Cats and Aquarium Water

[sophiecat22]

My kitty, Sophie, has taken a liking to the water in my 10 gallon tank and I'm wondering if her sticking her paws in and drinking the water will 1. have any effect on the fish or quality of the water and 2. will harm her in any way. The only chemicals I add to the water is Aqua Safe. She's also learned that the fish will come over to her when she sticks her paw in the water.

Its actually quite amuzing. She'll stick her paw in the water and wait for the fish to come over to where she is, expecting food of course, and then she'll attempt to stick her face into the small hole for an extra heater and watch the fish. I don't mind her doing it as it doesn't appear to stress the fish out at all, just as long as it doesn't hurt anything...I just want to be sure...

 

[rwspear76]

eeeewwww cats yuck...nah im kidding, thats pretty funny, i would be worried anout the cat whacking one of my fish

 

[fishcatch22]

well, the water wouldn't do anythnig to her, but the germs from her paws from when she uses her box might cause bad things to happen in your aquarium, but her drinking the water and the heater thing is fine. just don't let her stick her little paws in the tank anymore, okay?

 

[mduros]

My cats drink aquarium water every chance they get. However, I would try to break her of the paw habit because of all of the chemicals, perfumes and additives in kitty litter, I wouldn't want to introduce that stuff into the tank.
Take care,
Mary.

 

[TheZoo]

My cat comes over instantly when he hears me setting up to do a water change, so he can drink the old water. He doesnt even mind when I drip al over him! But, like others have said, I wouldnt let him put his paws in the tank, all sorts of grossness on cat paws...

 

[Dangerdoll]

yeah, kitty paws are breeding grounds for all types of bacterial things and other little nasties. A few years ago, my mom had a cat that nicked hher hand and that sucker blew up 3 or 4 times her regular size and the doctor had to drain it and load her up with meds.... I don't think drinking is too bad but the paws are a no no.

 

[sophiecat22]

Ouch! Poor mom! Luckily Sophie doesn't have any claws so she can't cause any damage that way. I'll cover the heater hole in the back so that she can't get her paws in there anymore. I was thinking more along the lines of her saliva being a carrier for bacteria and totally forgot about her paws in the litter box. She'll have to go back to just pressing her face against the glass like she did before she discovered the hole on the top lol.

 

[TheZoo]

She'll have to go back to just pressing her face against the glass like she did before she discovered the hole on the top lol.

Cute! Do you have a pic of this?

 

[sophiecat22]

Not at the moment but I'll be sure to get some for you guys.

 

[ROLLIN]

I've often wondered if cats or dogs etc could catch fish tuberculosis the same way humans sometimes can. I don't let my cat drink the water.