I don't need to make it look occupied when I go away, it is occupied. My cats have travel issues, so they stay home. I have friends come in to serve them at least 2x a day. But since different friends like to visit them, it is usually more. When their servants are not there, a radio or bird movie is left on. In the evening they get a timer light as well. Here is one of their favorites to watch in case your cat might like it too. :
@SSteve Yes. And they smack the screen and look behind it and all of that to try to get birds. Although when they sit on the keyboard, that can be a game changer.
@ceagee OMG I just showed this to one of my cats. He went nuts. It is off now and he is still looking to see what happened to the birds. He looked above the screen, behind it, batted at it, sniffed the screen, is currently searching all over for what happened to the birds (and driving me nuts while I am trying to type). ROTFLMAO
@ceagee What are some of the others your cats like? (I may regret this as this cat is still prowling my laptop hoping for the reappearance of the birds). I need to run these on my old desktop for them.
We stop mail and newspapers, use automatic lights, alarm with smartphone connection, have friends watching... Wife is paranoid. (But we are the only home on our street never robbed.)
I make sure to forget one of my kids at home on the day we leave for a trip. Then he stays home and gets into mischief and sets traps for the two robbers that bother us every year. It's really quite effective.
I pay a college student friend to stay at my house with the dog and cat. It's cheaper and safer than boarding, gets him out of his mom's house (they don't get along) and gives me someone to call daily to make sure everything is okay. I'd been trying unsuccessfully to get an internet connection in the lobby of our hotel in Rome, a couple of other guests tried to help me but the net was down. The next day when it was back up he texted me a photo of Simba lounging on the sofa. The helpful guests saw us at breakfast and asked if I'd gotten through and I showed them the picture and said it was my "proof of life".
I don't secure my house when I leave. I want a robber to come and steal my things so I have more room for Meh crap. Why else would you hawk the Neato twice?
We hook up "Rex the Electronic Watchdog", aim it through the front door & anyone who approaches that way hears a pretty angry sounding dog barking at them.
Rex has a motion detector that can motion-detect through walls-- I was thinking about that with the Sylvania motion detector gadget-- hook it up to an mp3 player, blast out something scary sounding...
If it could motion-detect through walls and doors?
@Kidsandliz Yep, no angry sounding e-dogs at the backdoor. OTOH, 90% of burglars come to the front door first to see if anyone's home. (That's one of those "80% of all statistics that are completely made up"!)
I have an alarm and I leave one of the lights in the house on because screw electricity.
I bought a house next to a Kirspy Kreme..... That seems to do the trick. Just occassionally, acop stops in to ask me to cash a 3rd party check....
I mount my life-size Michael Jordan cutouts to my train set
@matthew keep the change you filthy animal.
@JonT @matthew I want to give you both more stars, you just made my morning.
You're kidding
I don't need to make it look occupied when I go away, it is occupied. My cats have travel issues, so they stay home. I have friends come in to serve them at least 2x a day. But since different friends like to visit them, it is usually more. When their servants are not there, a radio or bird movie is left on. In the evening they get a timer light as well.
Here is one of their favorites to watch in case your cat might like it too. :
@ceagee PS Full screen works best. Of course since I posted it, it had to be watched.
@ceagee Do your cats do that chattering jaw thing when they watch this?
@SSteve Yes. And they smack the screen and look behind it and all of that to try to get birds. Although when they sit on the keyboard, that can be a game changer.
@ceagee OMG I just showed this to one of my cats. He went nuts. It is off now and he is still looking to see what happened to the birds. He looked above the screen, behind it, batted at it, sniffed the screen, is currently searching all over for what happened to the birds (and driving me nuts while I am trying to type). ROTFLMAO
@ceagee What are some of the others your cats like? (I may regret this as this cat is still prowling my laptop hoping for the reappearance of the birds). I need to run these on my old desktop for them.
@ceagee OK now it is all @studerc's fault that I now have 2 computer screens (laptop and old desktop) covered in cat nose prints.
i have cameras
Cameras are reactive not proactive... I steal a cop car and park it in my yard.
We stop mail and newspapers, use automatic lights, alarm with smartphone connection, have friends watching... Wife is paranoid. (But we are the only home on our street never robbed.)
Might wanna stage a robbery in your home just so the neighbors don't catch on....
I keep two lamps on that are commonly on at night and one TV going, for the cats. Neighbors check the cats.
Nothing, I live in one of the safest & richest cities in MA!
Fish tank lights on timers. All the time, not just for vacations.
Just don't ask about the blue glow from the bedroom.
I make sure to forget one of my kids at home on the day we leave for a trip. Then he stays home and gets into mischief and sets traps for the two robbers that bother us every year. It's really quite effective.
I pay a college student friend to stay at my house with the dog and cat. It's cheaper and safer than boarding, gets him out of his mom's house (they don't get along) and gives me someone to call daily to make sure everything is okay. I'd been trying unsuccessfully to get an internet connection in the lobby of our hotel in Rome, a couple of other guests tried to help me but the net was down. The next day when it was back up he texted me a photo of Simba lounging on the sofa. The helpful guests saw us at breakfast and asked if I'd gotten through and I showed them the picture and said it was my "proof of life".
@moondrake I had a college student staying in my basement... Wife found her one day and asked her to leave... (sigh....)
@IBMgrunt Don't you mean "untied her and let her go"?
I don't secure my house when I leave. I want a robber to come and steal my things so I have more room for Meh crap. Why else would you hawk the Neato twice?
My wife has too much stuff and it's crowing out my mini-kai's. The doors are open and windows are unlocked. Have fun...
@DaveInSoCal canI run an estate sale in your house while you are gone? I need the money
We hook up "Rex the Electronic Watchdog", aim it through the front door & anyone who approaches that way hears a pretty angry sounding dog barking at them.
Rex has a motion detector that can motion-detect through walls-- I was thinking about that with the Sylvania motion detector gadget-- hook it up to an mp3 player, blast out something scary sounding...
If it could motion-detect through walls and doors?
@WaltC So the backdoor is safe then?
@Kidsandliz Yep, no angry sounding e-dogs at the backdoor. OTOH, 90% of burglars come to the front door first to see if anyone's home. (That's one of those "80% of all statistics that are completely made up"!)
I leave the husband home to serve the cats and watch the house.
I just rent out my house on AirBnB while I'm gone.