Kitty Ra-De-O! (entertainment for indoor-only cats)

For years, I have had a microphone outside to bring the outside sounds
inside. At first, it was for security purposes. I noticed my indoor-only
cat liked it. Over the years, the sound quality has improved thru re-making
the device. Also, thru many years of careful observation combined with a
little common sense, I have come to realize my cats (now two) very much
enjoy being able to hear what is going on outside. Going by appearances,
you might not be able to tell. For example, they do not run to the window.
A window is good too IMO but I know they like kitty radio maybe more than
sitting in a window. Leaving a human radio probably is better than nothing,
but I think they do not get nearly as much out of that.

I suppose the concept is simple enough. There are a jillion ways to
impliment the thing. If you have space outside, perhaps the easiest
implimentation is to use a modern infant room monitor. Some do not sound
very good. Mine is hooked up to a powered computer speaker. But if the
infant room monitor has a headphone output, that probably can go directly
to the line input of a computer sound card (1/8" plugs on both ends of the
wire).

So, when you are very concerned about your lonely cat while you are away at
work/wherever, please consider that alternative. Cats love to use their
ears, and there are many interesting sounds in an average neighborhood for
a cat to feast its ears on. If you do so, you might want to introduce it
slowly, very low volume at first.

Good luck.

From: John Doe

For years, I have had a microphone outside to bring the outside sounds
inside.

Very interesting! But wouldn't an open window do the same thing, more or less?
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

From: John Doe

For years, I have had a microphone outside to bring the outside sounds
inside.

Very interesting! But wouldn't an open window do the same thing, more or less?
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

olitter (PawsForThought) wrote

From: John Doe

For years, I have had a microphone outside to bring the outside sounds
inside.

Very interesting!

Thanks.

But wouldn't an open window do the same thing, more or less?

Yes, if it is safe, IMO, that would be about the same. No argument there.

Having the sound piped inside is more configurable but setting it up in the
first place can be a bear.

Personally, I am convinced my cats really like listening to outside sounds.
But for someone else, that might be a way to test the theory. Have an
inside ledge large enough so the cat can comfortably sit on the thing with
a closed or open window. Then observe how often the cat goes to the window
in either situation, or maybe whether it appears attracted when the window
is opened. I am assuming there is a screen on the window.

Good luck.


















________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

olitter (PawsForThought) wrote

From: John Doe

For years, I have had a microphone outside to bring the outside sounds
inside.

Very interesting!

Thanks.

But wouldn't an open window do the same thing, more or less?

Yes, if it is safe, IMO, that would be about the same. No argument there.

Having the sound piped inside is more configurable but setting it up in the
first place can be a bear.

Personally, I am convinced my cats really like listening to outside sounds.
But for someone else, that might be a way to test the theory. Have an
inside ledge large enough so the cat can comfortably sit on the thing with
a closed or open window. Then observe how often the cat goes to the window
in either situation, or maybe whether it appears attracted when the window
is opened. I am assuming there is a screen on the window.

Good luck.


















________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm

Personally, I am convinced my cats really like listening to outside sounds.
But for someone else, that might be a way to test the theory. Have an
inside ledge large enough so the cat can comfortably sit on the thing with
a closed or open window. Then observe how often the cat goes to the window
in either situation, or maybe whether it appears attracted when the window
is opened. I am assuming there is a screen on the window.

Good luck.

We have stereo system in the back kennels for the dogs, and play nature sound
CD's. It's very calming for them, I think. We don't have it in the cat
room....just a radio station that plays through the telephone system. It's
supposed to be on a classical station, but the volunteers are always changing
it to a country station. I think that borders on abuse. :-)

Sherry

Personally, I am convinced my cats really like listening to outside sounds.
But for someone else, that might be a way to test the theory. Have an
inside ledge large enough so the cat can comfortably sit on the thing with
a closed or open window. Then observe how often the cat goes to the window
in either situation, or maybe whether it appears attracted when the window
is opened. I am assuming there is a screen on the window.

Good luck.

We have stereo system in the back kennels for the dogs, and play nature sound
CD's. It's very calming for them, I think. We don't have it in the cat
room....just a radio station that plays through the telephone system. It's
supposed to be on a classical station, but the volunteers are always changing
it to a country station. I think that borders on abuse. :-)

Sherry