Can a cat knock over a tank?

champyeti · Jul 20, 2020

We have a 25g reef and 20g long FW and are considered getting a cat. The cat in question is described as a shy, overweight adult.

Is there any threat that the cat can knock over one of the tanks by jumping on? The reef has a lid and I have netting to make the FW a lid. The reef is next to my desk so the cat could get up that way and the FW is next to our kitchen bar-stool counter so if the cat got onto the counter and up there he could walk on.

My boyfriend is very concerned about having 20+ gallons of water on the floor and, especially for the reef, all my investment down the drain. Very valid concern. But is it realistic a cat will be able to knock 200+ pounds of water over? The stands are both the same size as the tanks with no lip to 'catch' the tank if it rocks or anything.

Live in an apartment so putting the fish in a no-cat room isn't possible.

ichthyogeek · Jul 20, 2020

As long as they’re on stable structures, and the cat isn’t a miniature liger, I think you’re good. If it is a miniature liger....then I think you have bigger problems.

Peace River · Jul 20, 2020

IMO the only way the cat would knock over the tank is if the stand was not stable or not strong enough to support the tank properly. A well placed 200 pound tank is not going to moved around by any 20 pound house cat. I have had fish tanks and cats for many years, and other than the time that one of the cats fell in a tank (and got out very quickly!) I haven't had any issues mixing the cats and fish tanks. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Scratch08 · Jul 20, 2020

champyeti said:
We have a 25g reef and 20g long FW and are considered getting a cat. The cat in question is described as a shy, overweight adult.

Is there any threat that the cat can knock over one of the tanks by jumping on? The reef has a lid and I have netting to make the FW a lid. The reef is next to my desk so the cat could get up that way and the FW is next to our kitchen bar-stool counter so if the cat got onto the counter and up there he could walk on.

My boyfriend is very concerned about having 20+ gallons of water on the floor and, especially for the reef, all my investment down the drain. Very valid concern. But is it realistic a cat will be able to knock 200+ pounds of water over? The stands are both the same size as the tanks with no lip to 'catch' the tank if it rocks or anything.

Live in an apartment so putting the fish in a no-cat room isn't possible.

It really depends on how stable your stands are, but I would say not very likely. You could connect a strap to the wall a to the back/side of the stand to keep it from falling foward...basically child proof it.