Keeping cats off of the aquarium?
Discussion
At the end of August we will be expanding our family to include 2 kittens - our first cats. However I am a bit worries about how they will react to the 280 litre aquarium in our living room - I can see the tasty fish being a huge attraction to a couple of mischievous kitties! We plan on not letting them into the room unattended (like when we are at work) but no doubt there will be times when they are alone with the fish - is there any way of ensuring they can't get onto the tank or is it a case of teaching them where exactly is out of bounds?
The top of the tank is about 5 1/2 feet off the ground but probably an easy jump from the arm of the sofa at the moment!
The top of the tank is about 5 1/2 feet off the ground but probably an easy jump from the arm of the sofa at the moment!
Does your tank have a lid at the moment? It all depends on what you've already got (a bodge job with a hook and catch or small bolt-lock might work?) or you could look at building or buying a heavy duty lid. Pic below of the style I'm talking - that style lid is pretty kitten proof:
The other option (and one I've heard a lot of cat/aquarium owners have used, unintentionally) is let them learn the hard way. Once they've taken a dunk they'll be a lot more wary. I'm not a cat owner but I've heard dozens of cat owners relay stories to that effect with a smile on their face.
The other option (and one I've heard a lot of cat/aquarium owners have used, unintentionally) is let them learn the hard way. Once they've taken a dunk they'll be a lot more wary. I'm not a cat owner but I've heard dozens of cat owners relay stories to that effect with a smile on their face.
)
The aquarium is an Eheim 100 like this:
May seem like a daft question but would it stand up to a cat jumping on and off of it? It would obviously be disastrous for the tank to get pushed over but I guess the weight makes that unlikely! The high centre of gravity & narrow cabinet underneath somehow creates a rather top-heavy appearance...
May seem like a daft question but would it stand up to a cat jumping on and off of it? It would obviously be disastrous for the tank to get pushed over but I guess the weight makes that unlikely! The high centre of gravity & narrow cabinet underneath somehow creates a rather top-heavy appearance...
There is a lid - just a couple of flappy bits of plastic that slot into the light casing (the picture above isn't very clear!)
Perhaps I will look into re-enforcing the lid, I was planning on fitting some extra cross beams into the cabinet at some point to counter the little wobble it sometimes gets if it gets pushed (or if a cat is hanging off of it)!
Perhaps I will look into re-enforcing the lid, I was planning on fitting some extra cross beams into the cabinet at some point to counter the little wobble it sometimes gets if it gets pushed (or if a cat is hanging off of it)!
We have a 4' tank & neither our old cat or both our current ones have caused the lids any problems.
No chance of a cat swinging off it tipping it over.
DON'T chance not putting a decent lid on it, one falling in may just get a wetting, BUT it could end in tragedy.
No chance of a cat swinging off it tipping it over.
DON'T chance not putting a decent lid on it, one falling in may just get a wetting, BUT it could end in tragedy.
Edited by paintman on Sunday 24th July 21:44
paintman said:
DON'T chance not putting a decent lid on it, one falling in may just get a wetting, BUT it could end in tragedy.
Thanks for the advice - I will put together a sturdier second lid that they'll have to grow thumbs to trouble... @Alex there isn't anything beneath the plastic flappy bits...Our cats have been into the aquarium. Was awoken one morning by aloud crash and rushed down stairs to see what was the matter? was greeted by a soggy and distressed Kif running the other direction! Took a moment to realise that the jumping onto the lid had broken it, causing the lights and lid sections to fall into the tank. Luckily they were switched off, but they are wired on a RCCB and Sharky was not squashed to the bottom of the tank by them.
There is now a large one piece plastic lid over the top to prevent repeat accidents, they know they are not allowed near the tank, but the lure of watching a large cat fish swimming about is just too much for them. Am now more concerned by them breaking the front of the tank, have witnessed them jump up and grab/hit at the glass on the front of the tank with their paws.
There is now a large one piece plastic lid over the top to prevent repeat accidents, they know they are not allowed near the tank, but the lure of watching a large cat fish swimming about is just too much for them. Am now more concerned by them breaking the front of the tank, have witnessed them jump up and grab/hit at the glass on the front of the tank with their paws.
Both the Juwel Rio 180 and one of the Rena tanks do lids of those dimensions. Google "101 x 41 cm aquarium lid" and you'll get a few hits. I'm not sure what your aquarium is like though - both of the the above tanks are fairly thin lids that slot into place in a step recessed into the edge of the tank - if there's nothing for them to slot into then I'd look at speaking to an aquarium manufacturer. ND Aquatics get very good reviews for their tanks and IIRC they're in Hertford, anywhere near you?
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