Keeping cats off tank- help?

[DracoKat]

I recently discovered evidence of my cat jumping on my light fixture when I am not home (pawprints, anyone?) He's sneaky, he knows he's not allowed on counters or tanks, so he goes when I am not at home or asleep. I have 2 cats, and I always blame one certain one.

Last thing I want is to come home to see the screen broken and a mess.

I don't have anything for him to jump on, he jumps directly from the floor. There's nothing on the tank for him, no fish food or anything

Any ideas how I can keep the cats off my tank when I am not around? it's a 4 ft 75 gallon tank with a coralife fixture and BRS DIY Screen top.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Good luck man, mine still jumps on my tank occasionally even after spritzing her with a water, putting her nose in saltwater, and putting stuff on the tank that she wouldn't want to stand on. She's sort of gotten the jumping on top part out of her system and now just sits alongside the tank on the stand to look at the fish. That doesn't bother me as much.

 

[Flippers4pups]

With a tall canopy I don't need to worry about our cats getting on top of my tank. Unless they get a super power and can fly when I'm not home! Lol

They do sit and watch them from time to time.

A Motion sensor with a loud alarm might do the trick to scare them. Then they will learn not to jump up there.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

Leave the screen off for a day or two. If they take a dip once, they'll never go on the tank again...

 

[bigroost]

I've used these before around the house to train the cat not to go certain places, gives the equivalent of a static shock.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-ScatMat-Indoor-Training-Electronic/dp/B0007NWNM8?th=1

 

[DracoKat]

I've used a scat mat before to get him off the counters.. didn't even faze him! come home to see him laying on top of it with the battery dying, lol.

Amotion detector alarm is a good idea.. I've seen one with the air spray, that might work too.

thanks! Let me look into these ideas.

 

[bigroost]

I've used a scat mat before to get him off the counters.. didn't even faze him! come home to see him laying on top of it with the battery dying, lol.

Amotion detector alarm is a good idea.. I've seen one with the air spray, that might work too.

thanks! Let me look into these ideas.

lol, you have a regular hardcase. If our cat sees you get close to that thing it gets alarmed, I just imagine him going you know that thing will shock you right?

I've also heard of people using double sided tape, but have no personal experience.

 

[Greybeard]

Google Bird Spikes

 

[ThunderGoose]

Anything that startles the cat - metal soda cans with a few pennies in them that the cat will knock off when she jumps up might help.

Cats also hate double sided sticky tape.

Good luck

 

[DracoKat]

lol, my cat really IS a hard case. I could list all the things he's done and what doesn't faze him.

tried soda can with pennies.. he's like "meh".
Double sided tape? he just pulls it off as if it's nothing.

I've had to bungee cord my trash can shut and put two bricks on the bottom to keep him from knocking over.
Baby proofed all cabinets.
3x different locks on my fridge and freezer (really, 3 different locks he's broken)
Nailed my sliding closet doors shut (removable nails so I can get in it).
Doubled up on pet screens on my windows.
and I am sure I've forgotten something else with him.. lol.

I tried the air can once long ago.. don't remember the results, but want to try that again on my tank

and no thanks to bird spikes, I don't want to hurt him!

 

[Idoc]

It might be considered a bit drastic by some, but if you remove their back legs...

Luckily I'm allergic to them, so I don't have any cats around the house!

 

[leahfiish]

Get a tall canopy? Or set up a big box fan that blows across the top, cats don't usually like to be directly in front of a fan.

 

[tjnorthdakota]

I would try a hanging kit for the light, or changing lights to something they cant stand on such as kessil. Maybe throw a can of bear spray into one of those motion detecting air freshner units for bathrooms

 

[Greybeard]

Maybe throw a can of bear spray into one of those motion detecting air freshner units

Bear spray? Just what I'd want spraying over my tank... I mean, yeah it might be effective, but really?

 

[Kyl]

Leave the screen off for a day or two. If they take a dip once, they'll never go on the tank again...

Unfortunately that's also a good way to lose some fish when a cat comes crashing down into the tank and they jump out.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

You can try the basic spray bottle and just put RO in there so it's safe for the tank.. It will take time but you can correct the Behavior.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I won't let my wife get a cat for this specific reason. To much money invested in my tank to let a cat try digging around in it.

 

[Newb73]

 

[Katrina71]

Post a pic of your lighting.

 

[germs101]

The mats that go on the floor under a desk to a roll desk chair on flipped upside down. Cut the size you want and lay it on top. One jump onto those plastic spikes and they'll learn real quick. I love cats, but they can be tricky.