404 Error](https://www.newegg.ca/404)** > > Shop > **[Not Found: 404 Error](https://www.newegg.ca/404)** > > Shop As for laceration, I’ll try it on myself first. If anyone has experience being hit with blades of this kind of drones, I’d like to know if it can break the skin. It wouldn’t bother me to break my own skin but not the cats’. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/6 "2017-08-14T17:38:01Z")
In the military we called that “self-critiquing behavior.” It was considered a good thing up to a point. The kitten whose tail gets stepped on learns not to sneak around underfoot the humans. The one whose skull gets stepped on learns too, but it’s not useful knowledge for more than a few milliseconds. I don’t see much way for small drones to maim teh kittehs. A few stings or minor cuts just develops their warrior spirit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/7 "2017-08-14T17:56:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I don’t see much way for small drones to maim teh kittehs. A few stings or minor cuts just develops their warrior spirit. 🙂 Mama Plant used to tell me, “You could put an eye out!” When you tell the vet what happened, he will probably fix you. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/8 "2017-08-14T19:59:11Z")
Helicopters are noisy too, many cats would be scared of them. I think I would recommend a laser pointer (being careful not to shine it in eyes) or one of those “furry thing on a stick” type toys instead. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/9 "2017-08-14T20:17:47Z")
Just trying to be helpful here, I really do think the strategy of attaching a funny thing to a string on the end of a stick is much better here. It doesn’t make noise, it has zero risk of injury to anyone, it’s cheap, and it doesn’t need batteries. The only downside is that one must exert some physical effort to play with the cat, but come on. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/10 "2017-08-14T20:25:22Z")
They already have a laser pointer and furry things on sticks. Sometimes, it doesn’t do it for them and I figured it might be a good addition. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/11 "2017-08-14T20:31:46Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > They already have a laser pointer and furry things on sticks. Sometimes, it doesn’t do it for them and I figured it might be a good addition. How about attach the furry thing on a stick to the drone? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/12 "2017-08-15T01:10:00Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How about attach the furry thing on a stick to the drone? The cat will drag the drone down, and get his eyes chopped out. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/13 "2017-08-15T01:40:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Mama Plant used to tell me, “You could put an eye out!” > > When you tell the vet what happened, he will probably fix you. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The cat will drag the drone down, and get his eyes chopped out. You seem to have some ocular fixation; might I suggest a good pair of safety glasses? If you’re worried about liquid effect, too, you can escalate to goggles. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/14 "2017-08-15T01:59:52Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > You seem to have some ocular fixation; might I suggest a good pair of safety glasses? If you’re worried about liquid effect, too, you can escalate to goggles. My step daughter’s dog has eye damage, and it bears on my mind as an accident to pets that may occur. We don’t know how it happened, but we are pretty sure that it was not a drone propeller. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/15 "2017-08-15T02:02:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Mama Plant used to tell me, “You could put an eye out!” > > When you tell the vet what happened, he will probably fix you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/16 "2017-08-15T02:03:32Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > You seem to have some ocular fixation; might I suggest a good pair of safety glasses? If you’re worried about liquid effect, too, you can escalate to goggles. Yeah, good luck trying to get a cat to wear safety glasses. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/17 "2017-08-15T03:14:38Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > I’d like to buy a small drone to mess about with it and as a cat toy. Oops, I ‘misread’ that; I thought you wanted to buy a [cat drone](http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/01/man-who-turned-his-dead-cat-into-a-drone-now-plans-to-create-a-cow-helicopter-5416891/) as a toy. 😃 :eek: :o ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/18 "2017-08-15T06:07:43Z")
There are drones where the rotors are completely enclosed in a mesh box - like this: [http://www.gearbest.com/rc-quadcopters/pp\_623972.html](http://www.gearbest.com/rc-quadcopters/pp_623972.html) That won’t stop the cat destroying it, and it won’t completely remove the risk of the cat being injured by the drone, but it ought to help to reduce the worst risks such as eye injury. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/19 "2017-08-15T12:28:40Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Oops, I ‘misread’ that; I thought you wanted to buy a [cat drone](http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/01/man-who-turned-his-dead-cat-into-a-drone-now-plans-to-create-a-cow-helicopter-5416891/) as a toy. 😃 :eek: :o Now \*that \*is cool. Imagine the fun chasing terrified kids through a city park with something like that. You’d be (in)famous worldwide in mere minutes. 😃 Why yes, I’m neither a parent nor a pet owner. How did you know? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541/20 "2017-08-15T13:36:45Z")
This week on, “Toonces, the Cat That Could Fly a Drone.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-proof-drones/793541.md?page=2)