# Outdoor Cats Are Using $500 Starlink Satellite Dishes as Self-Heating Beds **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752 "2024-01-08T01:05:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/1 "2024-01-08T01:05:09Z")
> **[Outdoor Cats Are Using $500 Starlink Satellite Dishes as Self-Heating Beds](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds-180979401/)** > > The devices—developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX—have a warming feature to prevent snow buildup from disrupting the signal The dishes are self-heating and cozy for the cats. Doesn’t help reception. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/2 "2024-01-08T01:42:21Z")
Use of available resources in a habitat is proof they will take over the world one day. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/3 "2024-01-08T02:24:03Z")
This is pretty old news, surprised its being reported as something new. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/4 "2024-01-08T02:29:41Z")
It’s not being reported as new; the dateline on the linked article is January 14, 2022. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/5 "2024-01-08T16:13:00Z")
“I’m on Starlink and all I can get is cat memes!” > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s not being reported as new I’m sure the cats are still doing it. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/6 "2024-01-08T19:03:02Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > This is pretty old news, surprised its being reported as something new. Now that you mention it, a few (very few) of my remaining neurons kicked in and I do have a vague remembrance. In my defense, I checked this thread and there was nothing in search. Mods can remove the thread if desired. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/7 "2024-01-11T12:22:55Z")
I have Starlink, and don’t remember hearing about the cats. I do know they are heated. A very nice feature. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/8 "2024-01-11T12:30:37Z")
You only need the warmth to melt snow, right? So, they should design them so that one can simply turn off the heating element when not needed. Once the cats see that the dishes are not emitting heat, they’ll give up and stop checking. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/9 "2024-01-11T14:05:27Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > You only need the warmth to melt snow, right? So, they should design them so that one can simply turn off the heating element when not needed. You can ‘stow’ or ‘park’ them which turns them vertical. You can do that remotely, no need to actually visit the dish. I kinda wonder why they have that feature. I live in snow country but snow is not an issue on this dish. I’ve had DirecTV and [Hughes.net](http://Hughes.net). I had to knock the snow off of those in the winter. I suspect that a cat would block the signal so much that a user would notice. The ‘stow’ feature would also dump a cat off the dish. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/10 "2024-01-11T14:12:17Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > The dishes are self-heating and cozy for the cats. Doesn’t help reception. On the contrary, it seems the cats were quite well-received. > [@Jasmine](#): > > Once the cats see that the dishes are not emitting heat, they’ll give up and stop checking. I suspect you’re underestimating the average cat’s ability to seek the warm spot. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/11 "2024-01-11T14:13:33Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > On the contrary, it seems the cats were quite well-received. Ahhhhhhhhhh! Very clever! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/12 "2024-01-11T14:18:36Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I’ve had DirecTV and [Hughes.net](http://Hughes.net). I had to knock the snow off of those in the winter. I have Direct TV streaming now but, before U-verse, I had Direct TV satellite. I remember having to step out on the slanted roof with a broom and brush the snow out. I had to be very careful not to slip and plunge to my demise in the process. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/13 "2024-01-11T14:32:42Z")
And even without a heater, that particular type of dish is a bowl. Cats love lying in bowls almost as much as boxes. And it’s elevated (another cat attractant) and out of the snow cover. If the dish is in sunlight, it may warm enough without a heating element for comfort. Probably the best answer is to stow the dish once in a while to dump the kitties. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/14 "2024-01-11T15:03:31Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I have Direct TV streaming now but, before U-verse, I had Direct TV satellite. I remember having to step out on the slanted roof with a broom and brush the snow out. I had to be very careful not to slip and plunge to my demise in the process. Never had to get on a roof to brush snow off dish, it was mounted on the side of the house. I duct taped a car snow brush to a 3/4" x 10’ copper pipe. Was always rewarded with a face full of snow. > [@gnoitall](#): > > And even without a heater, that particular type of dish is a bowl. Mine is only a dish in that it is round but it’s flat, not a bowl. Surprised me. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/15 "2024-01-11T15:05:36Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Once the cats see that the dishes are not emitting heat, they’ll give up and stop checking. My cats sit on top closed laptops even when they are not on, it seems like _remembered_ warmth it’s good enough for them. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/16 "2024-01-11T15:08:34Z")
Maybe it is flat. It looked bowl-like to me in the original picture, but at the RF band StarLink works at a flat dish is good. But my cats will lie down on any surface which appears to be a distinct and enclosed area, even if it’s just a paper towel on the floor. Cats also treat marking an area off on the floor as an enclosure to be sat in. > **[Why Cats Love to Sit in Boxes—Even Fake Ones, According to Science](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/if-i-fits-i-sits-experiment-shows-felines-also-sit-illusory-boxes-180977681/)** > > Scientists tested what the Internet has long known to be true: Our feline friends have an "if I fits, I sits" approach to picking the coziest spot So the lack of actual containment (edges) is apparently not very important. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/17 "2024-01-11T16:18:11Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Never had to get on a roof to brush snow off dish, it was mounted on the side of the house. There are a lot of trees around the house, and they said the dish had to have a “clear view” of the south western sky. Thus the altitude. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/18 "2024-01-11T16:33:26Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > There are a lot of trees around the house, and they said the dish had to have a “clear view” of the south western sky. Thus the altitude. Yeah, the dishes that point to geostationary satellites point to the south in the US. Got it to point between some very tall trees. The Starlink dish on my house points a little bit north. I put it as high as I could on my house because of the trees. The dish almost points straight up. Different locations will be different. The dish finds the sats by itself. And so far as I can tell, it’s never moved. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/19 "2024-01-11T16:54:54Z")
Some spy satellite dishes have spherical plastic covers (‘golf balls’) which serve both to protect the dish from weather, and hide visually apparent features. In the photo in the linked article, that tuxedo cat on the left looks like he’s saying, “So we’re messing up your reception? Well _boo freaking hoo!_” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752/20 "2024-01-12T03:35:21Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The dish finds the sats by itself. AIUI, Starlink uses phased-array tech for communication with the satellites. That means the antennas are going to be flat rather than a parabolic dish. The satellites are in low earth orbit, so they’ll be moving across the sky, not in a fixed southern direction. The phased-array tracks the satellite without moving parts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752.md?page=2)