Keeping The Cats Out

[afremont]

I'm going to set my 240l up at the weekend and won't be putting any fish in until a full cycle is complete however I'm wondering if anyone has done anything specific to help keep their cats out of the tank. It's got the lid obviously but one of ours (Yoda) is a devious little sod and at times I swear he is like the main Raptor in Jurassic Park. He sits there calm and calculating working things out!

I've thought of putting some sticky backed Velcro on the lid panels and on the black surround at the top of the frame with the other half of the Velcro attached over it when I don't need access. I figured that Velcro would be easy to remove without being a hassle but would definitely stop him or the other two from possibly getting a claw under the lip and wiggling in.

I found that I could keep my cat off things by putting pieces of scotch tape (sticky side up) on things I didn't want him to walk on. As soon as they step on it, they start freaking out.

 

[Blubble37]

i use lids that you cant open with a weight on top... therefore my extremely podgey puddycat can't get in! GENIUS!!!!!

 

[dyani]

I'm going to set my 240l up at the weekend and won't be putting any fish in until a full cycle is complete however I'm wondering if anyone has done anything specific to help keep their cats out of the tank. It's got the lid obviously but one of ours (Yoda) is a devious little sod and at times I swear he is like the main Raptor in Jurassic Park. He sits there calm and calculating working things out!

I've thought of putting some sticky backed Velcro on the lid panels and on the black surround at the top of the frame with the other half of the Velcro attached over it when I don't need access. I figured that Velcro would be easy to remove without being a hassle but would definitely stop him or the other two from possibly getting a claw under the lip and wiggling in.

I found that I could keep my cat off things by putting pieces of scotch tape (sticky side up) on things I didn't want him to walk on. As soon as they step on it, they start freaking out.

Double sided tape works well for this! But you have to align it exactly where little paws will unknowingly jump onto it.

 

[Jenks74]

Just let it fall in once.
That should teach him.

He's an odd one, he'll stand under the tap while its running and in the sink with water in!

Lol, my cat does the exact same - even comes running from upstairs if she hears the tap in the kitchen come on =0/

Came home from work to find her sleeping on top of my tank, after that i keep the lid stuck down on each corner with a piece of black insulation tape so that it cant move.

Last thing that i would want to see is a new strain of quite literally 'cat-fish' in my tank.

 

[DBT85]

I just have an image of coming down after hearing a ruckass and finding a very wet moggie meowing at me!

Two of them have been on top of the tank so far, since it's cycling at 30c it's quite warm so obviously they like that. The only other things they've shown an interest in thus far is the inside of the cupboard. Oh and the instructions. The clever one loves to rip up bits of paper lol.

 

[jenjen_82]

Is the lid not heavy? Mine is quite heavy as it has built in lights so I know none of my 3 boys will be able to get it open. 2 cats arnt interested but the other sits like meer cat and taps the glass lol luckily my fish arnt bothered x

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Is the lid not heavy? Mine is quite heavy as it has built in lights so I know none of my 3 boys will be able to get it open. 2 cats arnt interested but the other sits like meer cat and taps the glass lol luckily my fish arnt bothered x

My cats do the meercat stance at my oscar tanks and i swear the oscars taunt them. TThey come over and stare at my cat.

 

[Blubble37]

my betta blows bubbles at my cat lol... the cat growls at him sometimes, i think he can hear oggy as when oggy growls he just swims around faster lol!

 

[DBT85]

Is the lid not heavy? Mine is quite heavy as it has built in lights so I know none of my 3 boys will be able to get it open. 2 cats arnt interested but the other sits like meer cat and taps the glass lol luckily my fish arnt bothered x

No the Roma 240 lid has one central section that has the lights attached and then two flaps that are just 3mm thick plastic that you can lift off. They've not attempted to get in yet but then there is no lunch inside yet!

 

[jenjen_82]

If it tries push the cats nose in a little bit it won't do it again. My dad used to breed and race pigeons and we had a young cat who used to keep stalking them and wouldn't let them land when they were on there way bk from a race so my dad shut our cat in the shed with the birds and cos of all the wing flapping etc he never bothered them ever again

Cats don't like getting their faces wet

 

[Inchworm]

This is my eight year old cat, Pandora. She has lived with fish tanks all her life and the tanks are the main source of her drinking water. Almost all of them have openings on the covers because I used to have all HOB filters. I've never had a problem with her trying to catch the fish. Sometimes she drinks directly from the tank and other times she puts her paw in the water and licks the water off her fur.

 

[Beth_Laubenthal]

If it tries push the cats nose in a little bit it won't do it again....

Cats don't like getting their faces wet

No offense or anything, but that is a horrible idea. The cat could inhale the water, get water in it's lungs and get very very sick. Not to mention, if there are particles in the water and they get it into their eyes, it could cause an eye infection. Don't know if you know how it is to hold a squirmy cat to give eye drops to, but it is not pleasant.

A better idea is a squirt bottle and a sharp "NO!"(unless you're my 2 year old cat who LOVES water) or double sided sticky tape. Cats do not like stepping on sticky stuff and after they touch the surface, they will stay off. That's how I teach my cats to stay off of stuff. It's cheap and highly effective.

By the way, Inchworm, LOVE the cat.

--Beth

 

[DBT85]

Inchworm you stoled my cat!


DSC_8919 by Darren Thomas, on Flickr

 

[Dieses Madchen]

My female does the same thing inchworm. I had to shoo her away as she was trying to drink from my cyclcing tank, which has high ammonia at the moment. she does try to "pet" my oscars though.

 

[KRamgren89]

over all like everyone's said they wont do much, best advice is just to make sure your lid wont move. i grew with tanks (funny that i kno nothing about them haha im learning now tho) and cats and the most they did was jump up and peek around where the filter and heater holes are, if they are daring they will stick a paw in in. The cat i have now loves to sit at the base of my 29G n watch everybody and occasionally will jump ontop and look for them but gets down fairly quick now. takes time though if u do have a cat like ours that was very interested, it took lots of spray bottles full of water and alot of good swats to get her to get down with just a LOOK now XD good luck!!