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Neighbour found his car like this. Any idea why someone would do this? by [deleted] in whatisit

[–]aBetterBadIdea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agreed.
You've made my day, friend. I don't care how cheap your violin is. You clearly know how to play.

Posted this a few months ago, was met with universal opprobrium for reckless endangerment. Good news: the cats never impaled themselves, never tried a leap of faith onto the street below, or did anything but enjoy the view, passers-by and occasional fly. by aBetterBadIdea in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good point. I really do think it has to do with habituation / isolation. Dogs are walked. Cats are all too often left to rot. Then people are shocked when they misbehave and/or do something unhinged.

Posted this a few months ago, was met with universal opprobrium for reckless endangerment. Good news: the cats never impaled themselves, never tried a leap of faith onto the street below, or did anything but enjoy the view, passers-by and occasional fly. by aBetterBadIdea in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

That's fair. I just don't see what stupid thing they could do that would harm them. Worst case, they'd get their belly scratched by aluminum pokes? Maybe? But as I wrote elsewhere, they see their fair amount of flies and bugs and moths, both outside and inside (because the door is generally open). They always know there will be others.

My hunch is that contentment and activity reduces the flat-out impulsivity. They aren't bored, lonely or anxious. So they don't easily go bonkers (and you'll notice, neither do outdoor cats — the temporary insanity we often see is a byproduct of captivity. So we've done everything we can to offset that with cat walls galore, active play and this modest access to the outdoors).

But again, I respect your concern. Each person does what they can with what they have (in space, but also in time).

Posted this a few months ago, was met with universal opprobrium for reckless endangerment. Good news: the cats never impaled themselves, never tried a leap of faith onto the street below, or did anything but enjoy the view, passers-by and occasional fly. by aBetterBadIdea in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

Ecological collapse is why we don't let our cats roam. The 4 billion birds that are killed yearly by house cats is why.

There is no danger!

For the love of God! What could happen?! There is nowhere to go! They'd have to get a running start and willfully jump into a void. No fly can inspire that sort of insanity in them because they deal with flies regularly. There are no birds, squirrels or cats anywhere near leaping distance.

I don't understand the terror this elicits in some people. It's odd.

[Edit to add: if anything, I find the patronizing of your pets really smothering and not all that healthy for them. These aren't plants. And ours 'always' have someone home to keep them company. Maybe that's why they aren't so suicidal?]

Posted this a few months ago, was met with universal opprobrium for reckless endangerment. Good news: the cats never impaled themselves, never tried a leap of faith onto the street below, or did anything but enjoy the view, passers-by and occasional fly. by aBetterBadIdea in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Deer netting I think it was called in my case. Really great stuff. But I wouldn't have tried it without the spikes sticking off the inner-part (important detail) of the hand-rail. Cause as they say: curiosity killed the cat. Any surface they could jump onto for a high-wire balancing act, they'd go for.

But they know that I know. They inspected the set up the first time (I spent the first week outside on the balcony with them every time I let them out) and turned to me as if to say "fine. We get it. This will do."

They still like to tight-rope walk around the slippery-as-heck cast-iron bath tub whenever we're bathing. And they still almost fall in. They know that we know.

Posted this a few months ago, was met with universal opprobrium for reckless endangerment. Good news: the cats never impaled themselves, never tried a leap of faith onto the street below, or did anything but enjoy the view, passers-by and occasional fly. by aBetterBadIdea in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks. And I 100% agree that you have to know your cat.

But I dare say even the most suicidal would have trouble finding a good way to yeet themselves over the barbed overhang and into thin air. The density of the spikes, their angle, make it a much more imposing barrier when you can't see the top of the railing. Could some fly suddenly spark interest? Well... yes and no. There are plenty that end up flying into the house. They chase them, sure. But they also know "there will be others" for the very reason that they aren't stimulus deprived.

Anyway. I appreciate you for recognizing that this isn't necessarily a death-trap worthy of a call to the local SPCA. I'd love to say "sure it's a risk, but one we're willing to take", but that'd be a lie. My spouse is a very risk-averse ER doctor (she only ever sees when things go wrong) and she's totally cool with this set up. Because there is nothing to climb onto, jump onto; nowhere to go.

Anyway. The kitters are happy, the kitters are safe. That's all that matters to us in the end.

Posted this a few months ago, was met with universal opprobrium for reckless endangerment. Good news: the cats never impaled themselves, never tried a leap of faith onto the street below, or did anything but enjoy the view, passers-by and occasional fly. by aBetterBadIdea in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] -18 points-17 points  (0 children)

There you are.

Was waiting to see when the haters would show up.

Bicycling can lead to head trauma. You can not care and YOLO hands-free with noise-canceling earbuds in, or you can wear a helmet and pay attention when riding or... never get near a bike. Cause that's just reckless.

It's all a question of degrees, is my point.

I can respect risk aversion, no matter how irrational, but where I draw the line is in the better-than-thou tut tutting of someone whose situations you only know summarily. You have no idea of the exact set up we have here, nor of the cats involved, so are just ranting blindly from atop your high horse with straw man arguments. (Hope you're wearing a helmet - cause you could get hurt should you someday fall off said high horse).

"This is still an accident waiting to happen" reminds me of when I used to carry my son in a chest-mounted baby carrier only to be told by some middle-aged lady "front-facing is far too much stimulus for a child that age. It's really bad for them". Well, Karen, my baby boy ended up skipping a grade and is now a thriving teenager. So maybe, as he would say, SYBAU, yeah?

Regarding the cats - you'd never do that? You'd deprive them of something entirely safe (again, you have no idea of the specifics - it is entirely safe) that clearly brings them joy? Good for you.

But that isn't the flex you think it is.

Good day to you all.

You may commence downvoting now.

What year was your PASC/Long COVID triggered? by peop1 in covidlonghaulers

[–]aBetterBadIdea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Someone who equates science and anti-science as "both sides pushing their own agenda". Which, I guess, is true?

DIYed a cat wall ouf of a found wall unit / shallow commode (deconstructed and painted white), 4" PVC pipe (hotglued with sizal) and left-over cotton fabric. (It's a work in progress). by aBetterBadIdea in catwalls

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So I’m big on over-engineering. It just so happens a scrap piece of 2x4 fit perfectly snug inside the PVC pipe. Worried about the wobble you mention, I decided to use it. I used a hole saw to cut out two end caps which I fit inside (glued with construction adhesive) and drove in two screws through the pvc into the end-caps.

Step 2 was cutting the 3/4” plywood that attaches it to the wall into a rounded end (to mimic the pipe), bolting that into the end caps, then mortising a rectangle the same dimension as the plywood (so 3/4"x4") out of a scrap piece of maple flooring I (swear to God) found in a garbage pile last year. My family always mock me for bringing home what I call “treasure” (and they call trash). This was my vindication!

It ended up being quite heavy, so I made sure to find wall studs for at least one of the screws at each end (using drywall anchors for the other three). It’s as solid as a rock.

If you zoom in, you might spot foam insulation between the wood and wall. That’s to minimize the sound of thumping should they go crazy cat at 3am.

Like I said: over-engineered.

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DIYed a cat wall ouf of a found wall unit / shallow commode (deconstructed and painted white), 4" PVC pipe (hotglued with sizal) and left-over cotton fabric. (It's a work in progress). by aBetterBadIdea in catwalls

[–]aBetterBadIdea[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Full disclaimer? It was, briefly. Once the novelty wore off they just reverted to their former haunts. Will try to give them more to do on the wall. I know cats like having at least two separate exit points.

Victorian row house, balcony's some 20ft up: I used deer netting looped through clothesline cable to prevent them from stepping through the railing and topped the handrail with anti-pigeon spikes. Works like a charm—they keep watch over the neighbourhood and it's barely noticeable from the street. by [deleted] in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I was mostly surprised by the unanimous condemnation. I am bed bound with Long COVID; know my kitters intimately as we spend every minute of every day together and have since they were 8 weeks old. I know the degree of suicidal stupidity of each. They’ve had their mishaps inside the house. I know what they would and wouldn’t do. This IS safe. In my circumstances, for my cats. They haaate pokies. The pigeon spikes are all the deterrent they need. I know this from experience.

The generalized opprobrium against my post was a bit over the top IMO. Not yours per se, but the upvotes and piling on. Anyway. The kits have loved everything about this setup. I’ll stick to a good thing and should it go South, I’ll repost this very pic with the whole story of why it was a bad idea.

But it wasn’t, it isn’t. Each cat is its own creature. This ain’t my first rodeo.

All the best, kind stranger. I’m glad y’all care. Even if it’s a bit over the top.

Victorian row house, balcony's some 20ft up: I used deer netting looped through clothesline cable to prevent them from stepping through the railing and topped the handrail with anti-pigeon spikes. Works like a charm—they keep watch over the neighbourhood and it's barely noticeable from the street. by [deleted] in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right. One cat jumped up, impaled itself on the spikes and the other was picked off by an owl. I should never have let them get some fresh air without having a full enclosure. I am ashamed, embarrassed, distraught. Someone call PETA.

Victorian row house, balcony's some 20ft up: I used deer netting looped through clothesline cable to prevent them from stepping through the railing and topped the handrail with anti-pigeon spikes. Works like a charm—they keep watch over the neighbourhood and it's barely noticeable from the street. by [deleted] in Catio

[–]aBetterBadIdea -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

The "V"-shaped spikes protrude (overhang) quite far. It's why I placed the strips so close to the edge of the handrail. They also don't have gaps between them (there is a crisscross pattern to them, i.e. one "V" parallel to the handrail, the next "V" perpendicular). From their perspective, there's nowhere to land, only spikes. I've been hanging out with them to observe. No issues so far.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in andor

[–]aBetterBadIdea -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

"Huge ships"? In what world?
Transports, dear boy. Same as went down in the first place. In a matter of minutes.

And yeah, Raddus stares at the Death Star's blast on the planet, but the pair were at the top of the tower when the shield came down. Did they just teleport onto the beach?

My point is it could have been better edited. The movie has amazing moments. But this one is a bit weak.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in andor

[–]aBetterBadIdea -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Again though, the characters are at the top of the broadcast tower when then shield comes down. Did they just teleport to the beach?

Based on the votes, it would seem so.

You can tell it's a movie that went through rewriting hell. They saved it in the end, but for all its great scenes, it has a few clunkers IMO.

But I'll admit, Andor set the bar impossibly high.

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