Living room PC needs help being catproof as two cats are almost always in there. Any tips?

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daboy2u@reddit

Make a plank above it that's wider than the pc, high enough that air can escape, low enough that a cat does not fit between it and the pc.

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Glass-False@reddit

A cat will find a way to fit there, regardless. They can turn into liquid form at will.

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Tokena@reddit

Put a pickle in there. They hate pickles.

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gabacus_39@reddit

Why are your cats throwing up on your PC? Why are your cats throwing up at all?

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gabacus_39@reddit

I'm a dog guy and while my dogs have thrown up it's outside or on the floor. Why would a cat puke on a PC?

Sounds like I never want a cat.

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Cats get hairballs from grooming themselves, so they have to puke them up sometimes. They're also a bit sensitive to changes in diet, so if you change food on them, they can have an upset stomach for a few days until they adjust.

I used to be a dog guy too, but living with cats for a while I'd never give them up. Affectionate little assholes.

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MistSecurity@reddit

I recommend properly brushing your cats, and maybe swapping to anti-hairball food if your cats are coughing up hairballs that often.

My long hair cat will cough up hairballs balls maybe once a month, if that. We brush her, feed her wet food, and they get an anti-hairball treat every few days. All seems to help greatly. Brushing is likely the biggest helper here. Less hair on the cat is less hair they’re licking up.

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BluegrassGeek@reddit

I'm aware. We have a domestic shorthair calico that just constantly sheds no matter what. Our longhair wasn't nearly this bad, and our other shorthair doesn't shed this much either.

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Haitianprinces@reddit

They infect you a parasite so you can Love them lol not kidding look it up lol I k own Im Infected cause i love my cats to death

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steak_bake_surprise@reddit

Cats would lay a poop next to your sleeping head if you woke up at the wrong time past feeding.

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gabacus_39@reddit

My last statement has been confirmed. Lol

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ImYourDade@reddit

Bro I have no idea wtf these people are talking about lol. I have 3 cats rn, all were strays, for about 5-6 years. None of them would poop in my bed, not do they constantly throw up on my things. The worst they have done to my PC which they have full access to is turn it off when they jump on top of it LMAO. They don't poop or throw up on my desk, but one doesn't groom herself too well so she does leave a noticeable amount of hair behind sometimes.

I'd be more worried about a dog slobbering on the top of my PC, if it's a bigger dog

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xevizero@reddit

Welcome to the very harsh world of wanting no pets. Makes it really hard to find a partner, real talk.

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Key-Regular674@reddit

Bit of a diva

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xevizero@reddit

Well I was half joking, obviously there are a lot of people who don't want pets. Still it feels kinda hard to tell people I'm like this, feels like I'm breaking some sort of unspoken rule.

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Triedfindingname@reddit

Yup. I have 3 cats and a dog, and a sit to stand desk that has never come down from standing

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Suravoid@reddit

not my cat, she'll yell and headbutt you

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LamentingSpud@reddit

They also sometimes just puke because you've annoyed them.

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PurpleC0ugar@reddit

Cats with health problems have a tendency to puke. Like waking up from a nap atop a warm PC and boom puke. They like warm stuff. And unlike most dogs, fit really well on top a PC.

You are better off controlling where you allow your cats to sleep.

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passwordistako@reddit

I’ve had cats for decades. Very rare for my cats to vomit in the house.

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PristineHalf1809@reddit

You just take poor care I’ve had a cat for 10 years now and he’s thrown up less than like 5 times at most. Hairball formula food helps them poop it out instead

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Key-Regular674@reddit

Just let them puke it up its natural and healthy. Don't drug your animals so they are more convenient for you. Cringe.

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Caleb-Wendt69@reddit

“Drug”

Get a grip, lol. It’s usually just oils.

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bizdady@reddit

I have a cat and mines only thrown up once. Is cat throw up a thing?

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Caleb-Wendt69@reddit

Mine throws up these days but it’s because he’s old as fuck as has lymphoma

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TheOriginalKrampus@reddit

All 3 of my cats have puked/hairballed just in the last 2 weeks.

Also all 3 have fucked with my computer at some point.

I've lived with cats and dogs. I love them both equally. They both can be destructive or gross in their own ways.

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Yuzumi@reddit

I've had cats my entire life. None of them have ever thrown up on my PC.

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gokartninja@reddit

Cats throw up

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Leading_Map2025@reddit

Most people's cats (aside from hairballs which happen normally) vomit frequently from being sick from their owners not properly cleaning their litter boxes or washing out their food bowls thoroughly.

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2raysdiver@reddit

This. Our cats rarely puke. And two of ours are siamese, the b1tchiest, most privileged armhole cats on the planet. The other two are torties, which are the devil reincarnated.

Get a spray bottle and spray (stream) them with water whenever you see them on the PC. If that doesn't work, use 50% vinegar, 50% water.

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Riaayo@reddit

Get a spray bottle and spray (stream) them with water whenever you see them on the PC.

Somehow I don't think using a spray bottle around a running pc is the way to go.

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gokartninja@reddit

And plenty of them just do it because they eat and/or drink too much at once, particularly if they were once food insecure, which most strays were

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ImYourDade@reddit

Ok, and how do they access food and water? Through their owner! So again, if they're overeating and throwing up it's the owners fault taking poor care of the cat

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Yuzumi@reddit

Also, hairballs are a common thing that just happen.

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gokartninja@reddit

Yes, the previous comment mentioned that, so I didn't feel the need to address it further. It is pretty nasty though. I've had longhairs before, and it felt like a constant thing, but my shorthair doesn't do it often

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Em_Es_Judd@reddit

My cat sheds an insane amount. I brush her every couple days and she still explodes in a cloud of hair when I pick her up. She vomits up hair balls frequently.

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Illustrious_Aide_144@reddit (OP)

I take very good care of my cats, thank you. One of them is a rescue that I took in with pre existing issues which causes him to not be able to hold food down as good.

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420smokekushh@reddit

Aww poor kitty.

What kind of PC case do you have?

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gabacus_39@reddit

All the time?

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gokartninja@reddit

More frequently than most other mammals, yes

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beenoc@reddit

It's not an everyday thing, but they get hairballs. It depends on the cat, some might only hairball once or twice a year, others are once or twice a month.

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Levithos@reddit

Normally has to do with hair and grooming. Their tongues are barbed with teeny tiny barbs, and that gets the hair into their system. Since hair isn't easily digestible, it just sits there blocking the stomach. So, animals with this problem (cats aren't the only ones) tend to die from it. Cats, luckily enough, have a vomiting response, so they get rid of the hair from their systems.

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T1Earn@reddit

i think it becomes a problem IF your cat isnt throwing up

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iceseayoupee@reddit

cats are really fucking weird man, my cat is cranky whenever she doesnt get to sit near the UPS

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BluegrassGeek@reddit

Cats are not fully domesticated, so they still have a lot of their own opinions on things. Trying to make them stop doing a thing doesn't work, you have to teach them to like something else instead so they prefer that.

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UltimateSlayer3001@reddit

Close the door.

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FitzChan@reddit

I have four cats and my pc hangs on one of the legs of my desk. Haven’t had any issues besides them messing with the cables initially

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skyfishgoo@reddit

if it's flat, warm and even slightly elevated, it will draw cats...

there is no avoiding this.

you can try one of those anti cat prickly mats like ppl use for couches etc so they wont settle down on top of it because it's too pokey.

then again some cats might be into the whole bed of nail things...you can't win is what i'm saying.

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readyflix@reddit

Cats and Dogs indoors OR in the living room?

Never heard about that 😂

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PrimeInterface@reddit

Put a cucumber on it.

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knoxcos@reddit

Define “cat proof”. Because being in the same building pretty much ensures the PC will have cat hair in the fans within hours.

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Caleb-Wendt69@reddit

If you own a cat it’s a must to keep the PC off the floor

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pre_pun@reddit

Get a pyramid case. Never would suggest otherwise.

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BluegrassGeek@reddit

If you have the dimensions of your PC case, you can get something 3D printed that will protect the top of the case while still allowing airflow. Most libraries have a printer you can rent, you just need someone who can design the proper "cover" for you.

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kermityfrog2@reddit

Put anti-pigeon spikes on top.

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esJDog@reddit

Definitely get the PC up off the floor if it isn’t already. Even a small stand/table helps a ton with fur, dust, and… cat related accidents lol. Use dust filters on every intake and clean them regularly, Put something on top of the case to discourage loafing if airflow vents are up there, Sleeve/manage cables because some cats love chewing wires.

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psguardian@reddit

Is this an entertainment center pc or at a desk?

I know cats like to lay on warm things, but you gotta be firm with em about laying on electronics. Even the rescue can learn it's a hard no.

A case with magnetic mesh filters on the fan grills will help with catching much of the fur, if you can keep up a regular cleaning routine (ex: check it every Friday for buildup) it won't become restrictive.

As for making a case puke proof: Having aspace for it to fit inside of that is too small, or too enclosed, for the cat to get on top of it is your only real choice. Put the pc is a jail cell, wood or metal or plastic doesn't matter. So long as the top is only tall enough for air flow.

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Puzzleheaded_Mind105@reddit

What???

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RumbleTheCassette@reddit

HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS PC WONT GET CAT PUKE IN IT

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Puzzleheaded_Mind105@reddit

Very easy problem to solve. Sell the cat to chinese

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PhoenixBisket@reddit

I have an under desk mount for my PC. I got it because I have an adjustable standing desk, but it's not like my cats can get on top of the PC either.

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SexBobomb@reddit

id make a wooden jail for the pc, with bars so theres still airflow but theres a gap from the kitties

as an aside as another cat owner my biggest concern was getting a case with a horizontal power button, not one on the top

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qtjedigrl@reddit

Brush them and get hairball treats

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xThroughTheGrayx@reddit

Cabinet with fan

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kirk7899@reddit

Put your pc in a cabinet of some kind. Also, why are your cats puking over electronics?

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OkStrategy685@reddit

I had cat's for most of my life and one thing that has worked 100% of the time is, when they're around something you don't want them around, you just make a loud PSST sound and they learn not to go there. I've had guitar amps that I didn't want them scratching up, same with the furniture, and it always works.

They're smart.

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Echo4117@reddit

They like ur pc coz it's warm. Consider a heat pad and find the optimal temp that they prefer and they'll leave ur pc alone

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Haitianprinces@reddit

If it's the heat they like get them a heat pad if it's the wind but a fan also buy a fake snake and put it by the PC they will never go near it again lol my cats used to chew my USB cables put two fake rubber snakes in front and on the side of the PC and they never touched it ever again

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cdojs98@reddit

I have 2 cats and a dog, all stay in the same room most of the day as my PS4 Pro, which is notorious for having issues gathering dust in the fans/shrouds.

Number 1 is on you, do more cleaning. Dust more often, keep wet wipes around for the deep cleans. I bought a cheap dollar store tooth brush just to get into the smaller crevices and openings, you don't have to ball out.

Next thing, I have placed it where there aren't optimal paths for traversing. It's easier to go under the table than on top where the obstacles are. It's nicer to sit on the ledge of the window than the table the electronics are on. I occupy the path I want them to avoid.

Final thing, clean the air itself. I have a humidifier, dehumidifier, a/c, and heater that I can use in this room. Some are built into the apartment, some are just small Walmart appliances. There's cheap ways to make air filtration too, like buying a box fan/duct tape/cheap house a/c filters and making a box that pulls air through the filters and out the fan. No matter the level of investment, the benefit of doing so is always worthwhile.

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_Gingy@reddit

Are there like heated blanket/cat beds for cats? Usually they just want the warmth, no?

Or a monitor stand to keep them from stading on the vents.

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sa547ph@reddit

I've put some rubber matting on top of mine. You could also change cases, the ones with no grills on top.

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beirch@reddit

Put it in your TV stand, mount exhaust fans in the back of your TV stand, and put some magnets on the door/drawer to act as a "lock" and standoffs so it doesn't close fully and still lets air in.

If the space can't be closed, fix some sort of net or grating to the opening. Preferably one that can be closed with buttons or something so you don't have to use a screwdriver every time you want to access the PC.

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RickRussellTX@reddit

Put it in a cage

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Attainted@reddit

IF you can't shroud the PC so that the cats can't get on it while still giving the PC sufficient airflow... Move the computer to another room that the cats can't go in while it's on and and figure out a way to stream to the living room screen. I just got an nvidia shield and it's working * pretty * well over wifi with Apollo and Moonlight between that & my main pc at the other end of the house.

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preyforkevin@reddit

Just cover it in aluminum foil.

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looselyhuman@reddit

Or if this doesn't work, adhesive plastic pigeon spikes.

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milyuno2@reddit

Get them a heated mat...

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desolation0@reddit

From your description I'm just imagining you forgot to put the case side back on after tinkering with the internals and the cats are literally inside the computer using the motherboard as a scratching post.

A cabinet space with ample airflow would do. A metal cage box would be good, just a pet crate a few inches bigger each way than the desktop should be easy enough to find pretty cheap. The guy saying cooling airflow is meaningless is wild though.

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gokartninja@reddit

Don't have cats in the same room as computers

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Accomplished_Emu_658@reddit

I have 4 cats, five at one point, for many many years. Never ever had a cat throw up or piss in my pc’s ever. Never had one restrict airflow. Not even with cat hair. Sure gets a little dusty and needs cleaned once and while. Even if they lay on top of exhaust fans the pc temps are never harmed. You’d be surprised how much air still moves. The worst they ever do is take over the keyboard or punch the screens

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MacintoshEddie@reddit

Get one of those end tables or cabinets to put around it.

Get the cats a heating pad. Generally the only reason they lay on top of towers is because it's warm. If you just get them a heating pad they'll almost guaranteed prefer that.

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Numerous-Bet-4847@reddit

put it in a cabinet or make a lexan cover for it.

You don't need as much airflow as people think. I've been running my main PC media server inside a cabinet for years.

All those colorful fans and cooling loops people put on their builds are mainly just for show.

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Cats typically prefer warm exhaust air so aim it where your cats can't sit and block the vents. Or have the vents be a bit high up so that they can't sit infront of it to begin with