Cats and the reef aquarium

[WindeyD]

we just got a pair of kittens (never had a cat before) and I'm wondering what if any issues folks have had with cats and their reef tanks. Thanks!

 

[Robink]

My cat used to watch the fish... I think she got bored, doesn't give it a glance now.

 

[Rybren]

My cat always ignored the tanks. Back when I had a koi pond, the cat would drink from the pond and the koi would swim up to it and they'd rub noses.

There was someone on RC recently whose cat fell into their DT and pee'd in the tank. It caused a huge ammonia spike and IIRC, they lost livestock because of it.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's one: Cats versus Aquariums video

 

[Pat Clark]

my sons cat Bonnie and his eel Al Capone. When we do water changes she goes on top of his lights and looks down in the tank. The stand his his head board of his bed so she can get around the whole tank. She usually hangs out in the Back of the tank because that is where Al comes out of his pvc tube

 

[Bob Escher]

Over the years I have had 4 cats, now I have 2 and none of them have bothered with the tank. But I also keep the tank away from any thing that they could jump from. Not that I intended it that way but it the way it turned out.

 

[rayn]

Never had issues either, though it does depend on the cat I guess. Only thing I ever heard or worries about was the litter boxes. If they are in another room, no biggie. Same room keep the litter boxes clean.

 

[RMS18]

Just got a kitten as well as week ago, at first she went up to the glass to swack at them. 3 squirt of water later and all she does now is watch them here and there.

 

[Wiz]

My loki has still not learned he can't walk on a screen cover. Lol but just wet feet. Too fast to fall in. Lol keeps tryin though. Likes to watch the fish occasionally. No real issues though.

Pee in the tank!!! Oh no. That sounds horrible. I would think the cat would have just freaked and climbed out.

 

[Duddits]

I had a cat when I first started my saltwater hobby. I was new to the reef world and had a 55 gallon open top. Came out of my room one day and looked down the hall to see my cat sitting on the edge of the tank, munching on my clown fish that was in her claw. She decided to have fresh sushi that morning and ate my clown, flame angel, bi color angel, fire fish and my anthias. Needless to say, she found a new home within 24 hours. I now have two cats but a reef tank with a canopy.

 

[mr11]

That's crazy. Mine would do that if she could. She sits beside the tank for hours a day swatting at the fish as they swim by. I think the fish are playing with her

 

[happyhourhero]

My cat jumps and slaps the side of the tank to try and get the fish. It was bad for a while but now she has eased up and its been a couple weeks since she has done it.

 

[b_x_two]

Ours is always watch the tanks. We even put his cat tree next to the 150 gallon. Never any problems and we are shocked. He gets into EVERYTHING. If the is a cup left out his paws are in it. He is constantly in the sink splashing water around but never a problem with the tanks. YET.....lol

 

[GHsaltie]

Surprisingly none of mine care one bit about the tank, granted there is only one fish in so far so maybe it's not that interesting for them? However, the quarantine tank is another story, two of my younger cats love to sit and watch (sometimes swat at) the new clownfish.

 

[m88a2]

I once lived with 4 cats and most were ok. Once cat though was particularly a PITA during the winter. He would jump up on top and sit near the LED's because it was warm. Nothing bad ever happened but I feel like it could have.

 

[mmw64]

Long ago when we had aquarium with full wooden top had a cat that would hang over the tank while laying on the top and bat at the fish. She would reach too far, fall off climb up and start over for hours.

 

[ReefQueen]

My one cat had an issue with a goby, the issue being that he wanted to eat it lol. This was in an acrylic tank, so I was having an issue with him scratching it up oddly enough when I switched the goby to another tank the cat left him alone. My other cat likes to do this

But only on this tank. He jumped in the other tank while I was doing a WC lol. He used to love to sit on that one, but won't go near it anymore. I had to give him a bath and blow dry and brush him for about 2 hours after that because wet Persian equals matted disaster lol. Congrats on the new additions! Keep a top on the tank and you shouldn't have any issues

 

[Baby Ray]

I have 2 cats and neither of them pay any attention to the tank at all

 

[mr11]

Have any of you with acrylic tanks noticed scratches from your cats? Mine scratches at the tank all the time trying to catch a fish.