Anyone Have A Shop Cat?

[LarryG]

I know a lot of y'all have dogs to keep you company in the shop, but I'm a cat person. Do any of you have a shop cat?

I've been wondering how well a cat and a wood shop would get along for some time now, but the question has possibly taken on a bit more urgency. Last night, as I was finishing up my bike ride, I spotted a tiny kitten in the weeds by the side of the road and ended up taking him home. I now either need to find it a home, or possibly turn it into a shop cat. (We already have three in the house, one quite elderly, so that's not an option.)

My two concerns about having a cat in the shop are that the noise might freak the cat out, and -- far worse -- that it might jump up onto a tool while it was running.

So ... anyone have a shop cat?

[BigguyZ]

Well I've never had my cat in the shop, but I couldn't imagine a cat ever going near an operating power tool. Turn on the vacum, and my scaredy cat gets the heck outta there...

[jspelbring]

Shop Ferret

A shop cat sounds OK - I've had my ferrets come and visit a couple of times (uninvited), but they're way too curious to be around power tools.

I could use a cat at the moment - I think I've got mice living in my garage (currently undergoing conversion to a dedicated shop).

[thrytis]

First, four cats are way too many, and only an insane person (like the LOML) would have that many. I would suggest seeking a good psychatrist.

I have a pet door between the house and the garage (shop), so the cats can come and go as they please into the shop. Only two regularly go out there, and only one of those will hang out while i'm out there. He does make a quick exit when any power tools come on, but not so fast that he would injure himself running across a spinning blade. He is a bit of a chicken anyways.

As long as the cat has someplace to retreat to that it would feel safe, i think it'll be okay to have a shop cat. If you don't have any office or separate room, i would suggest building a cat house for it to hide in, and sound insulate it with carpet or other insulation. The first time you start up some machinery, have someone there with it near the house petting it (not holding it!) to give it a little sense of security. A cat house up high where it could peek out and see what you are doing while still being mostly hidden might help.

Good luck!

[LCHIEN]

do you have feline ear protection?

[footprintsinconc]

do you have feline ear protection?

i think we should add a dust mask to that aswell

[sweensdv]

Well I've never had my cat in the shop, but I couldn't imagine a cat ever going near an operating power tool. Turn on the vacum, and my scaredy cat gets the heck outta there...

Our Siamese is just the opposite, turn on the vacuum cleaner and he comes a running. He just loves to be vacuumed. Turn on my tools and its a totally different story. He wants no part of being around when I'm in the shop if any of the tools are running. Go figure.

[Russianwolf]

Ask Ken. he grows them in his Cherry pile if I remember rightly.

[Popeye]

My three cats have unlimited access to the shop via pet doors. If they're comfortable the noise doesn't seem to bother them. As a rule though they don't generally hang out in the shop when I'm working. As long as they don't learn to turn on tools then they're welcome.
I don't leave things that can be knocked over and damaged laying around for them to mess with. Spread out plans are not a good idea either. Pat

[os1kne]

This may not be a very good answer, but I suppose how well a cat would do in a woodshop would depend on the cat.

I have a fat, long-haired house cat that likes a lot of attention and gets in the middle of things when I'm working inside - I don't think that she'd work out well in my shop. She'd probably knock over stain, climb on assemblies that I've just put finish on, etc.

My dad's "shop" that he manages is probably 40,000+ sq.ft. with dozens of guys working various presses, mills, and all sorts of other tools. About 7 years ago, they "adopted" a stray cat that wandered into their shop. They feed the cat, etc., but it pretty much keeps to itself. If the cat is hungry or wants petted, it will let you know - but it doesn't get in the way. It takes care of all of the mice anywhere near the property. When the garage doors start to close each night, the cat makes sure it gets into the shop before the last door closes. Everyone respects the cat and jokes that the cat is on the payroll like everyone else. It's really pretty neat to see.

[LarryG]

This may not be a very good answer, but I suppose how well a cat would do in a woodshop would depend on the cat.

I think that's exactly right, and I guess I knew that even as I was typing my OP.

A couple folks have mentioned vacuuming. With our three cats, one is totally indifferent to the vacuum cleaner, another is wary around it but tolerant, the third is immediately under the couch when she sees the vac so much as come out of the closet. So how a given cat would react to the noise in a shop is anybody's guess until you try it. One possible advantage in this case is that the kitten is only a few weeks old; if it grows up in a shop environment, it might adapt just fine.

The comments about hearing and dust protection may have been tongue in cheek, but are actually valid concerns that I'd not thought about.

I appreciate all the input. If I can find this kitten a good home, the problem will go away, but having done that a number of times, I already know that it won't be easy ...

[docrowan]

We've wound up with a "porch" cat. I was highly resistant at first, but my stay-at-home wife and four year old daughter overruled me. I have to admit it's worked out fine. Lucy (she was on the loose - get it?) keeps to herself a lot, and seems to disappear under my shop at times. More power to her in whatever she finds under there. I haven't seen her in my shop yet, but I've barely been in there myself since July.

[gwyneth]

One possible advantage in this case is that the kitten is only a few weeks old; if it grows up in a shop environment, it might adapt just fine.

The comments about hearing and dust protection may have been tongue in cheek, but are actually valid concerns that I'd not thought about.

I appreciate all the input. If I can find this kitten a good home, the problem will go away, but having done that a number of times, I already know that it won't be easy ...

I have met auto-shop cats, body shop cats, several farm implement repair cats, one semi truck service cat, and a couple of recycling station cats.

A box insulated with carpet--i.e., the cat's office--is a good idea.

[mycatisretarded]

Now an outdoors cat. She always refused to put the tools away and clean up after herself in the shop.

[LCHIEN]

...
The comments about hearing and dust protection may have been tongue in cheek, but are actually valid concerns that I'd not thought about.

I appreciate all the input. If I can find this kitten a good home, the problem will go away, but having done that a number of times, I already know that it won't be easy ...

half TIC, half serious.