Any ideas on something easy, cheap, and attractive I can place over my spa cover to protect it from cats? I'm replacing my 36" Cal Spa w/ a 29" HS Jetsetter. My outdoor cats (need them for mouse patrol!) love to jump up onto the cover in the colder months, and they tend to leave hair and other depbris, as well as an occasional claw mark. My new spa will be lower, so even the dogs may get into the act!

Short of fencing or otherwise limiting access, is there something I can just put over the top that looks better than a blue tarp and can be easily secured for the strong winds we get in the fall? I notice the HS manual warns about not putting a tarp over the cover to avoid MELTING it (??!!):

"DO NOT place any metal or heat transferring object on the cover or place any type of plastic tarp or drop cloth over the cover as this may result in a melted foam core, which would not be covered under the warranty."

Is this for rea? Melting it???

Anway, I'm looking for any ideas on how to protect it from the cats and not melt it... Thanks.

Especially a clear plastic tarp. It creates a greenhouse effect and can heat up to over 200 degrees. (like your car will do parked in the sun) The foam will melt at 160

Thanks for replying. What I don't understand.... is.... why would one more layer (like a plastic sheet or a tarp) on top of the existing layer of thick vinyl make a difference? Doesn't the existing liner of the cover trap heat already? My old cover got plenty hot in the sun.... and why does the foam melt at such a low temperature?

The vinyl of a cover doesn't create the greenhouse effect necessary to raise temperatures.

Why does the foam melt at 160 degrees? Why does water boil at 212?

For myself and I'm just a layman here, our temps here in Canada for 3/4's of the year (Fall, Winter, Spring) would never be an issue seeing the temps are pretty moderate and wouldn't cause an issue. For the last remaining season (summer) we may get 100 degree temps, but since my tub is on a deck with shade 70% of the time I still wouldn't be concerned with placing a tarp over my tub.

I might be a little concerned in summer in Vegas with direct sun during noontime, however I would be concerned in that instance with just a regular cover on it as well. I don't think I would even wish to use it in those conditions, I like a bit of shade to really enjoy.

The others may be cautious and nothing wrong with that. I've had my cover for 9 years now, so replacing it in the next month or so.

If you do have a pet that may walk over the cover do take into account the load bearing capacity of the cover itself. Most cover sites will list the weight capacity, I believe the 4:3", 1.5 lb foam is close to 70lbs for strength. You can get thinner or thicker versions, and different foam densities so keep that in mind.

I'm not a layman..this year we should exceed manufacturing 65,000 spa covers. We probably see 8 or 10 a year that melt due to some type of trap being put over the cover. Typically it's some type of clear plastic, though it can also be non-clear if "sealed" around the edges (preventing air flow underneath). You might be surprised how low outside temperatures can be and the sun STILL raise the temp under the tarp high enough to melt the foam (this is the reason SOLAR WATER HEATING is so effective " title="Smile" />

OK, now I'm really confused. Dr. Spa, you are emphatic that a spa cover should not be covered with another cover because it can trap heat, causing the foam to possibly melt. But aren't you affiliated with Roberts Hot Tubs? And right there, on the Robert's Hot Tubs site, is a "Spa Cover Cap" (http://www.rhtubs.com/store/cover-accessories.htm), that is essentially a plastic tarp with an elastic hem built in. This is actually exactly what I'm looking for... something to protect the top of my cover from cats and other nuisances. What am I missing or not getting here? Sorry to be so dense (no pun intended), but why does this cover cap not cause the problems you were writing about?

The material the Spa Cover Cap is made of reflects UV rays thereby preventing a greenhouse effect from occurring.

I have the same problem with my dogs. They love to lay on the cover and sometimes chew on it. I'm on my second cover and looking for an idea to have a cover for the cover without having to build a fence surrounding our deck. Any ideas would be great! Our deck surrounds the hot tub so it is easy for the dogs to jump and play on the cover. Please help!