Protecting LEGO from Pets

MaverickDengo

I'm nearly 17 and I share a room with my twin brother. It's a small weird shaped room, so we don't have much space to put up shelves or any other kind of displays for our lego sets. So we leave them built on the floor (which hasn't been an issue). Unfortunately, our door can't close and recently our cat has been coming in and chewing up our sets. My Star Wars AT-AP Walker (7671) has had it the worst, the cannon has been so chewed up that I'm going to have to replace all of those pieces. D:

Obviously no one will be in the exact situation I'm in, but how many of you have had animals chew up pieces, and how do you deal with it?

Thanks
MaverickDengo

Si_UKNZ

get one of these
http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=4958-1
that should put him off.

tk79

You could try Apple Bitter spray (available at most pet stores)...I realize it's not fun to have to spray your bricks, but once she gets a taste she probably won't mess with them anymore and hopefully then you can just wash it off for good after using it once or twice.


*I haven't tried this method myself with Lego, but a friend spoke highly of it once when getting a cat to stop chewing on wires.

MaverickDengo

@Si_Dorking_Surrey_UK Haha! That's funny, but my cats are all fearless, some of them used to chase of the racoons that lived near my old house.

Maybe I could build a mindstorms robot to squirt them with water when they enter my room or something...

MaverickDengo

@tk79 Maybe that robot should spray the Apple Bitter spray...

I will see if spraying my LEGO works. Sounds like a good idea.

tk79

^- that would be a good combo, lol.

I would recommend trying a couple sample bricks with that spray just to make sure it doesn't do any damage or discoloration before spraying it over a larger area.

MaverickDengo

^ Yeah for sure. Wouldn't want to ruin my entire collection.

starfire2

If it is happening while you are awake and there you could try a spray bottle of water. Spritz the kitty everytime he bites at the Legos.

MaverickDengo

^ I know it's not happening at night because I barricade the door with stuff when I go to bed, But I'm never in my room during the day and when I do catch him in the act I'm unprepared.

Galidorneveragain

Well I can't help you with your bricks being chewed. Apart from having them replaced,but its much worse to have your cat wee on you bricks...

plasmodium

Hmmm...our cat chewed a couple of Pirate sabers a while ago...if I remember correctly, those went into our 'city' museum as old artefacts! But seriously, why would the cat be chewing the bricks? Is it having teething problems? Cause it would only go around chewing hard objects like Lego if it felt like it needed to sharpen it's teeth or something had nothing better to chew. I think you should try buying it some sort of chewing pet toy thing.

MaverickDengo

@Galidorneveragain I would rather wash my bricks after the cat urinating on them then replace them.

@plasmodium I don't think the cat has any problems with his teeth. He is in purrrfect health. He hasn't chewed anything besides a couple dozen LEGO pieces and a few pairs of headphones.

starfire2

You could try putting a sheet over your sets and place heavy objects on the ends of the sheets to keep him from climbing under. I'm sure whatever you do, it will be hard to keep him from doing it.

bor2112

Baby gate to keep him/her out? Or, fix the door or whatever is preventing it from closing

PaulTR

I used to have that problem with my parrot: He would scale my dresser and gnaw on my sets while cackling happily to himself. I solved that problem by giving him his own dedicated bin filled with Mega Bloks. However, he doesn't like them as much as the LEGO pieces. Guess that goes to show you that even animals know the good stuff when they taste it!