Protect PC Build in Progress from Cat Hair

February 12, 2025 9:58 AM

I am building a new PC this weekend for the first time in a decade. It'll probably take me a few days to get it done, so I need a way to protect the exposed components and case when I'm not working on it because I have a curious cat and a LOT of cat hair floating about. Would a large clean towel (or towels) draped loosely over everything enough?
posted by The Adventure Begins to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

For protecting from cat hair? Yes, that would be fine.
For protecting from cat itself? You tempt fate my friend.
posted by matrixclown at 10:14 AM on February 12 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I wouldn't use a towel or sheet to cover it because of static electricity. Besides, that won't stop a motivated cat.

Personally I'd just flip the box for the case upside-down to cover it, maybe with something on top to hold it down. Keep loose parts in a cat-proof closet or a cardboard box or something.

Cat hair by itself isn't really a problem, the main risk is in it clogging up heatsinks/fans and that's going to happen even after the PC is assembled. You probably still don't want the cat snooping around because cats can be static machines.

In theory at least, once your motherboard and PSU are installed then the case itself should be grounded via the motherboard screws (if the PSU is plugged in) and your static risk is reduced. I'd verify this with a multimeter if you have one though (continuity between case and outlet ground).
posted by neckro23 at 10:35 AM on February 12

I wouldn't use a towel or sheet to cover it because of static electricity.

A cotton sheet or towel is OK, even better when it's slightly damp. Synthetic fibers or wool aren't.

Besides, that won't stop a motivated cat.

Quite.

But depending on the case design just putting the panel(s) or lid on could well be the easiest way to prevent cat ingress. Which then leaves the empty box as a diversionary cat attractor.
posted by Stoneshop at 12:48 PM on February 12

I wouldn't worry about the cat hair. But one of our cats ruined our furnace by peeing into the top of it. He fried all the electronics (the cat was fine).
posted by alex1965 at 1:23 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

I have three curious cats. I would keep components in their boxes until I had need of them, and close the case whenever I had to leave the thing unattended. Just loosely placing the panel on top if I wanted to absent myself for just a minute; actually screwing the thing back closed if I was done for the day.

I would not trust a towel. A towel is how you get a cat thinking "ooh, cozy" and curling up on the towel, and therefore on the computer innards, for a nap.
posted by sailoreagle at 1:38 PM on February 12 [5 favorites]

Do you perhaps have a large plastic tote that could go over it upside-down, and be weighed down by books or something on top? Unless the cat would regard that as a challenge, that'd be my approach.
posted by teremala at 2:40 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

a large plastic tote

Don't, because of static.
posted by Stoneshop at 3:59 AM on February 13

Response by poster: I am so glad I asked this question because it never would have occurred to me to use cardboard. I've already found a suitable box from Amazon and have my workstation ready to go. So far Bunny (cat) is uninterested but that will change once I get going. Thank you so much for the help.
posted by The Adventure Begins at 12:27 PM on February 13