Cats and Saddles!

[Shoei]

So, I'm waiting for the exciting delivery of a made to measure saddle, which I have decided will live in the house as opposed to the tack room. I've got a new saddle rack for it and a place in the utility room... then I remembered Prudence!!!! Prudence is my Maine Coon x Bengal cat with a penchant for parcour!!! Her favourite room is the utility due to the boiler! When we left the loft hatch open she scratched the glass on picture on the wall jumping into the loft hatch from the floor!! I'm worried she'll use my saddle as a new launch point!

Any ideas/tips? Currently there are no cupboards that it could live in... I've checked!!!

 

[asmp]

Keep it in a saddle cover or bag? She might not like the texture of a bag

 

[smolmaus]

If you put a really nice cat bed on top of the saddle, guarantee they won't go near it. Something with memory foam, expensive

I would also go with a saddle bag and put a towel or a fleece blanket inside the bag and on top of the saddle. Or an old turnout rug over it or something. Anything to stop claws in leather, the thought is making me feel ill

 

[EnduroRider]

My saddles are on racks in the tack room but the yard cats like to use them to sit on so I now pop a small mat of plastic cat spikes on top of the cover. It's enough to put them off bedding down!

 

[sbloom]

Firstly make sure your rack is padded out unless it's a pole, an old pillow, something thick and squishy, protects flock and foam panels. Most covers won't be cat claw resistant so you need again something thick, or something more solid like an exercise mat over the top of it.

 

[Ratface]

My saddles are on racks in the tack room but the yard cats like to use them to sit on so I now pop a small mat of plastic cat spikes on top of the cover. It's enough to put them off bedding down!

Madam Chatty Fatty Carrie Catty wishes to remind you that your cats will find ways to punish you for this. You must be careful not to upset the Egyptian Cat God, Ra.
You should know by now that cats are always in charge of everything. Put a rug over this fancy saddle, not plastic cat spikes.
You have been warned . . .

 

[sbloom]

Madam Chatty Fatty Carrie Catty wishes to remind you that your cats will find ways to punish you for this. You must be careful not to upset the Egyptian Cat God, Ra.
You should know by now that cats are always in charge of everything. Put a rug over this fancy saddle, not plastic cat spikes.
You have been warned . . .

I still say cheap exercise mat, there'll be some rugs that cat claws can go through if they do decide to parcours!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would be having a melt down at the thought of cats on my saddles fills me with horror

 

[sbloom]

I would be having a melt down at the thought of cats on my saddles fills me with horror

Leave the back of your saddle fitting van open on a yard and it can happen! Luckily no actual damage in 14 years, just cuteness thank the Lord!

 

[Pinkvboots]

Leave the back of your saddle fitting van open on a yard and it can happen! Luckily no actual damage in 14 years, just cuteness thank the Lord!

I never even leave them over a stable door it makes me feel ill if I see people do it especially if the horse is in the stable

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Carry the saddle around with you at all times, so that you can protect it with your own body.


Or if you're a bit handy I have 2 other suggestions:

1) Buy/DIY build a cupboard deep enough for the saddle rack, either with a pull-out shelf at the bottom to place the saddle rack on, or put wheels on the saddle rack, so that you can easily move the saddle rack + saddle into the safety of your new cupboard. Door is optional, depending on whether you only want to protect against the possibility that she uses the saddle as a launching pad, or whether you also want to protect against her possibly trying to slink inside the cupboard to sleep on top of the saddle.

2) Buy a sacrificial faux leather flat dog mattress, sew on a handle at each of the 2 shorter sides, place mattress on top of saddle, tie the handles together so the mattress stays in position. I've made a loop in one end of a short rope to on rare occasions be able to quickly tie the handles on my mattress together.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh my gosh! I’m going to be a nervous wreck now when my saddler comes soon. My cat jumps in any vehicle but it never occurred to me he might damage saddles! Luckily he seems unaware he has claws!