My cat pissed and shit on every rope I own

Title says it. I was just getting ready to pack up my gear and head to City of Rocks whenever I went to grab my ropes and things felt a little "damp".. I had 3 single ropes, and 2 half ropes. I keep them all stored together in my gear closet and the door must have somehow got left open. Regardless, I've got 5 shitty ropes (quite litteraly). My next step? Are the ropes done for? How should I wash them?

Sam Root wrote: Title says it. I was just getting ready to pack up my gear and head to City of Rocks whenever I went to grab my ropes and things felt a little "damp".. I had 3 single ropes, and 2 half ropes. I keep them all stored together in my gear closet and the door must have somehow got left open. Regardless, I've got 5 shitty ropes (quite litteraly). My next step? Are the ropes done for? How should I wash them?

Woolite, washing machine, low temp, chain coil the rope. Do one at a time. It might take two washings - cat pee is pretty odoriferous. 

And store them where your cat can't get at them.
Something else to think about: cats don't do that unless they're feeling heavily stressed and/or insecure.
Alternatively, if you want the Occam's Razor approach - was your cat unable to find or get to his/her litter box?

I think you need a front loading washing machine. Worth the trip to a laundromat if you don't.

When I wash ropes I first double them and tie the loose ends. Then I daisy chain them and tie THOSE ends together. Then I throw the whole thing in a mesh bag. A pillow case will do in a pinch.

that keeps you from having a twisted, tangled mess of a rope.

Also, time for a new cat.

Señor Arroz wrote:

Also, time for a new cat.

+1 actually get a dog

Marc801 C wrote: Something else to think about: cats don't do that unless they're feeling heavily stressed and/or insecure.
Alternatively, if you want the Occam's Razor approach - was your cat unable to find or get to his/her litter box?

My GF keeps talking about getting a cat and this is definitely one of the things (soiling gear in general) that comes across my mind. I've heard stories of how spiteful they can be. I said the first time it does it, it gets boxed and shipped to Abu Dhabi

links to https://rockandice.com/lates-news/will-dog-urine-harm-my-rope

"Kolin Powick of Black Diamond tested a rope that had been sprayed by Felix, then washed twice with baking soda. In pull tests, the pee rope broke at 95 percent the strength of a brand-new rope of the same 9.2mm diameter and model. [...] Powick does cite additional testing by Pit Schubert and the University of Stuttgart on ropes contaminated with human urine. A rope soaked overnight in urine saw a 30-percent reduction in the number of falls held, while a rope on which urine drops had been dribbled held 13 percent fewer falls."

Before this thread gets too out of hand with the cat bashing I want to chime in to say that despite being a rescue, our cat has never soiled any of my climbing gear or anything else in the house for that matter. A few times a year she'll leave an extra dingleberry a couple feet from the litterbox but that's the worst that has happened. I think for 99% of cats this would not be an issue.

When we got our cat we lived in a town where we had a doggy door you could fit a small human through. He learned to use it and we never had to worry about him I less we were gone for more than 3 days and even then it was just for dood and water.
We moved to the ghetto so we didn’t want said doggy door. Then about 2 years in the cat started pissing on the floor if we were gone for more than 2-3 days. Even with a clean litter box.
I broke down and put in the smallest animal door I could find in the back door.
No problems since.
I know your question was about the ropes, but just trying to help you cure the behavior. I love my animals but if I had to clean up piss and shit after a 12 hour work day there would be no hesitation to fix that problem. (Banning any obvious health problems).

Thomas Gilmore wrote:

+1 actually get a dog

Get a gote.

My cat shit in a huge pile of legos and then buried it. My friend was searching through the pile and got a handful of cat poopy.

Wow, I've had really good luck with cats I guess, never had an issue other than them being a bit too needy sometimes.

I've had dogs that shit all over the place and we're escape artists though.

caesar.salad wrote: My cat shit in a huge pile of legos and then buried it. My friend was searching through the pile and got a handful of cat poopy.

Shit... i will have to check my bin of legos for dookie too. Last time i had a cat was the last time had the thing open. He used to dig holes in the wash behind my house and do a damn good hiding job, but now im curious.

Yes! Another MP Shit Show with a Golden Shower bonus!

Next up, what to do when Aunt Flow is visiting on a big wall...

You're gonna die!

Cat pee is documented as the worst stuff in the world.  

wendy weiss wrote:

I wish it were that simple. Our cat has decided that her litter box is optional. We've tried everything. She has a clean bill of health from the vet. (Don't even ask how much we've spent on her.)  I think she's just old and ornery. All rugs have either been rolled up or discarded. All furniture is covered with waterproof blankets. The house is a sight to see.

Lol time to execute the fleabag

Fritz Nuffer wrote:

Get a gote.

Come on keep the animal porn to yourself.

Señor Arroz wrote:
Also, time for a new cat.

Or NO cat! Those little buggers are entertaining...on youtube! But not in my house! No dogs, no birds, no rats, no fish, no snakes, no tarantulas, no critters!

No mention yet of the most obvious point: your ropes are now belong to kitty

A mouse recently chewed through 2 of my climbing shoes, the foam in my helmet, and then topped it off by chewing through the entire wiring harness for the alternator of my Subaru. I'll adopt your cat. 

wendy weiss wrote:Edit: She's 19 or 20 years old and this wasn't a problem until the last year or so. But get rid of the little darlin'? Never.

Kitty is adorable, treasure her. I'm afraid this is just what happens with age, my cat started having these same issues overnight when he hit 22, he toughed it out till 24 before he was getting so weak he had to be euthanized. 

As far as the shitty ropes go. 
What's really going to matter as far as cat urine goes is going to be how long it's been exposed and if the rope was treated or not, if it hasn't been too long I wouldn't be massively concerned while it may have reduced the amount of falls it can take I know very few people who have actually worn out their ropes because of the falls they took on it, you're much more likely to just wear it out like every one else, shredding it into a ball of fluff. Maybe get a new rope dedicated to sport climbing.