Cats and Fish

Scott07 · 03/25/2017, 08:16 AM

Recently one of my cats has taken too much of an interest in my QT for my liking. Theres no way for her to get on the tank thankfully... and it is completely covered. But she'll stand up on her hind legs and paw at the glass. This is causing my poor McCoskers in qt to hide almost constantly. Im trying my best to discourage this behavior.... but obviously theres only so much I can do, and I can't be home all the time.

What tricks might any of you other reefers with cats have tried? Im considering taping something to the glass on the qt tank.... but worried that will make it too dark in there, as I don't have any lighting over the tank. Just wondering if theres anything else I can do.

heathlindner25 · 03/25/2017, 08:21 AM

Can you restrict access to the room the qt is in?

JayHoe · 03/25/2017, 08:22 AM

Simple. Get a small water pistol (or squeezy bottle) with water. Put the cat somewhere near the tank and stand a watch. DO NOT SAY A WORD!

When the cat does what you don't want, a quick squirt of water will surprise and shock them. It may take a couple of times, but they quickly learn that doing *whatever* gets them wet. By staying quiet, they are not getting scared or nervous of you but of the tank.

HTH

John

Scott07 · 03/25/2017, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

Can you restrict access to the room the qt is in?

Unfortunately no.... the qt is in my dining room with multiple entrances.... none of which with doors.

Scott07 · 03/25/2017, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayHoe

Simple. Get a small water pistol (or squeezy bottle) with water. Put the cat somewhere near the tank and stand a watch. DO NOT SAY A WORD!

When the cat does what you don't want, a quick squirt of water will surprise and shock them. It may take a couple of times, but they quickly learn that doing *whatever* gets them wet. By staying quiet, they are not getting scared or nervous of you but of the tank.

HTH

John

Haha this may work.... the other cat doesnt care about water. Ive run the kitchen sink right on his back to try and get him out of it before.... too interested in the mayonaise knife in the sink to move lol. But the one giving me trouble definitely does not like water.

ucdcrew · 03/25/2017, 02:32 PM

Motion activated air sprayers - you can get them on amazon.

I was going to get some because my cat would jump on top of the tank. Then one day he jumped on while I was cleaning and had lids off. He fell in, got all wet, got zapped by my Foxface, and then had to endure a bath because I didn't want him to get itchy. He doesn't go up there anymore.

CindyK · 03/25/2017, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott07

Unfortunately no.... the qt is in my dining room with multiple entrances.... none of which with doors.

Put the cat in a room with closed doors with a litterbox, food and water while you're not home?

Sk8r · 03/25/2017, 04:21 PM

I used to breed Persians and have known quite a few cats, always having had a couple of whatever breed---but knew only one who actually learned how to catch fish. Most consider it a game to bat at the pretty moving fish through the glass, but really don't want to get their feet wet. If it's reaching INTO the tank you have a whole different problem. You might get a thin piece of acrylic lid to set up on bumpers to solve the problem if it's too persistent.

Scott07 · 03/25/2017, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

I used to breed Persians and have known quite a few cats, always having had a couple of whatever breed---but knew only one who actually learned how to catch fish. Most consider it a game to bat at the pretty moving fish through the glass, but really don't want to get their feet wet. If it's reaching INTO the tank you have a whole different problem. You might get a thin piece of acrylic lid to set up on bumpers to solve the problem if it's too persistent.

Luckily not reaching into the tank, so I'm not really worried about her actually trying to get the fish. I think it's the bright colors of the mccoskers thats making it such an appealing game like you're saying. Other fish in qt I haven't had a problem with. I'll keep trying to discourage the behavior, probably with a squirt bottle for the next couple of weeks while he's in qt. I think after this round of qt im going to move the qt tank into the guest room where I can shut the door. Wish i had thought of that from the get go lol....

henryle · 03/25/2017, 08:37 PM

Why not cover it up with poster board when you're not home? Just use masking tape to cover the glass and when you are home, you can take it off to get the fish use to your sight

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03/25/2017, 08:16 AM	#1
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	Cats and Fish Recently one of my cats has taken too much of an interest in my QT for my liking. Theres no way for her to get on the tank thankfully... and it is completely covered. But she'll stand up on her hind legs and paw at the glass. This is causing my poor McCoskers in qt to hide almost constantly. Im trying my best to discourage this behavior.... but obviously theres only so much I can do, and I can't be home all the time. What tricks might any of you other reefers with cats have tried? Im considering taping something to the glass on the qt tank.... but worried that will make it too dark in there, as I don't have any lighting over the tank. Just wondering if theres anything else I can do. __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

03/25/2017, 02:32 PM	#6
ucdcrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 563	Motion activated air sprayers - you can get them on amazon. I was going to get some because my cat would jump on top of the tank. Then one day he jumped on while I was cleaning and had lids off. He fell in, got all wet, got zapped by my Foxface, and then had to endure a bath because I didn't want him to get itchy. He doesn't go up there anymore. __________________ If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable! Current Tank Info: 25g nano, working on new 65g

03/25/2017, 04:21 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I used to breed Persians and have known quite a few cats, always having had a couple of whatever breed---but knew only one who actually learned how to catch fish. Most consider it a game to bat at the pretty moving fish through the glass, but really don't want to get their feet wet. If it's reaching INTO the tank you have a whole different problem. You might get a thin piece of acrylic lid to set up on bumpers to solve the problem if it's too persistent. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/25/2017, 08:21 AM	#2
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Can you restrict access to the room the qt is in?

03/25/2017, 08:22 AM	#3
JayHoe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 10	Simple. Get a small water pistol (or squeezy bottle) with water. Put the cat somewhere near the tank and stand a watch. DO NOT SAY A WORD! When the cat does what you don't want, a quick squirt of water will surprise and shock them. It may take a couple of times, but they quickly learn that doing whatever gets them wet. By staying quiet, they are not getting scared or nervous of you but of the tank. HTH John

03/25/2017, 08:37 PM	#10
henryle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 94	Why not cover it up with poster board when you're not home? Just use masking tape to cover the glass and when you are home, you can take it off to get the fish use to your sight Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk