My guess is it’s a newer thing for the cloud, where it is common to shift load and replicate servers and software.

If you are gonna let your cat mess with it, I would go with a food safe style finish you would use on cutting boards or the like. Might have to reapply occasionally, but better than running the risk of the cat chipping off and ingesting a more permanent type of finish.

If the oil and soy doesn’t work, try cheap beer. Will get earwigs and slugs for sure, but might work on other parts as well. They also work better if you sink them into the ground so their lip is almost level with the soil or cover. Makes it more likely that they will find it and fall in.