keeping reefs with cats?
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virginiabreeze6
New member
as long as I don't put the cat in the tank, everybody gets along.
Mine [one Siamese, one half-siamese] believe it's television. They got television out of their system and rarely care about it. The heat of the light can attract them, but it's TOO hot, and they'll be out of there.
Just occasionally you have one that likes the sound of moving water: the dead giveaway is the cat mesmerized by toilets. If you note that behavior, take extra precautions, like eggcrate on top, especially while the cat passes through adolescence. Investigating things is the feline equivalent of puppy-chewing. Try everything once...go everywhere once. A water pistol is a good aid in this stage.
Hope your tank is not situated in front of kitty highways like bookshelves, mantels, or other perches. That can encourage exploration.
If your cat survives teenage, it will grow fat and complacent and behave itself.
Just occasionally you have one that likes the sound of moving water: the dead giveaway is the cat mesmerized by toilets. If you note that behavior, take extra precautions, like eggcrate on top, especially while the cat passes through adolescence. Investigating things is the feline equivalent of puppy-chewing. Try everything once...go everywhere once. A water pistol is a good aid in this stage.
Hope your tank is not situated in front of kitty highways like bookshelves, mantels, or other perches. That can encourage exploration.
If your cat survives teenage, it will grow fat and complacent and behave itself.
ldehart0556
New member
I've got 4 cats and apart from the stray hair that ends up in the water, they think its entertainment and never try to jump onto or into it.
Angel*Fish
cats and large squashes
My cats mostly leave the tank alone - but once one of them put a paw on the glass and spooked the jawfish into jumping. Luckily someone was there to put him back in
The odds that the first thing the cat would try to jump on when it reaches stupid adolescence would be your tank are mathematically unlikely...particularly if you greet the first tentative try at the dining table with a water pistol.
Some tips on cat-training. 1. They're not primates, and don't respond to a spat or threat: they go into fight mode. They're not dogs and don't understand pack-leader. That's why a water pistol works well: there's no fight---it just arrives from Olympus. You should pet them if they desist from the behavior, even if your prize crystal is lying in pieces. they don't know about the crystal, but they do connect the praise with stopping, and will learn to pay attention to you, not run like a thief. 2. If you don't want the adult cat on the couch, don't put the kitten up onto your lap. 3. If you don't want the adult cat to be curious about the fish, don't show them to the kitten. 4. and they can learn to discriminate among forbidden things---my cats will break their necks to avoid stepping on a paper [I write], know that the couch is fine but the dining table and kitchen counters are verboten [I still have to reinforce that one now and again] and generally know the command 'claws!' which means the minute claws come out in play, you tap the offending paw gently and make the claws retract, gently. They know words, and "no tooth" [stop all fun and tap gently on the nose] and "claws!" are two to teach early and consistently. Do not allow them to claw you while their claws are tiny; ditto biting and teething. [I take it this is a first cat.] Miss Cuisinart, as we call Ysabel, comes from a breed raised to protect temples, so the saying goes, and I'm very glad to have taught those two commands early. They will not learn it later.
Some tips on cat-training. 1. They're not primates, and don't respond to a spat or threat: they go into fight mode. They're not dogs and don't understand pack-leader. That's why a water pistol works well: there's no fight---it just arrives from Olympus. You should pet them if they desist from the behavior, even if your prize crystal is lying in pieces. they don't know about the crystal, but they do connect the praise with stopping, and will learn to pay attention to you, not run like a thief. 2. If you don't want the adult cat on the couch, don't put the kitten up onto your lap. 3. If you don't want the adult cat to be curious about the fish, don't show them to the kitten. 4. and they can learn to discriminate among forbidden things---my cats will break their necks to avoid stepping on a paper [I write], know that the couch is fine but the dining table and kitchen counters are verboten [I still have to reinforce that one now and again] and generally know the command 'claws!' which means the minute claws come out in play, you tap the offending paw gently and make the claws retract, gently. They know words, and "no tooth" [stop all fun and tap gently on the nose] and "claws!" are two to teach early and consistently. Do not allow them to claw you while their claws are tiny; ditto biting and teething. [I take it this is a first cat.] Miss Cuisinart, as we call Ysabel, comes from a breed raised to protect temples, so the saying goes, and I'm very glad to have taught those two commands early. They will not learn it later.
Speckled Grouper
Sticks Suck!
Marinemom
New member
The only time my cat cares about the tanks is during water changes. She has to be right under my feet. Once in a while I will catch her sitting on top of one of my aquariums like it is a perch but then she sees me and runs to get down giving me the "who me...I didn't do it" look. My salt tank does not have lids on it and I think she attempted to do something just once and then she discovered no lids. She stays away from that aquaium.
Marinemom
Marinemom
Cody Ray
New member
My cat knocked over a container of freshwater that was dripping into the tank as topoff. That is the only time I have ever known him to do this. The only other problem I have had with him is that he is picky about getting freshwater (hence his attraction to the water above the aquarium). He wil meow and scratch at the door if I am taking a shower until I let him in afterward so that he can lap the bottom of the tub. Also likes to get up on the counter to drink from the sink and stare out of the window. This one is the most annoying as I don't want my cats feet near any food prep area. I will have to try the squirt gun idea.
Ryanqk
Active member
My cat likes to jump on my back if i bend over near the tank and fuge when im adjusting something or looking in there. I guess to get a better view of what i'm doing. She will sit in a chair near the tank and paw at the glass occasionally but she's never jumped onto or in the tanks. I cuaght her a couple times lookin like she wanted to dip her paw in the fuge cuase i had a fish in it temporarily but a shout made her run for it. She likes to watch but i think the water factor makes her wary of getting but so close. I think its sooo cute when she jumps on my back to get a better look tho lol
puffer21
Active member
My dog likes to watch the tanks in my house and then she tryes to give them a kiss and she hits her head on the glass not that this had anything to do with your cat but i think you could teach her not to touch the tank. We taught our cat to go into the bathroom when she is thirsted and hit the cup into the sink and play with it till it makes noise. and she did it all the time if her dish was emtpy
mimmies11
New member
I currently have a 6 month old kitten who LOVES the sound of water. She is in the bathroom anytime we are in there (loves toilets and showers) and then she will play in the water in the sink when it is running.
And she will also sit at the computer and play with the pictures of fish comign by on the screensaver, but she has been good keepign out of tanks. Granted, both reefs have covers but the mantis tank has a little open space on top. I am sure if she did try sticking her feet in the mantis tank, she would have been smacked and that would be the end. She does love to help when we mess with the tanks. She will look through the top, but she has been good about keeping herself dry. We are hopeing she won't become more confident witht he tanks and actually get her paws in with us when working on it.
And she will also sit at the computer and play with the pictures of fish comign by on the screensaver, but she has been good keepign out of tanks. Granted, both reefs have covers but the mantis tank has a little open space on top. I am sure if she did try sticking her feet in the mantis tank, she would have been smacked and that would be the end. She does love to help when we mess with the tanks. She will look through the top, but she has been good about keeping herself dry. We are hopeing she won't become more confident witht he tanks and actually get her paws in with us when working on it.
