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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Motion detectors and pets
We're looking to have a new alarm system installed. The one we have is antiquated and we never use it.
I'd like a motion detector at the foot of the stairs, but I've heard conflicting things about how well they work with cats.
One company says its not a problem, the other says the cat will set it off, and to put it in the master bedroom (which seems worthless to me - I want to know someone is in the house BEFORE they get upstairs!).
My parents have one, and would always disable the motion detector if the cat was in the house.
What is your experience with motion detectors and pets?
Message edited 7/18/2008 11:51:02 AM.
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Posted 7/18/08 11:49 AM  |
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CaseyGirl
Mommy to 3 Boys :)
Member since 5/05 19978 total posts
Name:
Jen - counting my blessings...
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
We have 2 cats and an 80 lb dog. Casey (dog) does not go upstairs but of course the 2 cats do. The technician was able to figure it out so that it was placed above where Casey's head is but low enough so the cats don't set it off when they go up the stairs....basically they will come in and do the measurements and determine the best place. I haven't had any problems as of yet with them setting it off 
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| Posted 7/18/08 11:54 AM |
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lucyloo
nope
Member since 1/06 9758 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Our dog is 17lbs and we have no problems, the motion detector won't go off for animals under 30lbs.
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| Posted 7/18/08 11:57 AM |
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brandy11
LIF Infant
Member since 5/07 164 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
I never had any problems but I don't have any pets, sorry not much help there... but you can turn zones off if your worried. Just make sure they are in one area or room and than turn that zone off.
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| Posted 7/18/08 1:13 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
We have two cats - our motion sensors go off if they detect something over 40lbs and are heat sensitive so our cats don't set it off.
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| Posted 7/18/08 2:02 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
We have a "stay" mode. Which you would use at night if you set the alarm while you sleep.
"Regular" mode alarm: doors, windows, window break (or whatever sensor you install) and motion detectors are all on. Nobody can move in the house.
"stay" mode: Used usually at night so you can move inside the house. All doors, windows, etc.. are still on in case someone breaks in but you can walk inside the house. So if you go out you set up the "stay" alarm for the pets inside the house. The motion detectors are not on.
You can also set up zones.
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| Posted 7/18/08 2:04 PM |
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MrsRbk
<3 <3 <3 <3
Member since 1/06 19197 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by smdl
"stay" mode: Used usually at night so you can move inside the house. All doors, windows, etc.. are still on in case someone breaks in but you can walk inside the house. So if you go out you set up the "stay" alarm for the pets inside the house. The motion detectors are not on.
You can also set up zones.
This is what we use too.
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| Posted 7/18/08 2:15 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
We have a motion detector.
According to the company the cat will not set it off. I think they said a dog over 50lbs will. I don't remember though as we got it installed 3 years ago.
So far we don't have any problems, cat has never set it off.
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| Posted 7/18/08 2:18 PM |
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thewinterone
You make me happy
Member since 5/05 2474 total posts
Name:
cause you are gray.
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
The system was installed before we moved in.
When we activated it they said no pet under 30 lbs. would set it off in the hallway.
They lied.
The state trooper was at the house waiting for us to come back to shut it off.
We now bypass the hallway if the dogs aren't coming with us.
We have gates at the tops of both stairways so they can't set off anything on the lower level.
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| Posted 7/18/08 2:32 PM |
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brandy11
LIF Infant
Member since 5/07 164 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by smdl
We have a "stay" mode. Which you would use at night if you set the alarm while you sleep.
"Regular" mode alarm: doors, windows, window break (or whatever sensor you install) and motion detectors are all on. Nobody can move in the house.
"stay" mode: Used usually at night so you can move inside the house. All doors, windows, etc.. are still on in case someone breaks in but you can walk inside the house. So if you go out you set up the "stay" alarm for the pets inside the house. The motion detectors are not on.
You can also set up zones.
I got the same thing but I did not know it was called "Stay" Mode and yes you can set it up by zones too.
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| Posted 7/18/08 2:44 PM |
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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Thanks everyone. I know you can bypass the motion detector, but that defeats the purpose of even having one! If I have to use "stay" mode when we're home, and when we're out, then the motion detector is never in use, right?
I want to be able to use it at night - downstairs only. But not if the cat sets it off...
Sounds like people have been able to use it with cats - thanks!
Message edited 7/18/2008 3:09:07 PM.
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| Posted 7/18/08 3:07 PM |
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Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by smdl
We have a "stay" mode. Which you would use at night if you set the alarm while you sleep.
"Regular" mode alarm: doors, windows, window break (or whatever sensor you install) and motion detectors are all on. Nobody can move in the house.
"stay" mode: Used usually at night so you can move inside the house. All doors, windows, etc.. are still on in case someone breaks in but you can walk inside the house. So if you go out you set up the "stay" alarm for the pets inside the house. The motion detectors are not on.
You can also set up zones.
This is what we have...our contract is up with the alarm company soon...but I don't think we can get anything different, b/c we have three large dogs, so the sensors will prob be set off either way
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| Posted 7/18/08 3:17 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by -Lisa-
Thanks everyone. I know you can bypass the motion detector, but that defeats the purpose of even having one! If I have to use "stay" mode when we're home, and when we're out, then the motion detector is never in use, right?
I want to be able to use it at night - downstairs only. But not if the cat sets it off...
Sounds like people have been able to use it with cats - thanks!
As I said ours had a weight and heat sensor - BUT - they also told us that they can place them high enough in a hallway where your cats wouldn't be but where it would pick up a person. So you could ask about that.
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| Posted 7/18/08 3:43 PM |
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DanaRenee
Fitness Junkie!
Member since 6/06 6470 total posts
Name:
Dana
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
We have to keep ours on "stay" whether we're home or not b/c of the cat. Basically disable the motion detectors.
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| Posted 7/18/08 5:28 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by Lillykat
As I said ours had a weight and heat sensor - BUT - they also told us that they can place them high enough in a hallway where your cats wouldn't be but where it would pick up a person. So you could ask about that.
Our company said the same. They put the detector high enough to detect a person and not be set off by an animal under 30lbs.
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| Posted 7/18/08 5:31 PM |
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tran92
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/08 732 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
we chose not to get motion sensors when we put out alarm in. we had every window and every door alarmed instead. we have glass breakage sensors on all the first floor windows as well, so not only will it go off if the window is opened, but will go off is the window is broken. we don't have pets, but i know i would get up in the middle of the night to go down for a drink or whatever ,and set the thing off because i would forget. an alarm at 3am is not fun.
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| Posted 7/18/08 5:53 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by -Lisa-
Thanks everyone. I know you can bypass the motion detector, but that defeats the purpose of even having one! If I have to use "stay" mode when we're home, and when we're out, then the motion detector is never in use, right?
I want to be able to use it at night - downstairs only. But not if the cat sets it off...
Sounds like people have been able to use it with cats - thanks!
But if you set your alarm at night as the regular mode, not "stay", that also mean you cannot go downstairs in the middle of the night. I like being able to move in my house. I mean you can't go to your fridge to get water if you want to without forgeting to desarm the alarm.
We still use the motion detectors when we leave the house with the dogs or go in vacations.
You can set a zone too like a bedroom, bathroom where they can roam free during the day.
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| Posted 7/18/08 9:12 PM |
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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by smdl
But if you set your alarm at night as the regular mode, not "stay", that also mean you cannot go downstairs in the middle of the night.
True, and I probably would only use it in regular mode on the nights when Al is away. Those are the nights I'm getting the alarm for anyway!
One of the companies I talked to recommended NOT doing windows, and just doing the motion detectors - thats why I'm wondering how effective they are with pets.
Thanks for all the replies!
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| Posted 7/18/08 9:40 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by -Lisa-
One of the companies I talked to recommended NOT doing windows, and just doing the motion detectors - thats why I'm wondering how effective they are with pets.
Thanks for all the replies!
Did they say why? I never heard of that.
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| Posted 7/18/08 9:46 PM |
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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
Posted by smdl
Posted by -Lisa-
One of the companies I talked to recommended NOT doing windows, and just doing the motion detectors - thats why I'm wondering how effective they are with pets.
Thanks for all the replies!
Did they say why? I never heard of that.
He recommended against it because most break-in's happen through the front door and sensors on the windows won't even go off if the window is broken rather than opened.
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| Posted 7/18/08 11:33 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
they told us our dog wouldn't set it off, he weighs about 35 lbs. He set it off a few times when we first moved in.
We moved the motion detector to an area of the stairs that would only "see" someone over 5 feet tall, we put the others in the basement. My crazy DH has cameras installed so he can watch what goes on outside on our tv.
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| Posted 7/19/08 7:22 AM |
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skew
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 6794 total posts
Name:
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Re: Motion detectors and pets
as long as all windows and doors are alarmed, there really isn't a reason for a motion detector. i have but don't really use unless no one (including pet) is home.
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| Posted 7/19/08 11:23 AM |
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