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I have a cat that is part circus animal. We actually had to put child locks on the kitchen cabinets that hold our glassware... He opens drawers and climbs back inside to get to the cabinents below. I swear he has opposable tumbs hidden somewhere.

What threat can a curious cat pose to a grand piano? Am I gonna have to keep the lid down at all times?

Oh, and he loves music, when i'm playing the upright I have now he comes and lays on top of it. Same goes for electric guitar. Our other cat will bolt when I start playing ( no taste obviously ).

Duh, I've forgotten to use the search function already....

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/1/7725.html

I have 3 of the little critters. I've had to deal with this problem with 2 new grands now. Yes, I keep the lid down when I'm not playing. I also keep a can of compressed air next to the piano and have been known to give them a little blast of the stuff from behind if they jump up on top. They really hate this. All 3 have got the 'hint'. The only problems now occur when I'm away for a few days. One of them does jump up (I've seen evidence of paw prints). I do know that compressed air cannisters can be purchased with integrated motion sensors, thus such movements can be detected & dealt with (available through the cat pet stores). There too may be such a device that instead blasts some awful sound instead of the air. Perhaps worth a try ...

From the other thread...

http://www.epets.com/catscram.html

But my wife vetoed it, said 'this is their home, no way I'm making it uncomfortable for them'. What a softie.

Ammonia on their paws can discolor and corrode both plain and wound strings.

Unfortunately, it's a great perch to look out the window... Definitely keep the lid down when not playing.

--Cy--

Or connect the strings to the electrical supply. The cat will get a bit of a shock! And never go near the piano again. It will also electrify your playing.

(This is not serious obviously. I would never condone connecting a piano to the mains!)

i had great luck manipulating my former cat by spraying it w/ perfume (just a tad) when it misbehaved

- of course my cat was gifted and learned very quickly

I've got two of these that I got when the cats had a problem with a chair. (it got ruined.) Whenever we have something new in the house that the cats shouldn't be on, we deploy these in a defensive perimter. It takes about a week for them to learn, but they stay off after that. (It's also a hoot to watch them 'learn'. )

SSSCat! cat deterrent