dorcy

I've had my tank for about six months. I just got a 14 week old kitten. She recently discovered there are fish in the tank, and has been jumping from the floor up against the glass trying to get them. I'm worried she is going to tip the entire tank over as it's on a metal stand. Anyone have any luck keeping cats/kittens away from tanks?

Amanda

When you see her going near the tank, spray her with water from a water bottle.
Nothing powerful, just a spritz. It will discourage her from going near the tank.
I have 13 cats with 3 soon to be 4 tanks. It can be a challenge.

dorcy

When I'm at work is there anything I can get that will keep her away?

Nate McFin

Ditto Amanda. I use the spray bottle for when he starts scratching on my couch as well.
If I could only teach him to clean algae for me. LOL

Amanda

Hmmm....
is there any way that you can close off the room where the fish tank is while you're at work?
My cats eventually lost interest in all of my tanks. Although my mother encourages them by holding them up to my 55g.

Red1313

is there anyway you could put the kitten in a place (room) where she can't get to the tank when you're not home?
THat's the only thing I can think of if you're not home.

namehater

ive heard of using the spray bottle tactic, but squirting them with vinegar. apparently they arent harmed by it, but it drives them crazy to get it on them. once they realize why you are spraying them they will lose the habit altogether, so you shouldnt have to worry while your at work.

how big is your tank btw, a large tank would be hard for any cat to damage. i would worry more about the cat jumping on the hood and breaking it/falling in.

Nate McFin

I wonder if covering it would work. If it cant see the fish move..no interest. It wouldn't affect the tank I dont think.

dorcy

Can't really close them off cause I'm in a small apartment. I wish someone would make an automatic motion sensing sprayer I could mount on the tank! LOL. I've been using a water bottle to keep her away when I'm home, but I have this fear of coming home from work and finding the tank destroyed...

dorcy

My tank is 60L (16g I think)....and it's not sitting on a table, it's sitting on a metal stand I got at the pet store.

Amanda

Yeah, that's always the risk of adding a new pet.

CWO4GUNNER

I took the time to introduce my adult Bombay to my new aquarium and 30 fish just recently in the last 8 weeks by bringing him up close on a stool right in front of the glass and petting him but when he brings up a paw I hiss just like the "dog whisperer' and it works great for every and anything. In fact I have always been able to communicating with my cat with a different hisses from inviting hiss all the way to demanding foot stomping hiss (only when he's thinking of leaving the yard or my side on walks). Just let the cat know that it is OK to look but not to paw or make any type of contact by bringing down the paw or taking the cat down if uninvited with a simple remembered hiss as words mean nothing to these animal only tones of voice single noises not syllables.
Below Hershey "observing only" a QT tank I left on the floor for 3 days covered and uncovered. Never once did he paw or attack because he knew the Gunner would disapprove as you can see he looks to me for approval and affection (the key).

dmm28

Citronella keeps cats away!

prairielilly

Please don't use vinegar or anything else acidic, if it gets in their eyes it could hurt them.

She will eventually lose interest (mine did) - she's interested right now bc she's a baby and she's interested in everything, especially little moving things

60L ~ 16g means your tank weighs around 160 pounds. There's no way she can knock it over, she's not strong enough. If it has a decently fitting hood, even if she gets on top of it she shouldn't be able to get inside (tape it shut? or something similar?) You could maybe even cover the outside of the glass with paper while you're gone - then there would be nothing to look at, and pretty soon she'd find something else to play with.

cg49me

I've had lots of cats in the past, and the water spray bottle (filled with WATER - please don't use vinegar!!) tactic works eventually - it'll take a few weeks before she gets the message.

My lady friend has cats and fish. The cats jump on the hood and drink from the tank, but leave the fish alone. *shrug*

NaCl

I agree with Prairielilly. She'll lose interest as she gets older. I also agree with the squirting her. If she gets shot with the water bottle often enough when you are home, she'll learn to stay away all the time.

I have an 8 y.o. cat who sits on the end table & watches but doesn't touch the 36 gal. He pats the front of the 20 gal tank as the fish swim by. I think the angel swims by saying "neener neener" lol

Good Luck

aquarist48

I had a cat years ago and she would jump on top of my 55 gal (that I no longer have) and drink from the filter box. One day she fell in but she managed to get out on her own. Too funny!

Lucy

I agree with the water in the bottle. I think most cat owners have one. lol
What I wonder is how secure is your stand that a little kitten would be able to knock over a tank.

Redvelvetsword

Your little kitten will not be able to knock over your tank as long as your stand is in good shape. The tank is too heavy. Our cats are very interested in our fish but for the most part leaves them alone. One cat loves to paw at our fast moving Pictus cat.

They do make a motion sensing spray made for just such a situation. We were thinking of using it at Christmas time to keep the cats away from our tree. I think they are around $40.00. We found them at Petco.

Good Luck!!!!!

cg49me

I forgot to mention earlier... They make a spray that has a scent that will keep kitties away. Humans can't smell it - you just spray it on the floor around what you want them to leave alone. We used to use it to keep them away from our Christmas tree - worked great. Can't remember what it was called or how much it cost, though...

dancerhas

I have a cat, with all our fish tanks. He doesn't seem to bother them to much, except the quarantine tank on the floor, just because it's at his level. We have never used the spray bottle method on him though. My cat is scared of tape, so for the quarantine tank, we just put little strips of tape on the corners, and he knows if it rubs against the tank, he will rub against tape too. My cat is actually more interested in the fish food than the fish. So maybe your cat smells the fish food?

-Heidi

CHoffman

Mine do this as well...At first it freaked me out ....But they never bug the fish..They just think it's their personal water fountain with fish smell built right in....What cat wouldn't like it..lol.

dorcy

My metal stand is made specifically for tanks, and it's pretty sturdy...I hope! It's nice to know my tank weighs 160lbs, while my kitten is only 5lbs at this point. I'll just keep up the spraying while i'm home and hopefully she'll get the hint. If she doesn't I'll try the cover over the tank trick. She seems obsessed with my bright orange molly...who can blame her right? Thanks for all the suggestions!