Kitten turns Machine off

[retrodave15]

This is kind of funny -

So a couple of weeks ago we got a new kitten, to add to the pack out our house. This little kitten is a climber and has the tendency to walk across anything including the night stand where my wife's CPAP sits. For the 2nd night in a row the kitten has turned off the machine by stepping on the control knob. My wife has a PR-S1 AutoIQ. Any thoughts on this? FYI - we cannot shut the door to the room as it gets to hot in there to sleep - old house no cold air return in the room, just the hall.

Dave

[BasementDwellingGeek]

http://www.amazon.com/OFC-Express-Monit ... 61&sr=1-37
How about something like the monitor stand shown above. Maybe cut three pieces from a 1 x 12 pine board. Cut the vertical parts long enough to clear the hose and allow room for a hand to get to the button.

[MidnightOwl]

My cat went thru a phase of doing that. I don't know why they made those buttons the perfect size for cat feet. I learned to make sure it was set for auto on so I didn't have to wake up all the way to turn the machine back on. Lucky for me my cat was older and got bored with it quickly. I think with a kitten you'll need to either cover the buttons or the entire machine. I wonder if something as simple as a hood for the button made out of a piece of bent cardboard attached with ducttape would work? Or one of those little freestanding shelves that's just a top and two sides that are made to go in kitchen cupboards? If it's the wire kind I'd cover the wire with a solid surface to avoid trapping little kitty paws.

Just a couple of ideas I played with before my cat found other places to climb. Please post back when you find a solution because I'm sure there are more kittens in my future.

Edit: Yes. Something shaped like the monitor stand shown above is what I had in mind. But if you get it in the kitchen section (the have solid ones too, not just wire) it's likely to have more useful dimensions and be much cheaper. After all, it only tneeds to support the weight of a cat.

[Slartybartfast]

You could stack several empty beer cans which will make a horrible noise when knocked over and instill in the kitten's mind that this is not a good place to be.

[SleepDepraved2]

I know someone whose cat gets its owner up in the morning by putting its paw over the vent on her mask.

[GatorLord]

Maybe taping an upside down Dixie cup over the button until the tendency resolves itself.

[chunkyfrog]

A water bottle cap will fit perfectly over the power button of my S9.
I imagine a single strip of tape over it and stuck to the machine,
with the end closest to me folded under to make a tab.
Of course, you could glue one of those little 3-legged tables that sit in the middle of a pizza over it.
There's plenty of finger space under the little gadget.

[Bons]

You might just put a book or board or something similar in size on top of the machine. That will distribute the weight of the kitten. and if you a rough enough surface on that, kitten will learn it's not a comfy spot to perch.

Our still mourned-for labrador used to get me up in the morning or for middle of the night potty runs by disconnecting my air hose. Fortunately he had a "soft mouth" as hunting dogs do, so the hose survived.

[squid13]

When we want to keep one of our cat's off of something, we crumple up some aluminum foil wrap and lay it down on the area we want them off of and it works every time. Lay some foil down to cover the area and then set your machine on it. They'll soon learn to stay off cause the foil makes a noise and doesn't feel right to there feet.

[n0hardmask]

When we want to keep one of our cat's off of something, we crumple up some aluminum foil wrap and lay it down on the area we want them off of and it works every time. Lay some foil down to cover the area and then set your machine on it. They'll soon learn to stay off cause the foil makes a noise and doesn't feel right to there feet.

Hey, I like this idea; and if kitty needs some more convincing, set up a small Van der Graff generator and connect it to the aluminum foil.. Course, it could be noisy and wake you up, but it probably won't happen twice. Interesting thread.

[retrodave15]

These are all great ideas! I heard on from a co-worker and fellow hosehead about putting some double stick tape on top of the machine as they donot like the feeling on the feet.

I like pizza so I just might order a pizza and save the little plastic thing tonight.

[ClayL]

I got a wire shelf with feet in the kitchen area at Walmart and placed it over the machine. That worked for one night then she (cat) started laying on it and reaching through the wires to play with stuff. I folded one of her small blankets and put it over the wires.That stopped her from messing with stuff. It also became her new best place to sleep at night for a while.

[Matty332]

Your cat is trying to murder you! Or not, cats love buttons.

The little wooden cover sounds like a brilliant idea..

[VikingGnome]

I bought a plastic bin for the kitchen with holes in it for ventilation at Wal-Mat for $5. Turned it upside down over the entire CPAP machine. Just fit. Then put a heavy telephone book on top to keep cat from knocking it off by nosing on it. She still likes to "mark" the bin as hers by wiping her mouth/nose on it. But is doesn't harm the machine or hose.

Cat still likes to nose my CPAP mask. That drives me nuts because then I have to get it all adjusted so it doesn't leak. She usually does this once I've got the dog settle into his crate and am getting comfy for sleep. It's like it's "her turn" to possess me.

[retrodave15]

Sometimes the best solution is the simplest solution: I had a empty large prescription bottle - the cap was large enough to fit over the button and keep the kitten from stepping on the button - problem solved, my wife just needs to remember to put the cap over the button.

Picture of the offending kitty: