The Star Trek Terrorvator

persi & alley

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I finally unpacked the box containing my cameras. About thirty boxes still to go. Anyway, pictured below is a portion of our living room which is located on the second floor of a townhome. That strange circular tube in the middle of the stairways leading to the first and third floors is, in fact, a transporter that whisks you from floor to floor. It's the latest thing in home elevators, and works on vacuum. Strong vacuum pulls you up, and the release of vacuum free falls you to the floors below. Sound scary to you?

I knew when we opted for this there was going to be a problem with the cats because it sounds like just what it is, a big vacuum cleaner. If any of your cats have been terrorized by your vacuum cleaner, imagine what they would do hearing this elevator in operation heading up, pulled by vacuum.

Indeed, both cats fled in terror when they first heard it operate. We have only had the cats here for 16 days now and Persi has came to terms with it and in fact has begun to play games with me. When he sees me shooting upstairs, he runs up the stairs to greet me, and likewise when I am headed downstairs. I honestly felt this is the way it would work out with Persi.

And I honestly felt that Alley would never get over it. When I get up in the morning, Alley is by my side. That is the absolute last time I see her until I retire for the night and she comes and joins me in bed. The rest of the day she hides in her room on the first floor, where her litter and food supply reside. Hide, as in the closet among my shoes and such. I have watched the poor thing running down the stairs in the morning from the bed to the first floor, and you cannot tell me she is not doing this because she want to get hidden before the terrorvator operates. As she runs down the stairs, she nervously keeps looking at the terrorvator, which is right in the stairways. At night, her behavior is the reverse.

I finally get reunited with my beloved cats and now I never see Alley at all during the day. Nothing can coax her out of the closet. Nothing. Until she somehow knows at night that the dreaded terrorvator has operated for the last time that day.

I don't expect to find anybody here who has something like this in their home but I am always continually surprised by the good advice I can still get from making posts like this. I know that you will say it is going to take time. After all, Persi adjusted. But Persi and Alley have totally different personalities. Alley is a true fraidy cat. I have two cats to enjoy both of them during the day. It's like I only have one cat at the present.
 

gemlady

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Poor Allley!
It may take some time for her to get used to it.

I like that elevator.
 

save_adopt

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wait. wait... it actually pulls you up??? Like... with nothing under you?? O_O
it cant...really? im so confused. i would love to see a video of that thing in use!
 

lightshimmer

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could you try walking up and down the stairs with her while someone is using the elevator? Or even going in it with her? Im not big on that one, seems to me like there would be cat hair everywhere, and probably scare her more. In fact, now that i think about it, bringing the cat in there just seems like good entertainment.
kidding.

I know I had a cat who NEVER got used to our vacuum cleaner, she might not ever like this thing either. Cat or transporter may be the final option.
 

mrblanche

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OK, here's just a shot in the dark, but it may be making a hypersonic sound that cats can hear. Cats are very sound-sensitive, and this looks like a supersonic whistle just waiting to happen, through some tiny opening.
 
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persi & alley

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Originally Posted by lightshimmer

could you try walking up and down the stairs with her while someone is using the elevator? Or even going in it with her?
If I tried taking Alley in that thing with me I am afraid I would have a repeat of the infamous Persi attack on me last month. When a cat is afraid, truly afraid, they will attack their master as I found out.
 

mom of 4

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Lee, it is a wonderful playtoy! My b-i-l looked at getting one of those but opted for a bigger, traditional one in his house. He's a big man and wanted something that would handle him in a wheelchair, if needed.

Can you avoid using it for a week or two to see watch happens?
 

larke

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Hi, I also have to ask how necessary that thing is to you - are there medical reasons that make it important to not use the stairs (and get a bit of exercise along the way)?
 
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persi & alley

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Originally Posted by Larke

Hi, I also have to ask how necessary that thing is to you - are there medical reasons that make it important to not use the stairs (and get a bit of exercise along the way)?
Yes, there are medical reasons or I would not use one. It makes me feel guilty to use it. I am having yet another surgery next Monday that may enable me to avoid it. Even if it does, and I do not have to use it, we got it because DW said we were not getting any younger and we plan to be here into our ?0s. And, when we had our home appraised, the elevator added more value to our home that what we paid for it. For now, I use it as little as possible because I know the effect it has on my poor cat, Alley.
 

twstychik

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Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

If I tried taking Alley in that thing with me I am afraid I would have a repeat of the infamous Persi attack on me last month. When a cat is afraid, truly afraid, they will attack their master as I found out.
Ya, we certainly don't want that!

Here's the difference I see between your elevator and a regular vacuum cleaner... your elevator runs daily, multiple times and unless your OCD I suspect the regular vacuum does not. I really hope that the frequency with which you use the elevator will help her adjust sooner. I don't suppose there is any way to muffle the sound with out compromising performance. Poor Alley... I assume you've tried spending some time in her room with her to reassure her. I think I'd still spend an hour or two (if you can) in her room with her even if she is in hiding. That way she'll know the monster in the elevator hasn't eaten you.
 

mom of 4

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Okay, then Alley needs to be desensitized to the sound.
It will take a lot of patience. You need to sit on the sofa on the middle floor with Alley . Have your wife call and send the elevator, so there is fairly constant boise. You may need a friend to help call & send the elevator.
Eventually Alley should relax while the elevator is going.
It may take several days of desensitization.

Hope the elevator has a good service plan/guarantee.
 

larke

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I hesitate to even think this, because it could seriously backfire, but things look pretty bleak anyhow now, so what do you think of taking her IN her carrier for a ride in the tube? Maybe a few of them? BTW, so sorry about the medical problems. I do hope you get better soon!
 

chadsgirl374

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I know it's an older thread, but I just had to reply! This is one of the funnniest threads I've read
I was trying to read it to my boyfriend and I it seemed to take forever due to the fact that I couldn't stop laughing. I've never seen or heard of a contraption like that - I bet it's cool! I hope your cat gets used to it.

Thanks for the laugh!
 
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