Getting a kitten--should I worry for my $1100 gaming PC?

[burdfishdemon]

Hello all.

I'm relatively new to the PC world. I had friends help me assemble a PC over the summer, costing me about $1100 ($1200 with OS).

Anyways, in a few days, due to my girlfriend, I will have a 5-month-old cat in my apartment within a few days.

I have moved most of my PC's cords to the back and put up pieces of cardboard blocking entrance to the backside of the desk through the side and the bottom. A kitten could still technically fall into a wire pit behind the desk by first jumping on top of the desk, but that is probably not very likely.

I have ordered some "bitter apple" stuff off Amazon to give the wires a bad taste. That will come a couple days after I get the kitten back here.

Not only for the sake of my PC, but my other gaming systems, chargers, etc., does anyone have any advice? How likely is my stuff to get chewed up? My girlfriend makes it sound like I shouldn't worry. Can I let this kitten free roam while I sleep? I'm pretty sure I'll end up financially liable if something does happen.

Thanks!

[Lionheart]

Discipline is the real solution here mate. Just make a sudden noise everytime you see the cat getting too comfortable near your cables. Mostly cats dont ♥♥♥♥ around with a wind breathing noisy machine except for the 1st week due to curiosity. That has been my experience at least

[Alchemist79]

If it turns out to be a problem you could get one of these,
http://www.amazon.com/Contech-StayAway-Motion-Activated-Pet-Deterrent/dp/B000DZFFN4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416485095&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+scarer+indoor

[Air]

You might have a problem with your new cat, and then you might not.
My cat, for example, has never chewed wires, although she does sometimes get close to my power strip and I worry that she might step on the switch and turn my PC off(even if it has never happened).

[iLuvKoЯn]

Kitty Kat Kennel.


Not really.
I've had a rescue kitten (I actually picked him out of some pipe and he was a small kitten)
Up to now, he's been behaving pretty well.

Although I have to mention that the first time I ever lost this cat was when he was a kitten and I found him behind the wall.

[Zespri]

It's a kitten, not a T-rex.

[Azza ☠]

My little dog (Jack Russel) went behind the computer once as a pup, got tangled in the cable, and had it hooped underneath him. I didn't know where he got off too, worried, calling him for over a hour. He just stood there, looking foolish, not even making a sound, till I noticed him there and came to the rescue.

Pets, well my dog anyways, doesn't care about the cables (not chewing them at least). Worst case, might tangle. Some pets then might try pulling to escape, but mine just waited and only did it once (learnt quickly).

He however does notice electricity. He was snooping around another room in the house, went to a corner and start to scratch/dig lightly at the corner. Never done it before, I originally thought he was picking up a bad habit. He did that for a couple of days randomly. So I moved a piece of future away and found a slightly exposed/damaged wall power socket. It was unused, but they considered it could of still been a fire hazard. Parents got it fixed.

Pets are awesome!

Hope you enjoy your kitten. They are fun when young, with their sandpaper tongues and climbing up of curtains. Make sure you get them their own toy to play with. So long you teach them what is theirs, they actually follow good rules of when to play and when not to. Whatever you do, just don't let a cat go near a printer, while it's running...

[Electric Cupcake]

Use the spray bottle if he/she chews.

Also, make sure you dust out the inside once in a while. Dust and pet hair can be a fire hazard.

Use canned air or an air compressor. NOT A VACUUM CLEANER. Unless you have a specialty anti-static vacuum.

[Targa]

If it sheds, keep an eye on your air intakes, that stuff can build up fast.

[burdfishdemon]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I'll just cross my fingers I get a kitten that doesn't chew up wires...

As for the air intakes and fur, do you all mean I should just keep an eye on the air holes on my case? My case is extremely well-ventilated and big, but I shall do my best.

[Azza ☠]

Originally posted by burdfishdemon:

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I'll just cross my fingers I get a kitten that doesn't chew up wires...

As for the air intakes and fur, do you all mean I should just keep an eye on the air holes on my case? My case is extremely well-ventilated and big, but I shall do my best.

Some later model PC cases have removable filter covers on the fan vents, you just need to slot them off and wipe ever now and then. Dust will just build up on the filter and not much get inside.

Standard PC cases however are a lot more open, might let the dust/fur inside around the component, heatsinks, and on the fans. Over time this can build up causing overheating by restricting airflow. You should purchase a can of compressed air, suitable for electronics. Open open side of the case, and spray the fans clean mostly. Compressed air won't damage the components and creates enough force to remove even fine dust. If there's escape (one side open) the force will cause the dust to actually be forced against the side, dustball and then jump out. It's a great way of keeping your PC clean, and can also be used for cleaning the keyboard.

[Azza ☠]

Oh, also here's the cat owners manual:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cat_kill

"Humans have superior technology. Your cat knows this and will attempt to disrupt all communications to the outside world."