Cat-proofing your speakers...

I've had my cat for 18 years now. In all that time she made one move on my speakers. As I was listening to some music one day she decided to jump on top of my Spendor 1/2e. Did it very gracefully without scratching anything. I went over, picked her up off the speaker and told her not to do it again. End of story. However, when I leave on a business trip I cover my speakers with BBQ grill covers just in case she has a senior moment and forgets herself.

As for scratching, she confines herself to one of a number of corrugated cardboard scratching posts that are distributed around the house. These are available at PetsMart and other pet supply stores.

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/s/f/1242581289.jpg

The caps you put over the claws are called "soft paws". They work but are a pain to put on a cat because you have to restrain a cat and glue caps to it's nails. Sound fun? Also, if they dont all fall off it can can be dangerous to the cat as the nail will keep growing and curl into the pad and trap the cap in between. It happened to our cat so you just have to keep your eye out. Another option is double stick tape, they sell it at pet stores to keep cats away from furniture corners etc. It's a very thin 1.5-2" wide tape and cats hate it. Supposedly it trains your cat to not scratch the areas it is applied to but it looks fugly because it's tape after all. The suggestion to remove the grills all together seems like a good option also and perhaps the best if possible. Fortunately for them, our cats have never touched my speakers so yours may do the same. Other than that just make sure you have a scratcher or scratching post they can use and put cat nip on the scratcher to get them attracted to it. Hope that helps!

I have two cats (and dogs) and none of them have ever messed with the speakers. I have several cat scratching post that I rub catnip all over. Just give them a place to scratch and you will be fine.

Spray them with water when they get close to the speakers. They will Lear fast.

digital deck covers dot com will make custom covers for your speakers ... this would protect them when not in use. then it would be up to you to keep the cats away when playing music

Just gotta ask yourself what would John Wayne do? Then you have your answer.