Cat-proofing your speakers...


Looking for ideas for large floor-standing boxes. Must completely protect front drivers and all exposed sides from sharp claws, but not veil the sound. Good WAF a plus!
cocoabaroque
Some interesting comments here, and actually a few good ideas too. You would think with computer programs like PawSense that auto-detect cat-like typing and prevent data loss that someone would market a line of audiophile yet cat-deterring products. Cats also love to jump atop spinning turntables and swat the tonearm, but tables are easier to hide in a cabinet. Well, at least kitty grew out of chewing on AC power cords-- THAT was a BAD habit.
Some surely are in poor and childish ways kidding about harming cats but sadly many are not and for those folks just remember bad things happen to those with bad thoughts so dont come crying when something happens to you or things you care about. There are no bad pets just bad owners with limited exceptions, you get out of them what you put in and time, love, patience, and effort cant be taken for granted. Cats are smater than dogs, you can teach most anything to come to you or sit even a person with severe retardation but cats choose what they will and wont do if you allow it. They for the most part are too smart to buy into the notion of pleasing their caregiver like dogs often do. The old saying is true, dogs have owners, cats have staff.
We got very lucky with our cat, he actually listens, comes, sits and follows better than our dog (who is great at it too). There are always the few that simply cant be trained but those are a small minority, those that dont listen are far more often the product of owners that have not put in the required time and steps to mold a great companion.
Tinfoil, squirt guns, clickers, positive rewards of affection and treats, sprays are all ideas to try. Catnip near stationary activity centers with scratch posts will likely train and draw the cat to an area thats is fun along with their own, everyone wins.
If thats so then I enjoy every minute of it, he is a great little companion.
" owners that have not put in the required time and steps to mold a great companion."

I don't think it's possible to mold or reasonable to try to mold a creature with it's own personality.

I have an understanding with my dog.

1. I put food out and water for her and when she's done with it she doesn't leave it in the house she found it in.

2. We play nice.

3. We listen to Pink Floyd Animals once a week(her insistence)

4. Uninvited intruders are fair game

5. We don't trust or like our neighbor

6. We both like chasing pussy

How could a dog not be mans best friend!

Cheers
So under your twisted logic it isnt "possible" nor "reasonable" to train or "mold" your dog not to poop or piss in your home but rather outside. Your arguement didnt last very long. A dogs normal reaction is to poop or piss when it needs to yet I am confident your dog was trained to go outside to do it, so much so I bet it knows to hold it for a reasonable amount of time while your away eager to dump its load seconds after you take or put her out at times. So whats your next logical claim? I am looking forward to it!
My next logical claim would be to remind you after your last post Chad that I was just trying to lighten up with a little humor. It's common sense that a good pet is "trained" well and continuously.

My second logical claim is to remind you I made no inferance to harming any animals even in jest.

My third logical claim would be to remind you I wasn't personaly attacking you.

My fourth claim would be to of checked your email before you posted for my logical claim in response.

My fifth logical claim would be to ask you to chill out Chad. I'm not against you.

Cheers
Sorry, Chad, but even though I'm a cat lover, I must admit that dogs are technically smarter. It is very unusual for a cat to obey any verbal command. I had a pair of exceptions, too. My wife would go out and yell at 'em in SPANISH and they'd come running. Understand Spanish? not a chance. Food? more likely.

Cats are, however, more critical than dogs. If you are judged 'worthy' of respect, you'll be OK. Dogs are pack animals and just follow the boss around.

Don't forget the rules::
Dogs have owners.
Cats have staff.
I think cats are smarter but they choose (and is arrogance) to not listen so thats why I happen to think they are smarter. I dont have a favorite as I adore both.
Has2be I am sorry, I am not use to checking that email account often and I was trying to have some fun with your comment. Its hard at times to see the intent in a post and thus at times a reply can be misguided. I am sorry.
The abusive comments directed towards cats got me started and stuck in hostile reply mode, its not funny, not harmless and not called for. Our cat came to us as a stray and still has burn scars and a bullet lodged in his ribs you can feel when you pet him. Some things are just not taken lightly. Cheers
Magfan. Dont you see how brilliant cats are lol? They have even made us note that we work for them, if thats not smart I dont know what is! They decide when to play, when its enough and what they will and wont do all along knowing EXACTLY whats being said. Thats true brilliance!
Yeah, Chad, I've had this chat with other cat-people. They all 'mystify' these poor beasts and impart great powers to what is essentially a dumb animal. In one test, dogs will recognize themselves in a mirror, but cats? Forgetit!
Don't forget, I've owned several cats over the years, but never a dog. by choice.
Cats are mechanically clever. You can teach the essentially neat cat to use a flush toilet.
Innovative....they'll mess with something until they get a result. and remember.
Users. Once you are 'on staff' they'll expect good service

But, I've seen a cat back up to an outlet and let fly. Big 'explosion' with breaker popping and a terrified, running cat. It did it the next day, again, just to be sure?

Some anti-cat humor is simply unfunny. make the same joke about a dog and you'll get raked. You'd be better off with a Scottsman / Sheep joke.

I think that WILD and big cats may be smarter. They are under different pressures than what is pretty much a domestic animal...the 'house cat'. Just like wolves may be smarter than domestic canines, and some sub-dog forms like the Chihuahua.
LOL-- Looks like some folks got this website confused with "petgon" -- my cat is comfortable, well fed and always in control-- certainly in a better condition than most humans. He enjoys the finest audio system I can provide, with plenty of classical vinyl at his disposal. He's got quite a good arrangement if you ask me-- just trying to keep "his" audio system in top shape so he doesn't complain.

Some cats are smarter than others, same with dogs, so some cats may be smarter than some dogs. Its like comparing analog to digital, MC to MM, class-d to tubes. Its not always about who's smarter, but rather who is a better companion for an individual or family. Both cats and dogs are earth friendly with low carbon footprints and live in the moment without concern for past or future-- something only a few enlightened individuals and zen monks have achieved.
Go to a Bed Bath and Beyond or similar store
Pick up a can of Orange Citrus Mist spray
take a couple plastic sandwich bags apply a small amount of orange spray on and in the bag.and tape low to the back of the speaker
once the cat smells this they stay away and is harmless
Repeat when any new cats enter the room.
Cheers Johnnyr
My two pals Boo-Boo and Beeper lay on the floor by me and listen with me all the time.

They're de-clawed on fronts only and stay INDOORS, no problems here.
"Are the protective grills on the Gallo Nucleus Reference 3.5 Loudspeaker wire? If so, those may be an option."

actually, they're perforated metal (a baseball bat would barely dent them) - and the speakers are usually wall mounted (you can buy stands if you want), so they really are out of harm's way. there are some other manufacturers who have screw-on metal grills, which would work great, but i can't recall their brand names, sorry. i think canton used to make some, not sure if they still do, though... av123 used to, but they're no more...

and regarding chewing of cables (by dogs or cats) i knew a guy who had that happening and he wrapped his cables in double-sided tape (after wrapping paper around the cables so they wouldn't get gummy) and after a few gos at them, the dogs stopped doing it. he left the tape on for a couple of months for good measure, and they've never done it since, even with the tape off. i know that some people use double sided tape to keep cats off furniture too, but i've never tried it - fortunately for my nerves, my main systems are in places away from my pets.
Drubin
FYI
Cats like to mark there territory.....
With Orange Citrus spray Cats think another more Alpha cat must of marked their turf and stay away.

Cheers Johnnyr
#1 reason I have to replace passives on speakers I buy for repair. I have a scratching post which the cat seems to prefer over everything else and never have a cat without one. A removable grille held on with velcro or magnets would allow you to listen in the house when you cant sit in front of them and guard them and for critical listening could be removed while you are sitting there. Personally I enjoy my cats enough that the minor degradation in sound quality a grille brings is no issue.
I have a cat, boxer, 2 year old grandson (that is into everything) and an 8 year old grandson that lives with us since he was 2, with that said I had a company named DIGITALDECKCOVERS make me some quilted speaker covers for my Wilson Sophias when I bought them 8 years ago and I only uncover them when I listen to them, they are in our family room, so are always subject to the before mentioned destroyers and have to say that if I were to sell my speakers I would rate them an 8, only due to age. Hope this help. Enjoy the music
The only solution I've found is to have a door on my dedicated audio room... I only bring in the cats I trust (and no more than 2 at a time...).

Too much sensitive electronics for me to worry about. The cats does have full roam in the rest of the house so no harm to them (they're indoors only and most are special needs...)
Well here you go.... get a cheap dog fence that goes in the collar and shocks the crap out of your cat when they come near..... Its a pain,  but after a month or so,  they'll never come near your speakers and you can remove the device.  
I had cats for years and at one point they fell in love with my Vandersteens which had to be sent back for re-covering...I realized later that cats (mine always were allowed outside) destroy the small animal ecosystem wherever they are, and for me it's just not worth it. De-clawing is illegal most places by the way, and seems cruel.
Get them a new car nip toy away from the speakers....I know cats and speakers dont mix...lol
I have a dog that get anxiety issue when we're not home and will mark once in a while.  Since my speakers are black it's not as noticeable but I bought black plexiglass and hinged it an create a u shape around the front of the speaker.  The drivers on my mine are higher so it doesn't affect the sound.