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Captain

Captain

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6.1K Messages

Friday, June 12th, 2020 12:35 PM

The Great Cat Caper

With the pandemic, my wife and I are now cat sitting Shiloh and Blu for my son-in-law and daughter, with the benefit of having them and our granddaughter every other week. (long story on the why)  Today I start a little of an experiment with all of the motion sensors on the first and 2nd floor changed to the low setting and changed for home and away to secret alert only.  Shiloh and Blu tip the scale at about 7 pounds so it will be interesting to see if the SS3 motion sensors will pick them up.  If we go two weeks with no alerts, will consider the system "cat resistant". :-)  Will provide updates every few days.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

First full day and night behind us, no motion sensors tripped but did see a feline "prowler" on our living room Simplicam climbing a nice, large comfortable chair to look out the window at 6:09 am.  It is interesting to watch the motion sensor on the camera in action and the "pre-roll" feature work.  Great video at 720, looking forward to see what SS does with those outdoor cameras that are under development and at 1080.

So far, so good.  Six motions on first floor and two on second working perfectly.

343 Messages

4 years ago

I am following this with interest.  I have no cats at the moment but will be getting a couple in the future.  I was hoping that I wouldn't have to take down all of the motion sensors.  My ADT system had four motion sensors when I had cats before and in the four years that the cats and the alarm system coexisted, there wasn't a single false alarm.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

@usmaak no promises but we will see. So far, so good. When I get a chance, I want to also test the sensors to see if they consistently pick me up with the low setting. Please note that in the upstairs bedroom where the cat tree is, I have the motion sensor in that room shut off completely. The motion sensors in all downstairs rooms (living, family, dining, kitchen, laundry and office rooms are all on for home and away, secret alert only for the test period.

Just put the system in test mode, COPS called within seconds to confirm receipt of test signal and placed entire system in test for 30 minutes. Armed to home and proceeded to walk into each room several times, near windows, doors etc. Motions picked me up  in all rooms multiple times and push alerts received in app. So far, motions get me but not the cats. So far, so good.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

3rd night and so far so good.  No issues with motion sensors, zero secret alerts received, so far two cat videos that are very entertaining.

24 Messages

4 years ago

I have 3 motion sensors and my cats have never only set one off in the 6+ months I've had the system. That was in week one. I changed that sensor to low. All other sensors are on default medium sensitivity. I'd say it's cat proof... unless your cats climb walls ????

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

@ollie_s thank you for you posting.  Sounds promising but I have seen these two sisters jump very high to some very near impossible locations.  Plan on keeping the motion sensors on secret alert for at least 30 days.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

4th night, no alerts.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

5 nights, no alerts but two more camera recordings in the living room and family room. Quite entertaining.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

Been a week and, so far, so good. My goal is 30 days without a motion sensor going off; if I get to that will configure them back to alarm. Seven, if you read this thread, any advice?

2.2K Messages

4 years ago

Yes, have old cats - they don't jump very high :-)

Basically, don't have any way for them to jump or clime close to the motion sensors.   Adjust the height and sensitivity and test the snot out of it in secret mode.  Have cameras in the same area so if you DO get an alert, you can see what is going on.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

@seven thanks.  All motions are on low and have cameras in most areas but didn't think about looking at the actual furniture layout.  Will do that room by room.  Another night, no alerts.  May be on the right track but as you noted to test the snot of them, I have about 22 days left in my testing period.  (That is, unless they go permanently home.)

33 Messages

Captain11,  I really enjoy this kind of on site testing. Was going to get another book to read while the "cease and desist" order is in place but instead am going to check in everyday to see how this unfolds. Hope you all are well.

2.8K Messages

4 years ago

Better yet, post the videos of the cats :)

Seven, you're too funny!

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

Glad to see the old crew back together in this thread. I will try and find one of the videos that's my favorite: Shiloh poking her head up in front of the camera when she hears it click (thanks to the preroll feature).  Yeah, not much action but the expression on her face is priceless.  No secret alerts generated yet.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

Another day, another 24 hour period with no motions being set off.

Captain

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6.1K Messages

4 years ago

Two days later and no motions tripped.  It's now been a full two weeks, two more to go before motions go "live" . Keeping fingers crossed.

343 Messages

You do realize that they will wait until you have the motion sensors set to alarm before they really try to set them off, right?  They're cats.  That's just how they do things. ;)
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