Sensing the cats

[euphline]

My gray tabby, Eli, and orange tabby, Simon, seem to think they are entitled to fresh water in the bathtub on demand.

While I may not agree, they are pretty good at turning over any water dish, or at least making a pretty big mess. The bathtub turns out to be a pretty good place to deliver water to them. Of course, leaving it on, dripping, all the time is less than ideal. So, enter home automation. I'd like to be able to control a water valve based on the presence of anyone, cat or otherwise. Even a little infrared beam might work - they're pretty smart cats.

Of course, most of the PIR's are pet immune. The PIR is ideal, though, because it's rather discrete. Given that this may be in the bathtub, I don't have lots of options in re: appearance.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Some notes: The bathroom renovation budget is already way over, so the cheaper the better. (We're doing demolition down to the studs, so installation issues aren't any big deal). From a technology standpoint, I'll connect it either to an M1G or a digital I/O interface on an embedded system. (Matter of fact, this functionality might increase the WAF of the M1G's cost...)

-jbn

 

[Steve]

Well, it certainly is opposite the intended use - turning water ON automatically. I'd be kinda leery and have some backup in place to make sure the water goes back off, like a timer or something. Anyway, while I have not used them, I see alot of recommendations for pressure sensors, whether it be like a pressure sensitive mat, or one of those doodads that mount on a truss. Those would probably work best and have less falses than a PIR, and the truss mount one would have no aesthetic negatives like a beam may.

 

[Squintz]

When I was growing up we had cats that liked to drink from the bathroom sink. They make cat bowls that constantly circulate the water. I think the cats just like that it's flowing and not sitting in a bowl.

Check this one out: http://www.strangenewproducts.com/2006/02/...water-bowl.html

 

[CollinR]

In addition to the circulation concept it shouldn't be too hard to make a float system.


Better yet integrate this into an indoor fountain that filters/circulates the water and hides the float setup and resevior.

 

[sic0048]

My parents use one of the flowing cat bowls. It is a fully enclosed system that holds perhaps 1 liter of water and pumps it so it flows down a little waterfall and into the bowl. The cat loves it and won't drink from anything else.

You could always plug it into a timer or controlled socket to customize specific times that the pump flows., or turn it on when the system senses the cat (PIR perhaps).