Cats and fish

Is it safe to have cats around the tanks?

  • Yes. Cats won't bother fish

    Votes: 19 76.0%
  • No. Cats come from hell and will eat my fish.

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • I have a larga piranha tank. Let the kitten come in.

    Votes: 5 20.0%

  • Total voters
    25
  • Poll closed .

patoloco

De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Oct 20, 2005
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I was just reading tornangel012's tyhread about her new kitten. Congrats, angel! However, I've never had a cat in my house and probably never will. I'm more a dog person (and I don't like cats too much).

My question is:

IS IT SAFE TO HAVE CATS NEAR YOUR TANKS?​
 
It may depend on the cat. I had a 10 gal years ago when I had cats. The cat was interested in sitting on a ledge behind my tank and looking at the fish. I kept a top on the tank and had no problems.
I was afraid my dog would bounce on my tank with her paws and bark at my fish but she didn't.
 
We were worried about our cat (aptly named Nemesis), but on the day we got our tank and set it up with water, we brought him over and dunked his paws. Never had a problem with him trying to jump on top. He occasionally sits on an ottoman in front of the tank and watches, though... kitty TV. :)
 
We have several cats here and most of them don't look twice at the tank though one or two look interested, they don't have the motivation to go digging around the lid or doing more than pawing the glass once or twice before losing interest.
 
I have 5 cats and they do not bother the fish. One of them likes to sit next to the tank and watch them. They do try to drink the water sometimes.
 
As long as you feed the cat regularly you and the fish will be fine. :D
 
Cats, like children, need to be monitored and prepared for when kept around fish. Some cats will be determined to get the fish, others won't notice them. Mine appreciated the warm spot on top of the canopies for a good nap, but never did much else (well, one would drink out of the frog tank, but she never went for the frog). Planning for the cats will prevent most of the potential problems quite easily.
 
My male Persian sits on the back of the sofa and watches "fishy tv" but that is the extent of the interest. Never makes an attempt to even get on the tank (the cats are allowed on furniture but nothing else) Our female kitty doesn't even seem to know the tank exist.
My best friend though had a bad experience with her tank. Her male cat will pee on things sometimes if his litter box isn't up to snuff. He peed on top of her tank. It had a lid but the liquid still seeped in and she had a HUGE ammonia spike and lost several fish. She couldn't figure out what the heck was going on until she notices some on the glass hood and got a good whiff (there is no mistaking the smell of cat pee..eeeww). She then took double sticky tape and covered the glass for a while. He would jump on the tank...hate the feeling of it and jump down.
 
My cats have looked at my fish for a total of 15 minutes in the whole time Ive had my tanks.
If the cat you have is really fat and it jumps on a narrow, wobbly, or un-level canopy, the tank may tip. Think...I know its hard...but would you throw 20 lbs on to your tank?
 
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