My cat has developed an unfortunate static electricity issue. Every time I pet her, she crackles like a bag of microwave popcorn. How do New Hampshire natives deal with this sort of thing? Is there a product like Bounce for pets? Can I ground her with a 3-pronged plug? Thanks for any tips.
:cat: :dragonball:
Turn out the lights and enjoy the show on your "snap-kitty". They especially like a little touch on the tip of the ear.
You need some humidity in your air....If you're using a woodstove, make sure you have a big pot of water on the stove at all times. Or, get a humidifier. Or, put a big kettle of water on your range and simmer water whenever you're home (make sure you don't leave the house or go to bed and forget the pot of water simmering). Or, put bowls, pots, tubs, of water around your house -- you'll be amazed at how quickly the water evaporates. And, keep lots of plants around your house that are well-watered and misted.
Although you may enjoy the electric kitty show, poor kitty doesn't.
Quote from: Kat Kanning on January 31, 2007, 07:08 AM NHFT
Turn out the lights and enjoy the show on your "snap-kitty". They especially like a little touch on the tip of the ear.
Don't forget some :happy1:
QuoteAlthough you may enjoy the electric kitty show, poor kitty doesn't.
Your are too nice! ;D
I have an easier suggestion but it's probraly mean; don't ever pet the cat. >:D
We have 5 cats and 1 feline leukemia cat (stays in a room away from the others) and they are all strays that came up to us in Maryland, they saw sucker all over us. Anyways, when the last 2 came in they started peeing all over our house, Yuk! I steam cleaned every other day but nothing gets that smell out so now in this house they live in the basement but we have to give the 2 away because they are crapping and peeing all over in the basement now. I've tried everything I can think of to get them to stop. The other 3 were fine when we first got here but then in a couple of weeks the other 2 came up and BAMMM it started all over again so I don't really like them anymore. >:(
I don't like the dry air but am too cheap to buy a humidifier and use electricity to battle it. I had considered running the shower because our water is "free". Then on Monday I ran the drier for $1.25 an hour and the second load only got the remaining 17 minutes. As the towels and socks didn't dry, I spread them all over the apartment. Less than an hour later, they were bone dry.
So your suggestion malevil to put dishes of water around struck a chord. I did that this morning and within 15 minutes my sinuses and skin felt less dry. Maybe it is my imagination. Let's see if I get shocked less.
Cathleen
We got a little $5 humidity gauge from Walmart.
That's handy and you have a wood stove to put a pot of water on. I heard that between 30 and 50% is right.
Cathleen
Hey Cathleen: I know the water 'round the house thing works. We heat our house with two woodstoves that are cranking 24/7 5 months a year. Our house is DRY. We have two cast iron kettles full of water on our woodstove that we need to add water to twice a day. Plus we simmer water on the stovetop when I'm home on the weekends, and I have pots of water around the house that I have to refill every week. I have two big drying racks in my basement near a woodstove where I hang wash. Sometimes the clothes are dry within an hour.
I also use "Ocean" spray in my nose to help battle dry sinuses. There are lots of brands out there and you could probably make your own saline-type solution, but "Ocean" is the mildest brand I've ever used. And, you have to drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. It seems crazy to think that the inside of NH homes are like the desert during the winter.
I'd say attach some wire to the kitty and plug her in to the light socket maybe you can turn the electricity meter backwards >:D
If you keep you home humid it will feel warmer in there also helps to cut down on the heating bill
If that kitty is long haired, I want a picture.
Cathleen
Cathleen's sadistic side, revealed! :o
Quote from: cathleeninnh on January 31, 2007, 12:13 PM NHFT
If that kitty is long haired, I want a picture.
No, she's not a long-hair, but she does look rather frizzy lately. Maybe I should share my conditioner? :icon_cat:
I've been getting shocked by my girlfriend just about every single time she leans over to kiss me the past few days.
Electrifying! ;D
We have taken to a touch of the hands before the lips meet.
Cathleen
Yeah, she's learned pretty quickly to do that. ;)
Quote from: cathleeninnh on January 31, 2007, 12:13 PM NHFT
If that kitty is long haired, I want a picture.
Cathleen
:laughing4:
AH UM aaaaaaaaaa nope the women on this board have guns.
Think I will just keep quiet.
Quote from: Pat K on January 31, 2007, 04:09 PM NHFT
AH UM aaaaaaaaaa nope the women on this board have guns.
Think I will just keep quiet.
Uh oh, it must've been a real good "guy" joke. ::) If it's really funny what is it? I can't think of what it could be.
I can think of what it might be, but uh... yeah. I've already gotten in trouble once today! Not again!
Quote from: error on January 31, 2007, 04:22 PM NHFT
I can think of what it might be, but uh... yeah. I've already gotten in trouble once today! Not again!
What could it be? C'mon don't be a chicken guys!
This post is about a cat so I have an idea that the p---y word will be in it but that's as far as I get.
I don't know that I'd risk Cathleen's ire! :hiding:
Quote from: raineyrocks on January 31, 2007, 04:12 PM NHFT
Quote from: Pat K on January 31, 2007, 04:09 PM NHFT
AH UM aaaaaaaaaa nope the women on this board have guns.
Think I will just keep quiet.
Uh oh, it must've been a real good "guy" joke. ::) If it's really funny what is it? I can't think of what it could be.
Don't do it Pat, they're drawing you out! :icon_stop:
But if you do, wear a cup. :sign16:
Don't make me put y'all on ignore. I keep mine sweet and nice. You can too.
Cathleen
If I may opine... a dynamic kitty is always preferable to one which is static.
>:D
In the desert I would dry my clothes on those cool drying racks. I bought a fancy one from somewhere here in New England, but walmart also has wimpy ones (like $5) and a little stronger one for like $8.
It seems to me that getting a towel damp and hanging it up should work better than a bucket. But maybe even buckets help when it gets like 10%. For apartment dwellers .... a bathtube with water .... or bucket/pan next to a heat vent?
We always put bread pans filled with water on top of our cast iron radiators. They would dry out and kittens would occupy them in pairs.
At one time they made a long narrow, sheetmetal, trough less than an inch wide, 3 or 4 inches deep and about 3 feet long. On one end the trough widens into a resivor. You would slide the narrow end into the end of the radiator into one of the tunnells created by the many matching castings bolted together. Then you would fill the resivor with water and the heat would evaporate it into the room.
Has my cow died or have they changed the spelling for a body of water storred for use?
You mean it likes resivor? No it doesn't. Just put your edit line thingy over the yellow space and it show you other options. The first one listed is the correct spelling.
Cathleen
A shaving razor, duct tape, a fairly long strand of conductive wire, and a grounding rod should solve your side of the problem. ;)
Looks as though Dada is rubbing off on you. 'Edit line thingy'? I don't see anything yellow, either.
Quote from: penguins4me on February 02, 2007, 10:07 AM NHFT
A shaving razor, duct tape, a fairly long strand of conductive wire, and a grounding rod should solve your side of the problem. ;)
Shaved kitties are good. The rest of it's getting a bit freaky. >:D
just get a spray bottle and mist your kitty, make sure its on mist not spray, or you will give her a heart attack.
If you and your cat are barefoot
and the floor is conductive
you won't shock your kitty even if it is arid
Try taking your cat's shoes off
:walk:
Nope, that's not it, my cat and I both leave our shoes at the door.
watch the wool coats, i always get a good shock when i wear wool!
Quote from: Friday on February 02, 2007, 06:04 PM NHFT
Nope, that's not it, my cat and I both leave our shoes at the door.
That?s just silly, cats don?t have shoes.
Cats have boots or socks or they go fuzz footed.
For one thing cats don?t have thumbs to tie the little shoe laces. Oh they could wear loafers but not penny loafers because the pennies would be too heavy.
I know cats wear boots because I saw it on a can of Puss?n Boots. They where kind of like the boots of a Musketeer or a hooker, knee high things.
My neighbor lady, Winnie, had an all black cat with white feet and she called that cat socks.
Did you check to see if you or your cat were wearing synthetic socks? I think Lauren was referring to bare feet not just ?no shoes?. In bare feet your electrical potential should be the same as your floor. If kitty is on the floor you would both have the same electrical potential, but if kitty is on a chair or table or otherwise separate from you your electrical potentials will be different. The difference in your electrical potentials is what the static electric spark represents.
The suggestions about making your house more humid are correct. Humid air is more electrically conductive than dry air and will dissipate your electrical differences with your kitty.
You could spritz your cat with deionized water, but I?m sure kitty would view that as a punishment.
QuoteMy neighbor lady, Winnie, had an all black cat with white feet and she called that cat socks.
We had a cat that was all one color. We called him 'Jumpsuit'
We had a cat once, back in the late '30s...
We called 'em 'Dinner'.
Yikes! I am wearing bell bottom jeans and when I got up from my chair I got a big shock (looked like a miniature lightening bolt) on the heel of my foot coming from the edge of my bell bottoms.
That's what I get for being mean about the static kitty! >:D
i wonder if those hairless cats get static? maybe shave the cat!
Quote from: Facilitator on February 03, 2007, 04:31 PM NHFT
Quote from: Friday on February 02, 2007, 06:04 PM NHFT
Nope, that's not it, my cat and I both leave our shoes at the door.
I know cats wear boots because I saw it on a can of Puss?n Boots. They where kind of like the boots of a Musketeer or a hooker, knee high things.
:biglaugh:
Status update: I have tried out some of the tips posted (thanks, all), and have definitely raised the humidity level in my apartment. Unfortunately, I've only managed to raise it to 30%. I'm considering renaming my cat "Orville" until winter's over.
Well 30 is better than 10. :)
Our place is at about 40%.