Making a "no-cat-zone" device with ultrasonics?..

Jim Witte · Apr 10, 2004

Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem) Two problems I see are:

1) making the signal low-level enough that it would just annoy the cat a
little and nothing more, and

2) figuring out how to focus it. I'm thinking pizoelectric speakers
might be able to do that.

What is the an *upper* limit on what cats can hear? The "focusable
speakers" that I've heard of work by using two ultrasonic signals to
create interferance patterns low enough that people can here them (cats
could be a problem here). Theoretically, the same could be done for
cats, except that the source frequency would have to be higher than the
upper range of the cat's hearing.

Even if an ultrasocnic signal could be made high enough that a cat
wouldn't hear it, could a small enough interference range be created
without also making all sorts of undesirably other interference zones?

Jim

AtPCLogic · Apr 10, 2004

Subject: Making a "no-cat-zone" device with ultrasonics?..
From: Jim Witte jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us
Date: 4/9/04 7:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <c57bbs$g4u$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu

Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem) Two problems I see are:

1) making the signal low-level enough that it would just annoy the cat a
little and nothing more, and

2) figuring out how to focus it. I'm thinking pizoelectric speakers
might be able to do that.

What is the an *upper* limit on what cats can hear? The "focusable
speakers" that I've heard of work by using two ultrasonic signals to
create interferance patterns low enough that people can here them (cats
could be a problem here). Theoretically, the same could be done for
cats, except that the source frequency would have to be higher than the
upper range of the cat's hearing.

Even if an ultrasocnic signal could be made high enough that a cat
wouldn't hear it, could a small enough interference range be created
without also making all sorts of undesirably other interference zones?

Jim

I'm totally baffled by this one!

You're having trouble keeping your cat away from your computer monitor? Is it
spending too much time surfing the web? Does it find the mouse irresistable?

In any case, simply chaining a pit-bull to the keyboard has worked for me!

Brad
PC Logic

Schematic entry and PCB design software
http://www.pclogic.biz
http://members.aol.com/atpclogic/index.html

Jerry G. · Apr 10, 2004

Cats and dogs can hear very well in to the 30 to 40 kHz area. The only thing
is that as they age, their hearing goes down, something like ours. But, it
is more sensitive than humans, through most of their life. If you were to
emit a constant tone, it would have to be fairly loud to annoy an animal.
The only thing is that you don't want to drive the animal crazy when being
out of the room.

The equipment and cost to do this would not be cheap. There may be some
safety issues with this type of thing. Even though you cannot hear the
ultrasonic sound from this type of device, it may be causing some harm to
your hearing, and you would never know it!

I would leave the door of the room closed when you do not want the cat near
to the computer. Or, have a big dog in the room that hates cats.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================

"Jim Witte" <jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote in message
news:c57bbs$g4u$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu...
Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem) Two problems I see are:

1) making the signal low-level enough that it would just annoy the cat a
little and nothing more, and

2) figuring out how to focus it. I'm thinking pizoelectric speakers
might be able to do that.

What is the an *upper* limit on what cats can hear? The "focusable
speakers" that I've heard of work by using two ultrasonic signals to
create interferance patterns low enough that people can here them (cats
could be a problem here). Theoretically, the same could be done for
cats, except that the source frequency would have to be higher than the
upper range of the cat's hearing.

Even if an ultrasocnic signal could be made high enough that a cat
wouldn't hear it, could a small enough interference range be created
without also making all sorts of undesirably other interference zones?

Jim

Roger Gt · Apr 10, 2004

X-No-Archive: yes
"Jim Witte" wrote
: Hi,
: Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a
device
: that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that
could
: create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a
computer-monitor for
: instance (this is our problem)

<snip>

In Ancient Egypt Cats were revered as Gods, Cats remember!

CWatters · Apr 10, 2004

"Jim Witte" <jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote in message
news:c57bbs$g4u$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu...

Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem)

I can confirm it doesn't work for moles. I planted one of those ultrasonic
devices in my garden right through the mole run. The following day there
were mole hills either side of the device! At least if made an interesting
photo.

Jim Thompson · Apr 10, 2004

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 11:40:49 GMT, "CWatters"
<colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote:

"Jim Witte" <jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote in message
news:c57bbs$g4u$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu...
Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem)

I can confirm it doesn't work for moles. I planted one of those ultrasonic
devices in my garden right through the mole run. The following day there
were mole hills either side of the device! At least if made an interesting
photo.

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Thaas · Apr 10, 2004

On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 23:24:45 +0000 (UTC), Jim Witte
<jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote:

Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem) Two problems I see are:

1) making the signal low-level enough that it would just annoy the cat a
little and nothing more, and

2) figuring out how to focus it. I'm thinking pizoelectric speakers
might be able to do that.

What is the an *upper* limit on what cats can hear? The "focusable
speakers" that I've heard of work by using two ultrasonic signals to
create interferance patterns low enough that people can here them (cats
could be a problem here). Theoretically, the same could be done for
cats, except that the source frequency would have to be higher than the
upper range of the cat's hearing.

Even if an ultrasocnic signal could be made high enough that a cat
wouldn't hear it, could a small enough interference range be created
without also making all sorts of undesirably other interference zones?

Jim
Jim,

Have you heard of the cat typing detection program Pawsense?
http://www.bitboost.com/pawsense/

As long as you don't mind the cat hair, Pawsense should allow your cat
to enjoy your nice warm keyboard without running up charges surfing
for kitty porn.

Tom.

--
Thaas

Rich Webb · Apr 10, 2004

On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 23:24:45 +0000 (UTC), Jim Witte
<jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote:

Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem)

Squirt gun. Plain water works great.

For a slightly more techie solution, some "canned air." Aim at their
flanks (where there's fur) and not towards the face, to reduce the
chances of blowing something into the eyes. It's the hissing sound more
than the air itself that does the trick.

If the critters want to nap in front of the monitor while you're *not*
using the keyboard, well, sharing is a Good Thing.

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

CWatters · Apr 10, 2004

"Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
news:l54g70thuel8u1ni18nadfpfa5f01j5e5v@4ax.com...

For moles, old fashioned block-type bubble gum... chew it a little bit
first, then drop into one of their holes... they love it... blocks
their intestinal tract and they die.

Hey I've not heard that one. I heard they are hard to poison because they
only eat live worms. I'll have to give it a go.

It reminds me of an incident I heard about some years ago...

An Air Cadet unit was broken into and the vandals smashed up some equipment.
One of the things they took away was an emergency ration pack from an old
RAF ejector seat. I heard they were arrested at the local hospital the
following day after they ate the special oatmeal biscuit... the one that
swells up to make 16 pints of porridge when mixed with water.

Jim Thompson · Apr 10, 2004

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 20:38:09 GMT, "CWatters"
<colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote:

"Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
news:l54g70thuel8u1ni18nadfpfa5f01j5e5v@4ax.com...

For moles, old fashioned block-type bubble gum... chew it a little bit
first, then drop into one of their holes... they love it... blocks
their intestinal tract and they die.

Hey I've not heard that one. I heard they are hard to poison because they
only eat live worms. I'll have to give it a go.

I had gophers on my acre in North Scottsdale, AZ. I tried everything,
including the infamous flood-em-out and gasoline routines ;-) With NO
success. Then someone told me about the bubble gum. In about a week,
no gophers.

It reminds me of an incident I heard about some years ago...

An Air Cadet unit was broken into and the vandals smashed up some equipment.
One of the things they took away was an emergency ration pack from an old
RAF ejector seat. I heard they were arrested at the local hospital the
following day after they ate the special oatmeal biscuit... the one that
swells up to make 16 pints of porridge when mixed with water.

480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax

Jerry Greenberg · Apr 10, 2004

This is very interesting. I know of a few cases where ultrasonic
animal repeling equipment was installed, and there were more animals
coming in to the area. It was like they were actracted to the noise to
see what it was, rather than be annoyed at it.

I read something somewhere, that sometimes these can have just the
opposite effect than it was designed for.

Jerry G.
http://www.zoom-one.com

--

"CWatters" <colin.watters@pandoraBOX.be> wrote in message news:<53Rdc.66369$v_6.4508735@phobos.telenet-ops.be>...

"Jim Witte" <jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote in message
news:c57bbs$g4u$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu...
Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem)

I can confirm it doesn't work for moles. I planted one of those ultrasonic
devices in my garden right through the mole run. The following day there
were mole hills either side of the device! At least if made an interesting
photo.

John Fields · Apr 10, 2004

On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 23:24:45 +0000 (UTC), Jim Witte
<jswitte@spam.bloomington.nospam.in.spam.us> wrote:

Hi,

Here's an idea I've come up with in the past few weeks: make a device
that would create a focused, low-intensity ultrasonic field that could
create (hopefully) a "no-cat" zone in front of a computer-monitor for
instance (this is our problem) Two problems I see are:

1) making the signal low-level enough that it would just annoy the cat a
little and nothing more, and

2) figuring out how to focus it. I'm thinking pizoelectric speakers
might be able to do that.

What is the an *upper* limit on what cats can hear? The "focusable
speakers" that I've heard of work by using two ultrasonic signals to
create interferance patterns low enough that people can here them (cats
could be a problem here). Theoretically, the same could be done for
cats, except that the source frequency would have to be higher than the
upper range of the cat's hearing.

Even if an ultrasocnic signal could be made high enough that a cat
wouldn't hear it, could a small enough interference range be created
without also making all sorts of undesirably other interference zones?

---
Why not just tell your cat(s) that that's not allowed and put them on
the floor every time they go there (worked for mine, they eventually
got tired of the game) or build a little bed-O-nails and put it in
front of the monitor?^)

--
John Fields

Boris Mohar · Apr 10, 2004

Jus us this a s a screen saver

http://www.visualjokes.com/showpic.php?320

Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

Carl Farrington · Apr 11, 2004

Jerry Greenberg wrote:

This is very interesting. I know of a few cases where ultrasonic
animal repeling equipment was installed, and there were more animals
coming in to the area. It was like they were actracted to the noise to
see what it was, rather than be annoyed at it.

I read something somewhere, that sometimes

christ thats some somes.

Making a "no-cat-zone" device with ultrasonics?..

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