We have to check ours on the boat every trip to make sure they are working AND ring the general alarm throughout the whole boat weekly. Be GLAD you don't have to endure that General alrarm, that'll make your ears ring all day.. I could only imagin what that would do to a poor kitty baby!! Chester is so scared of loud noises, he hides durning thunder storms so a smoke alarm with make him jump out of his furr!!