How did you cat-proof your open tank?

[Coelli]

I'm in the process of gathering equipment to set up a 36x24x18 glass tank. It's rimless but not lipless, there's a 2" lip all the way around except for where the overflow is. We have 3 cats, one of which is very likely to get up on the tank and try to catch whatever she can. I'm going with Kessil lights in part to keep her off of them.

I was thinking about a sheet of acrylic or tempered glass, with some bumpers to keep it raised off the lip for gas exchange and condensation reduction, and turning up the lights to compensate. I'm afraid if I just use mesh she'll try to walk on it and collapse it into the tank. Any other thoughts? Thanks!

P.S. It's my boyfriend's cat... I'm a dog person.

 

[skimjim]

take the cats on a looooong ride at to a country farm. it'll be a good adventure for them

 

[Coelli]

take the cats on a looooong ride at to a country farm. it'll be a good adventure for them

Not my cats, so that's not an option.

 

[smatter]

Cats rule! She won't be interested for long. They don't like to get wet. I have never had one get into an open tank. They do like to drink out of freshwater tanks :3

 

[Crooked Reef]

Push them in while it's cycling. They will never go near it again.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Ive never had a problem either. Interesting fact though. Cats can drink saltwater without any harm. Their digestive systems are efficient enough to effectively separate the salt from the water. Ive never had mine drinking from the sump or anything though...

 

[smatter]

Push them in while it's cycling. They will never go near it again.

Good idea :thumbsup:

 

[smatter]

Ive never had a problem either. Interesting fact though. Cats can drink saltwater without any harm. Their digestive systems are efficient enough to effectively separate the salt from the water. Ive never had mine drinking from the sump or anything though...

Very interesting. I bet dogs can't do that :lol2:

 

[alton]

Mine use to jump up there all the time until I left a cover off and he went swimming, never again did he jump up there

 

[coralsnaked]

:eek1::eek1:Yeas I knoe IMHE that if the cat swims once they'll never get close again!

 

[Sk8r]

A canopy IS an option if you also install a fan or set of fans. They make them for tanks.

Our cats regard the tank as kitty tv, and bat at fish through the glass, but will not fish for them. A very few cats (never seen but two in a lifetime of keeping them) will successfully go fishing however, from the top, and if you are dealing with one of those, a canopy may be your best option.

 

[mcgyvr]

yep.. just caught my 3 month old kitten walking around the edge (only 3/4" wide)..
My wife jumped up and I just said.. "Let it fall in.. It won't do that again"..
Just like kids, animals need to learn from their mistakes every now and then.

Of course this cat also LOVES to get wet from the spray bottle. ..
When it was really small it would sit in the water bowl to drink.. goofy thing.

 

[AdamNC]

I've gotten lucky with mine where she doesn't even pay attention to my tank. Her cat tree is about 6 feet away and is taller.

 

[saltwatersmac]

Several years ago we had a cat that would jump from the fireplace onto the canopy. I laid strips of clear packaging tape upside down on top of the fireplace. That night the trap worked...but it did take awhile to get the tape off :lol: never saw it back up there

 

[Docdiggy]

I found hints that the cat semi fell in my 75. No clues ever since and lesson learned. Also, if you hold the cat over the water it realized what it is and wants nothing to do with it.

 

[billdogg]

I'm one of the "let them jump in (or push them in) just once - they'll never do it again" crowd. Sure did work for mine.

 

[Coelli]

With the 2" lip, she'll have a great place to balance while she "fishes." I had a cat who liked to fish in one of my FW tanks as a kid. This is also one of those cats who doesn't react much to being sprayed by a squirt bottle. I just don't trust her to a) not go fishing and b) not fall in and trash the rockwork while she's trying to get out. She LOVES watching and pawing at our royal gramma so if she sees him from above I have no doubt she'll go for him. I'm really trying to avoid a canopy. Any thoughts on the sheet of glass or acrylic...? I figure I can raise it up by 1/4-3/8" and put velcro on the feet so even if she jumps off, she doesn't kick it off. Now that I think about it, thick glass would probably be better so it doesn't buckle like acrylic might. Oh, cats...

 

[mandarin_goby]

I have 2 cats and thankfully they've never tried getting on the salty tank...now, the freshwater tank is another story - it's their 55 gallon water fountain :/

Maybe dip a paw in there, just that alone may be a deterrent.

 

[skimjim]

lose the boyfriend. LOL

 

[PhysicsPhD]

My cat actually tries to drink from the sump when the door is open. She likes to watch the fish but isn't into the idea of swimming, so she doesn't go dipping in it.