So…this is one of those “think outside the box” sort of requests, because I don’t think a “real” solution exists.
I just bought an electronic drum kit. The snare, three toms, and the kick drum all have mesh heads. The drums are about 8" diameter except for the snare, which I believe is 10. The problem is, the only space I have to put it in my house is in the living room, and I have five very inquisitive cats who love to sharpen their claws on various items (one likes rubber, one likes plastic, one likes neoprene (which I discovered when I left my bike in the house and came back to find the handlebar tape shredded), and they all like cloth). Right now I’m covering the drumheads with the boxes they came in, which looks really attractive. I’m lying.
I want to come up with something to cover the drumheads (and the brain, which they can’t claw up but they can possibly damage by sitting on), and the rubberized cymbals. So far my best idea is to go to Tap Plastics and have them cut me some plastic discs in the right diameter to cover them with, and getting small pillowcases to cover the brain, the kick drum (which is upright so it can’t have a disc), and the cymbals.
They don’t make actual covers for these drums–I’ve checked.
Any other ideas? And no, getting rid of the cats or confining them away from the drums aren’t options.
Double-faced kitty tape worked for us on our furniture. They don’t like the feel of it on their paws. It may or may not fuck up the sound, but it’s worth a try (way cheap).
Sorry…that’s what we call it here. It is very thin double faced tape designed to keep kitties from clawing stuff. You buy it in strips that are about 1 ft x 3 in. Stick it to the furniture and they stop scratching it. The biggest problem is that cat hair collects on it, so you really need to change it out.
Buy a set of those “sound off” pads. essential rubber covers for “normal” drum heads if one wanted to be able to play and make minimal noise, if the sizes are too big you can cut them down to fit the electronic heads.
I guess you could do this with any sheet of rubber. if you don’t mind cutting the circles
Have you tried beating them about the head and neck? Smashing their tails perhaps in the doors when they go near the drums?
Just kidding! My wife will beat me for saying that if she reads it…
LOVE the squirt gun! We use it on our kitty who has an obsession with Mr. K’s shoestrings. Poor man cannot tie his shoes without the kitty trying to drag him away by his laces!
When we finally decided to get a leather furniture set for the living room we didn’t know if the cats were going to love it or hate it [read tear it up or leave it alone]. We had a squirt gun on both end tables and the coffee table. It was only used once…but it stayed there for over a month. I guess our cats just didn’t like clawing on leather - thank OG!
My experience with the squirt gun/bottle is that it teaches the cats that they shouldn’t indulge in the “squirtable” behavior when humans are in the room.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I ended up going with a modified form of the “sound off” pads–some plastic discs that fit over the drumheads, and then just putting black pillowcases over the pieces that can’t be covered with the discs. I don’t know how well it will work, but so far the cats haven’t shown much interest.
Squirt guns wouldn’t be an option–water and electronics make bad buddies.
My wife will beat me for saying that if she reads it…