Conference misery::feline_v1

    Yes and No.
    
    We had both cats and a waterbed for about 7 years, only had one
    whole in the mattress during that time, it was cat induced.
    
    If you want to have a waterbed, just keep your cats nails clipped,
    keep a mattress pad on the mattress, and lock the cats out of the
    room when you change the sheets. :^) (that is how our bed suffered
    it's only whole, cat chasing the mattress pad as I tried to put
    it back on after washing it)
    
    Jo

    As long as you keep the bed completely covered with a comforter
    or heavy quilt.  Our friends' cats shredded their waterbed on several
    occasions because the kitties lost something in the side cracks.
    Thus the kitties pawed and clawed in the cracks between the mattress
    and the frame until said object was recovered, leaving the bed to
    leak bigtime.  Of course, if the bed was always covered, this wouldn't
    normally happen.
    
    Cats LOVE to sleep on waterbeds because they are so WARM!!  If you
    don't make your bed, the cats will go right for the spot with the
    least amount of sheets on it, because they know it is warmest there...
                                 

Keep a pad on it, always make it with a comforter, and let the cat
know that playing on the bed is forebidden.  Works for me.  No problems
with Tsunami and my waterbed.
Becky

    Funny, our guys don't like the waterbed mattress without something
    covering it.  Guess we're lucky there too.  'course, I keep their
    nails trimmed too.
      You want to keep the mattress covered all the time for another
    reason too.  To keep the heat in.  You're paying to heat that mattress,
    don't let the heat escape.  Also, oils from human skin will cause
    the mattress to weaken, so you ALWAYS want to put a pad down under
    the sheets too.
      Nancy DC  who's had cats & waterbed for about 6 yrs with NEVER
    a problem. (knock wood)
    

    
    	Well our first waterbed mattress was a disaster.  When we
    	moved we got a new one and now they are very seldom allowed
    	in the bedroom.  Every once in a while they can come in and
    	are watched very carefully.
    
    	Like everyone else suggested, make sure you keep in covered
    	and you shouldn't have much of a problem.
    
    	JJ (who learned the hard way!)
    

    We have a softside waterbed. The bag with the water fits into a firm
    foam frame and is covered with a mattress cover so that even without the
    mattress pad there is a thick covering. This makes the mattress the same
    size as a "regular" mattress of whatever size, so you don't need to buy
    waterbed sheets. It looks like a regular bed until you sit on it. You
    don't sink down into it over the rail. It's easy to get out of. you can
    sit on the edge of the bed and put your shoes on. They're great.

    Since there is no side rails for things to slip down beside, that
    problem is eliminated. And as the weather gets cooler, the cats will
    start moving onto the bottom at night. They love it. And there's always
    at least one thick layer covering the actual bag.

    Tamzen

Re:  mattress pad.  The mattress pad not only protects the mattress, but
helps the skin of human or animal - a plastic bag does not allow the
skin to "breathe" - and you need enough surface between you and the water
bed mattress to allow your skin to breathe - it's supposed to be better 
for you.  Sounds like the cat who prefers the comforter thinks so, 
anyway....8^}

I will offer one warning about waterbeds and cats....I had one kitten that
discovered it was warm and snug if he slipped down between the mattress and
the liner at the corner....then he "kneaded" the mattress just like he would
have kneaded mom while nursing.  The results were approx. 20 holes on the
underside of the mattress at the corner...talk about hard to find (until I
saw the little devil in action) and even harder to patch.  I KNEW I had
a leak, but I could not find the hole.  This one ran me ragged for a week
or more.  However, my current "roommates" of the furry persuasion don't
know about this trick because I keep the bed made up (with thick mattress
pad tucked in all around) and they have never caused any damage.

    I've found that flat queen-size sheets work better than waterbed
    sheets and cost alot less.  True you hve to do a little more tucking
    but you don't get all that squeeking of the matttess against the
    liner.  Waterbed sheets don't wrap around the mattress and leaves
    more of the mattress exposed.
    
    re: mattress pads - you really should use one.  As i said, the
    oils from the body harm the vinyl and one sheet isn't going to
    protect the mattress enough.
      Nancy

Did you ever notice how pets migrate towards a warm water bed
on a cold windy night????   I have woken up on a number of occasions
and found all 5 cats and the dog asleep on the water bed....

This mornig I woke up to find the dog curled up under one arm, and
Tigger curled up under the other.  Unfortunately, Tigger is the only
cat that doesn't like the dog.  They were both asleep, there noses only
inches from each other...  and I'm a panickin', if either one wakes up,
the fur will be a flying......  my husband moved Tigger, and she hissed,
and growled...  probably feeling rather disgusted that she had slept only
inches from that, that dog.....


Kathy

 

    
    I find that even a mattress pad isn't enough. I get "clammy" if
    I'm too close to that plastic bag. So I have taken an old quilt
    and put it over the bag and pad, then the sheets, then my blankets.
    Or you can use another blanket.
    
    Anyhow, I've had my waterbed for about 7 years, and my older cat
    longer than that and no problem. One thing I do have is a large
    comforter on top, to help keep both me and the bed warm; I just
    have the bottom and sides of the comforter hanging over the edges,
    instead of tucked in. The cats do snuggle into the corners to sleep,
    and it's more comfy for them to have the comforter between them and
    the wood frame.
    
    It is funny, that as the nights get colder I go from warm, no-cat
    nights, to one-cat nights to two-cat nights! Add the dog...too
    bad the horses can't come in!!
    
    -julie

    I, too, hate the clammy feel of that plastic, and also the texture.  I
    like "plush" against my bod,  not stiff.  My solution is to use one of
    those foam "egg-crate" mattress covers.  (I use one smaller than my
    mattress so the sheets will fit!). I put a sheet (or whatever)
    underneath the pad, then a quilt over it.  If nothing is under it, it
    squeaks when I move.  The foam keeps the sheets I sleep on a little
    less wrinkled, feels maaaarvelous, and Smokey the elephant-cat loves
    it!!  He can knead all he wants, and can't reach the mattress.  
    (He likes the center of the bed, not the edges, so I don't have to
    worry about that.  All I have to worry about is fur.  I'm getting a
    gray comforter next time!!!!)
    
    Sharon and Smokey
                                 

    YES, I HAVE A WATERBED AND TWO SIAMESE THAT SLEEP AT THE END
    OF MY BED EVERY EVENING.  ONE HAS CLAWS, THE OTHER DOES NOT.  
    
    I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH LEAKS DUE TO THEIR CLAWS BUT WAS ABLE
    TO PATCH MOST OF THE LEAKS WITH A WATERBED KIT WITH GLUE.  
    ONE LEAK I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR SO AM SERIOUSLY 
    CONSIDERING CHANGING TO A REGULAR MATTRESS SINCE I AM ALSO
    GETTING BACKACHES ON MY WATERBED.  
    
    AS ONE PERSON MENTIONED, IF I KEEP A LAYER OF BLANKETS OR PAD
    ON THE WATERBED, THIS PREVENTS THEM FROM DAMAGING THE BED.
    
    YVETTE/COLORADO SPRINGS
    

    Cats are like babies.  If they get too comfortable on the water bed
    their faces can sink into the mattrest and suffocate.  Please watch
    out.
    
    Linda

    It seems to me that if the bed is properly filled, there is no way
    a cat's face can sink into the mattress and then cause the cat to
    suffocate.  Our bed was always filled to the point that you didn't
    hit bottom when you sat on it, and the mattress was raised above the
    side rails level.  With our bed that full, there was never any danger
    of a cat being able to sink into the mattress and suffocate.
    
    Jo

    I've had my waterbed for 2 years now, with 3 cats and have only had one
    incident of leaks from the claws.  Here's how the story goes ... A
    girlfriend of mine was staying with me for the weekend, and we slept in
    my queen-sized waterbed together (don't get any ideas, we're not "like
    that")  Fortunately, (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) 
    the leaks were right where I ALWAYS sleep, right at my hip area, so I 
    woke up the next morning with a wet nightgown just below my waist!  Talk 
    about  embarrassing!!  My girlfriend wouldn't believe me that I hadn't 
    had an "accident" ... she was laughing hysterically.
    
    I pulled the sheets off the bed and tried to find any holes in that
    area ... I couldn't!  She was laughing worse at this point!  What ended
    up happening is that the holes were SO tiny that we both had to get
    back on the mattress to make the water seep out ... these holes were
    TINY!
    
    Anyway, the patch kit fixed everything and I *slapped* my girlfriend
    when she wasn't looking.
    
    I've since learned to keep the quilt on the bed AT ALL TIMES!
    
    Kelley  

    Well, there's a sale at Jordan Marsh tomorrow on mattress pads.  I was
    waiting for this sale to buy one (30% off).   Well, too late.  I 
    mentioned how Zula put in 5 holes about 4 days ago.  Last night, my
    husband woke me up at 2:30 am.  The bed was just about to overflow with
    water.  Another 4 holes!!!!   I was up until 5am this morning, draining
    patching and washing soaked blankets and sheets.  
    
    Don't know what's gotten into Zula.
    
    Anyway, some have mentioned in hear that flat sheets work best.  Not
    for me.  Zula never touched the mattress with the waterbed sheets.
    They cover the sides.  However, with the king size flat sheets that I
    put on this week, they untuck easily at the top and bottom of the bed.
    This is wear he sees the rubber exposed and starts digging.  I've
    been keepinig the comforter tucked in good, but he still found the
    matress.
    
    My question is about mattress pads.  Will a fitted pad fit my bed or
    do I need a waterbed mattress pad?  Do they tuck around the sides at 
    all or are do they just cover the top part (that wont help, since
    he digs in the sides now).  Getting rid of the waterbed is out of
    the question and I don't want to declaw the kitties.
    
    Right now, they are locked out of the bedroom until I can find a
    mattress pad.
    
    Kitties, got to love them!
    
    Pam

    When we had our waterbed, we bought a foam rubber pad that was about
    an inch thick.  It wasn't fitted, we just tucked it into the frame
    and covered it with the sheets.  I always just used flat sheets,
    never bothered with special waterbed sheets.  
    
    Also, you really should keep Zula's nails trimmed on a weekly basis.
    If he has no points, it would be harder for him to puncture the
    mattress.
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Jo

	We have a queen-sized waterbed, and I get king-size fitted sheets
	for it.  They tuck under really well, and tend to stay there,
	although our cats aren't too bothered about the mattress itself.
	Our mattress pad only covers the top portion.

	I agree on the claw-clipping, too.  Good luck!

	Sandy

    Hi Jo and Sandy
    
    I just clipped Zula's claws after the first incident 5 days ago.  
    He still managed to put in 4 holes last night.  3 were only pin holes
    but one was a 1/4" slit.  Water was pouring out.  The same thing the
    last time.  3 pin holes, which patch easy, one small hole and one
    1/4" slit.  
    
    I have a king size waterbed so I can't buy sheets that are one size
    large.  The sides of the flat sheets stay tucked in.  It's the top that
    comes un-tucked.    After the first incident 5 days ago, I put a thick
    blanket between the sheets and the mattress.  I made sure to tuck in 
    a lot of the blanket up top.  He managed to pull out the blanket, sheet
    and put the holes in.  He's usually a little angel.  
    
    I think I'll try a fitted mattress pad that covers the sides (if I can
    find one) and always keep the waterbed sheets on the bed.  They cover
    the sides and never come un-tucked.  I'll try keeping the cats locked
    out of our bedroom when we aren't home.  
    
    Zula never scratches the furniture and always uses his post.  He does
    however, likes to scratch whereever he is, whether he is on the kitchen
    floor, kitchen counter, etc.  Usually when he drinks water, eats,
    smells food, etc.  
    
    Thanks, Pam

    re:21
    
    Pam, I wonder if he can smell the water and is trying to get
    to the water.  hmm.  Maybe you could put something in the
    water in the bed that would deter him from the 'smell of
    the water' ??  
    
    E.T.

    Pam,  Is your mattress old?  We have a waterbed and we were springing
    leaks atleast once a week.  Is seemed like everyweek when I changed
    the sheets another would show up. I never blamed the cats...but now that
    I think of it...maybe they did have something to do with it. 
    
    Well we went out and bought another one and have used it for the
    last four months without any leaks.  I'm not sure if it because
    they make them stronger or do the older ones get weak over time.
    
    Sandy           
    
    
    
    
    

    Hi Sandy
    
    The waterbed is 4 years old.  It was an expensive bed.  Looks like a
    good quality mattress.  I did notice last night that the area where my
    husband sleeps is very brittle compared to the rest of the bed.  It
    could be because I never had a mattress pad.  Just a thin flannel sheet
    between the mattress and my sheets.   Maybe his skin has more oils than
    mine which damaged the mattress.   I told him last night that I
    wouldn't doubt it if the mattress had to be replaced in the next couple
    of years.  
    
    I know it's Zula.  Right after I fixed the first group of holes, I
    caught him trying to dig up the blanket in the same location, twice.
    Also, both times that we found the leaks, the blankets were pulled out
    in that area only.  There were 4 holes the first time, right together,
    and 5 holes the second time.  I would guess if the mattress was on the
    way out that the holes would tend to be around the seams.  
    
    Last night I bought a mattress pad.  Boy, it does make a big difference
    in comfort.   Nice and soft.   This one is a corner-pocket type, like
    waterbed sheets.  It does tuck go over the sides, but not all the way.
    I'm sure if Zula really wants to, he can still get to the mattress, but
    it will be a lot more difficult.  The mattress pad and sheets are very
    snug.  The are only tucked in a couple of inches though.
    I hope this is enough to protect the bed.  The cats will be locked out
    of the bedroom when we are not home.  I have to get Zula to forget
    about the mattress.  
    
    Pam 

    How about getting a real heavy bedspread to put on top during
    the time you aren't in the bed?
    
    sigh, aren't they wonderful! $$$

	Re heavy bedspread - yeah, I thought of that, too, but we have one
	of the heaviest, I think, and the little buggers get under it too.
	Our winter spread is a down comforter, and they *love* it :^}

	

    I agree if the mattress was old...most of the holes would be around
    the seam.  That's where we found most of ours.  Good luck with
    keeping Zula out...hopefully the pad will help.
    
    We also had a cat (Taffy) that loved to crawl up under the blankets
    and lay between the sheets and the comforter.  Thank god he never
    clawed the waterbed.
    
    Sandy

Zula is probably "kneading" the nice soft, WARM spot he is digging up.  I had
a foster kitten absolutely destroy my waterbed mattress by doing this.  I had
to ban all cats from the bedroom until I placed the kitten.  The kitten would
dig down to the bare mattress and then brace her body against the frame and
knead the mattress, puncturing lots of nice holes in the mattress.

I agree with the need to keep a FITTED mattress pad and waterbed sheets on
the bed so the cat cannot get to the bare mattress.  When you prevent direct
contact, and keep nails trimmed, you will probably get through this stage --
with luck, once you prevent access to the mattress for awhile, Zula will
forget how nice it feels and go on to other sources for "comfort".

    We have slept on a king-size waterbed for over 11 years and through
    8 cats.  I would strongly advise that you get a mattress pad from a
    waterbed store.  I have a very thick synthetic one that goes all the
    way down the sides of the frame and under the corners about 2 feet.
    I have never found this in any store, but a waterbed store.  Also
    waterbed sheets are avaiable at Target and Walmart for about $30 (king
    size) and work perfectly with my pad.
    Yes, you should always use a pad, the surface oils and chemistry of the
    body will harm the bag.  Also be sure to put water conditioner in every
    6 months religiously.
    Also, I'm a little surprised that your cats can get between the frame
    and bag, do you have the water level high enough?  A good gauge is to
    put a broom stick across a corner of the bed, the water level should be
    about an inch below or less (I keep mine all the way to the edge).
    My cats all did/do sleep on the waterbed, and some under the covers,
    but the pad I have has done the trick.
    
    Debbie Iseli
    

    Now you would think that once the mattress started leaking they'd
    decide it wasn't such a great place afterall :-)