General > General Technical Chat
Let’s Talk About Pets Being In The EE Lab
t1d:
We love our pets and enjoy their company, even when we are pottering around in our labs. So, we need to give purposed attention to making their presence safe and enjoyable, for them, as well as ourselves. Cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, even aquarium fish all require unique accommodations. Let’s identify those issues and come up with some solutions that work.
The bottom line is the only safe way to have a pet in the lab is to not have a pet in the lab. Hazards exist for the pet, the human and the expensive electronic equipment. Examples include electrocution, poisoning, hair/dust, and sneaky component theft… So, if you are going to take the risk of allowing them in the lab, you have a duty to make it as safe for everyone as possible.
To start us off, I will talk about my cat. I try to remember that she is a cat and that I am not really going to train her to perfectly behave. The best that I can do is come to some compromise with her.
Poisoning Avoidance
Lead Poisoning - After each and every soldering session, I clean up every spec of (Leaded) solder spatter, with blue painter’s tape. Then, to be double-sure that I got it all, I wipe down the bench with a dry paper towel, brushing the remains into the dedicated lab waste bin. Afterward, I fold the paper towel to enclose the used side. I use the clean side for the final step, wiping the bench down with Isopropyl Alcohol.
The lab waste bin is secured, so that the cat can not turn it over, to go fishing through the waste.
After using the bench, I cover anything that is dangerous with old cloth bath towels… The solder wire spool, solder iron, any projects left unfinished.
Respiratory Irritation – From flux fumes. I use a DIY fume extractor… A 120v computer case fan with a charcoal filter strapped onto it. This seems to work for the both of us. My cat does not leave the bench, while I am soldering, which I think she would naturally do, if she was being bothered by the fumes.
Electrocution Avoidance
An Approved Location - I would rather she not be on the bench, ever, but that is not realistic. She is going to explore the bench. Part of the compromise is to give her a secure location that is approved and appealing. So, I gave her her own box, slightly too small, because cats like to squeeze into a nesting spot. It is located slightly out of the way, but it is positioned to give her a clear line of sight, so she can watch the activities. Positioning it slightly above the bench might add to the box’s appeal, as cats like a high perch. I am thinking on how to accomplish this.
Danger To Expensive Equipment
Cat Hair and Dander – Surely they will eventually clog up the equipment’s cooling system. Collecting on the edge of the fan blades, which kills the fan’s efficiency… Coating the components, causing them to retain heat…
To be honest, I am still thinking on this one… If you add filter material, or wire mesh, over the air inlets, you reduce the air flow. And, hair is simply going to clog the filter. Yes, a careful cleaning routine would be needed.
Liquids – I simply don’t have open drinks on the bench, where she can knock it over.
Component Theft
Yep, cats can be naughty. They love to play with small trinkets. My solution is to keep them put away. And, when there are components on the bench and she starts to become too interested in them, I redirect her attention (as you would a small child) with an approved toy.
“I need your attention, NOW.”
When my cat demands attention, that mean she n-e-e-d-s attention. Attention speaks to her “love” language. I try to recognize that that is what is occurring. And, as I am retired and just doing electronics as a hobby, I can take the time to pet her, for a bit. It doesn’t take long for a cat to get their fill of petting and to go do something else. So, enjoy it while you can.
That is the basics of what I do for her, presently. (I am sure that I have forgot some detail and I will add it, as it comes to mind.) And, it should do as an introduction and to spur the conversation. So, what do you do to safely accommodate your pet in your lab?
Sal Ammoniac:
My policy is no pets allowed in my lab under any circumstances.
Bud:
My cat does not seem to have any desire to stay in my lab, just briefly walks in and out.
m98:
No cats in the operational vacuum chamber is one of the animal welfare policies we have at work.
PaulAm:
Depends a bit on the individual animal. 3 of my cats come into my work area. One just steals the chair when I'm not in it. Otherwise she only comes in when she's hungry to remind me to do something about it. Another likes to sit on my desk on a blanket that's there for her and look out the window. Otherwise she likes to manipulate the printer into odd states and see how many sheets of paper she can get it to spit out. The third one likes to steal small jumpers or wires and she's the one I have to keep an eye on.
I've had sufficient cat hair accumulate in my keyboard to prevent the keys from working. Other than that, I've not had any issues with cat hair in equipment.
The work area is closed off when I'm not in it and they will get the boot if they get too annoying when I'm trying to work on something.
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