Car Covers - pros, cons and opinions needed regarding cat protection

[Gary_W]

Hi all,

If you've noticed my other thread about keeping cats off your car, you'll know that my brand new A4 now has scratches caused by the aforementioned furry swine from next door. Keeping it off the car is proving difficult and (whilst tempting) violence isn't an option.

I have been recommended a car cover. I spoke to a chap today whose online business is selling these and he's told me that, whilst he can't guarantee that cat claws won't go through them, he's had

'several people buy from me for this reason and none have come back to me saying it didn't work'.

Sounds promissing, but as they range from £240 up to about £500 then I'd like some practical user experience as to if it protects against cats? Also, a couple more questions:-

1. If your car is wet (a frequent problem in the UK!) can you just put the cover over the wet car?

2. Whilst I wash my car every weekend using the two bucket method etc. I do a lot of miles and it's often dirty by midweek. Would putting a cover over a dirty car do more harm than good in terms of causing more scratches than it avoids? I mean, here I am hosing off loose dirt and then using grit guards and lambswool at the weekend. But wouldn't a cover potentially cause scratches? To sort out the cat problem, it'd need to go on every night. As I get home in the dark, washing it at that time would seem a tad sad

Thanks

Gary

[MalcQV]

Gary,
I would not cover a wet car myself.
I own[ed] an old Ferrari which I kept in the garage with a soft cover most of the time.
"Most of the time" simply because even with the smallest amount of dust it will cause small scratches. With the space I would have a Carcoon. Don't laugh look at the prices for an outdoor model and this is w/o considering the excellent protection benefits a swell as keeping cats off .

[Gary_W]

Thanks for this, Malc.

It sounds sensible that a cover on a dirty car would be a bad idea.... I'm going to great pains with the washing method to avoid swirls and scratches and I can see how a cover would cause all of the above.

The problem I have is that I use the car a great deal Poor thing has nearly 4000 miles on it already and I only got it mid-January. Noticed a big stonechip today on my rear wheelarch on the drivers side. I guess I'm just going to have to accept that if you use a car you get wear and tear!

Gary

[Captain Answer]

The Cocoon mobile workshop looks perfect if you do a lot of paint spraying and don't want the fumes/mess in your garage/workshop

[dfraser]

Short of having a garage, the carcoon i reckon is your best bet. I have a 99 Mini Cooper in one as it is stored in a damp shed. The chap I bought the mini from had said he kept it in a carcoon previously, and I kid you not, the car is like new (partly lack of use too though). You've probably done a bit of research by now, but they do an outdoor version which is double skinned, and you can use it in all weathers, and put the car in wet. Doubt its cheap, but when you think how much a respray is, then it starts to make sense. Plus, I've heard stories about easier resale, better values down the line. Might be a bit tiresome taking it out and putting it back though...

[MalcQV]

A size 4 outdoor model is approx. £480 which will house a 15 1/2' car. I think it is extremely good value myself.

[RickT]

Just going back to the root problem,

Try the below maybe..

Sprinkle cayenne pepper around the car. It has been known to keep cats away, and you don't even need to sprinkle it on the car, though that might be even more effective. After a few days, the cats should leave and not come back. If they return, try again or move on to another possible remedy.

Cats hate the smell of citrus. Can you get a citrus-scented car wax,??


or - something like this, - http://www.safepetproducts.com/cat-s...he-market.html

[MalcQV]

Rick probably has a point £480 is a bit of a sledge hammer. I do think the added protection they give is excellent for the money.