How to stop cat from turning on PC
Posted by Elister_it_is@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 41 comments
Hello :)
I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit, but I couldn't find a general pc one. If this is wrong, then feel free to delete this post.
So most people got the problem with cats turning the pc off. Well, I got the opposite. Basically my Pc is under my desk right next to my gaming chair which was always fine and the cats never bothered much with it but recently (as of this year) one of my cats started using my pc as a stepping stool to get on and off my chair to sleep there. The only problem is that he always without fail hits the start button starting my pc and having it run for hours while I'm at work, and electricity is way to expensive in this economy for him to be doing that and for me to not care. I looked it up but only found solutions to the turning off problem where you mess with the settings, but that doens't really work for turning it on, and I got no idea what to do about it. I saw one post where someone said that they 3d printed a cap for the button but I don't have a 3d printer and don't have the money to buy one for a single cap for my pc button anytime soon. So does anyone have any advice? Prefferably one I can do myself for cheap and quick cause he's been doing it nearly every day now.
Any help is REALLY appreciated
English isn't my first language, so sorry for any mistakes
Whitehead58@reddit
You care about economy and electricity costs but have more than 1 cat?! Easiest solution… you guess it already.
Elister_it_is@reddit (OP)
Dude... I still live at home the cats belong to my dad who works with good money but he expects me to pay for stuff for my pc out of my own pocket. I say I'm broke cause I currently study to be a veterinary assistant and earn like 700 bucks a month cause I'm a student in the first year of that job and in the first year you only get 700 bucks here in my country for that job, 200 of that go to my dad alone and I also swallow 150-200 bucks of pills through out the month cause I got medical problems. My dad also expects me to pay my part of the electricity cause I got the highest electricity bill in the house cause of my pc and cause I'm big on plants and have grow lights and humidifiers. So yeah I am broke but that affects the cats 0%, they get home cooked food and spend 30 minutes 3 times a day so they can have the best meal they deserve... I even brush their teeth, some people don't even do that for they're human baby's.
I appreciate the concern, some people really shouldn't keep cats or any animal from a money perspective but maybe next time ask a little nicer and consider that maybe not everyone is in the middle of their live and some people just had their 18th birthday (which is also very well a age where I can worry about the economy especially if I have to pay for stuff that's affected by it) but still live at home but are still required to contribute money wise. There is a way to have concern without immediately assuming the worst.
Whitehead58@reddit
"Dude"… noone asked for a essay. Lock the door!
Elister_it_is@reddit (OP)
You can't assume the worst about someone else abd be surprised when then justify themselves accordingly. A "Hey sorry I just assumed, thanks for clarifying" would have been my logical awnser to this but clearly you're just pissed at everything and not sorry at all for running and assumptions.
AstarothSquirrel@reddit
Options: * replace the on button https://amzn.eu/d/06cvUt9t * 3D print a shield for your existing button * place book or coaster over existing button * Use smart plug so that the system remains unpowered https://amzn.eu/d/02W8oEnq * Bit ghetto, but create button shield with an old mobile phone and some gaffer tape * get a dog * or goldfish * switch it off at the wall when not in use.
lichtspieler@reddit
You could use an external power button with anti-vandalism switches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNjfPyUQgxE
The hard spring inside the button should make it difficult enough for your cats.
Conscious-Salt-1523@reddit
Change ur power button to a doomsday switch.. if ur cat can turn that on, then that's a talented cat
trillspectre@reddit
When I buy cheap electronic stuff from china there's a foam like packaging materials that is affixed around the button in a square. I assume to stop it from being pressed in transit. You can press the button if you push hard enough but it returns to its shape after. It would be strong enough to stop a cat
kevin28115@reddit
Depends how jank you want it lol. Basically rewire the start button to somewhere else. Like under the table.
kevin28115@reddit
Change what power Vuitton does in control panel. Make it do nothing. Solved.
Ratiasu@reddit
Turn off the power supply when you don't need to use the PC.
wubbadubdub_zzz@reddit
Put your pc on the table. Provide a stool or similar for the cat to use as a step to jump up.
t90fan@reddit
disconnect the button and get a new button on a length of wire and put it somewhere the cat cant get
outrightbrick@reddit
Flip switch on power supply off....
ak5432@reddit
Smart plug
Eve_Nightwalker@reddit
Get a pc button cover
nerotNS@reddit
So you could make your PC sleep after like 5 min of inactivity. It's not going to stop the problem, but it will help with your electricity bill (assuming your cat won't move your mouse, type on the keyboard or jump up and down repeatedly every <5 min).
You could also get a cover for the button (kinda like the stuff you put on start-stop buttons in cars that you have to open before the button is pressed). They come on various shapes and sizes, so you can get one that somewhat fits your needs. They're also pretty cheap too.
Alternatively, you could rewire the power on button to be the restart button on the case, most cases have it moved at least somewhat from the power button. Just switch the wirings to the pins on the motherboard. That way, your restart button becomes your power button and vice-versa.
Elister_it_is@reddit (OP)
I'll probably order one of those covers and in the meantime turn on the 5 min thing honestly forgot that it exists cause I turned it off cause it keept interrupting updates and downloads so I forgot about it 😅
nerotNS@reddit
Yeah it's a bit of a pain in the ass when sleep is set to so short, but I think it can serve you well as a stand-in until you get a proper button cover. Either way, good luck!
Elister_it_is@reddit (OP)
Cat Tax
I deliver some sleepy cat tax cause it's 2 am where I live (he litterly just got down from the chair to cuddle with me after I took that picture and he tuned it on right infront of me)
Jhoonis@reddit
You could turn off the power source unit when you're not using the PC
Casalf@reddit
Does your psu have an off/on switch? I would just press the switch off and it should cut power supply to your pc. If not then I am not sure of another solution unless it involves spending some money to buy or make something to cover the pc on/off button
RumbleTheCassette@reddit
Get a "Power Push Button Switch Cover" from Amazon. Flips up like you're launching a missile.
havokle@reddit
This is the way
Urdnot_Flexx@reddit
A permanent solution imo would be to switch your case to something with the power button positioned on the bottom side, or at least the option to put it there. The Lian Li Lancool 216, for example, has a modular power panel that you can either position on the top or the front side.
Elister_it_is@reddit (OP)
Love the fact that I get so much information here but I got no idea about pc building. I know the words of the components and what I'm looking at but got no idea how that stuff is wired and would nwvee dare ro rouch any component, just bought a decent pre build one, I just posted here cause it's the first subreddit I saw when I googled the problem and couldn't find a general pc one. Fr love the fact that I learn a bit of stuff here tho
Urdnot_Flexx@reddit
Update: my wife actually suggested to coat the top of your chassis with aluminum foil when it isn’t in use. Obviously that’s rubbish for airflow, so you wouldn’t leave it on, but when you aren’t using it to put it on. Cats apparently hate the stuff, and it would condition them not to go on top of the PC.
Phazetic99@reddit
There is usually a button on your surge protector. You can turn off all the power to the entire system from that button there
Suspicious-Power8519@reddit
Do you have a power switch on the psu at the back?
GheistHund374@reddit
Update post woth a photo, please.
Cultural-Accident-71@reddit
I solved the issue by putting a Lego part over the button and tape it on one side, this way you flip the Lego up and push the button and the Lego falls down and protect the button from accidental pushing.
OkStrategy685@reddit
I'm gonna say what's probably unpopular and train your cat not to do that. It's not hard, I had cats for most of my life and it was never a problem teaching them to stay away from things. If they would go near something they're not supposed to I would make a loud psst sound and they would know right away and eventually stop entirely
Elister_it_is@reddit (OP)
Yeah he's usally pretty easy to train, he can do sit and stuff but he's pretty old and got diagnosed with osteoarthritis around the same time he started using the pc as a stepping stool and since he also stopped jumping around in different areas in the house too (if there isn't somthing close that he can also use as a stepping stool similar to the pc) I think it's just painful for him to do big jumps and I don't want to punish him and shoo him away for using a less painful method to get somewhere he's allowed to be, that just feels wrong and unfair to me.
Mecha120@reddit
I bought [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB1TF765?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) for my wife for Christmas for this exact problem.
pvdas@reddit
Turn it on with the PSU switch instead?
JayM23@reddit
I think he just wants to play some games so I think u should let him :)
Tumeni1959@reddit
Unplug the base unit from power outlet, or switch off at the power outlet.
Any_Cold5965@reddit
Come on, The other day you didn't want it off, Now you don't want it On???
What do you want??? /Jk
OtherAlan@reddit
You can probably get some used shipping/cardboard box and place it around and over the case to cover the button. Even if the cat were to stand directly over the button with the cardboard, it would probably be enough to spray the weight across a big enough surface area to stop the button from turning on.
Another option is to get a separate button and discount the one on your case and put the new button in a more hidden spot.
Tiny-Ric@reddit
Can you just put a coaster out similar over the button?
aragorn18@reddit
The cheapest and easiest way to is to tape a piece of cardboard over the top of the case where the buttons are. Tape it on one side only so that you can flip the cardboard up and press the button when you need to.
A slightly more advanced method is to disconnect the case's power button and run it to a different power switch that isn't mounted on top of the case. You can find wireless remote power switches on Amazon or AliExpress for pretty cheap.