Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I just got a new amel male and put him in a wonderful 55 gal tank. He is doing great but I have one problem. My cat keeps getting on top of the screen. He only does it when Pulcher(the snake) is out and hanging on the vines near the screen. Pulcher seems unfazed by this but I have only had him for one day and I don't want to stress him out. In fact, I came down stairs and would swear they were smelling each other and touching noses through the screen. I have stuff on the top of the tank to keep the cat off but don't want that to be the permanant solution. I have a nice picture on the wall that the stuff is blocking. Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep the cat off? Thanks.

To keep the cat off, put the snake in a room and close the door with the cat outside of the room.

If you keep the cornsnake where the cat can get at him, sooner or later the cat will knock the cage over, knock the lid off, or otherwise do something that will result in the escape or death of your corn.

-Kat
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"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

Ok I think I am qualified to answer this one, I have 5 cats and 6 corn snakes.

I don't think it's really a stress issue for 4 out of 6 of mine unless it's eating time. All my snakes will go nose to nose with my cats and the snakes seem just as intreasted in the cats as vice versa (Hum, would you make a good meal?) *eg*. But honestly, my cats have never shown agressivness towards the snakes and if the snakes don't want the cat that close, they usually just back off. Most of the time they are giving eachother little "love kisses" (going nose to nose).
My cats all gather round when it's time to feed the snakes. 4 of my snakes could care less if they are watching, two others won't eat with the cats around and will spit it out, so I have to usually throw a blanket over the critter keeper or tub I feed them in so they can eat in peace.

As for the cats on top of the screen. First make sure that screen can bare their weight so they don't accidently fall through and the snake escapes. Either keep the door shut so the cat can't get in the room or keep a squirt bottle full of water handy. My cats are so used to the water bottle squit being their "no" signal that I can make the sound and they scatter.

Good luck.

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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

Thanks for the information. I wanted to make sure the snake wouldn't get stressed out. The tank is way to big and heavy for the cat to knock off its stand and is a old fish aquarium so has supports going across it under the screen. I think I may put some nice fake plants (fake cause the cat eats real ones) on the top to disuade the cat from jumping up there.

I'm not sure there is a way to make them stay off the tanks. With that UTH on it's a pretty comfy spot I guess. I too hate having the junk on the screen, but it's better than the cat falling through it. (my cats are all rather fat) As far as the snakes though, they seem to be interested in the cats, I've seen them "playing" through the glass and it really looks like both animals are actually studying each other. But I'm building (someday soon i hope) a rack system and then the cat's won't even be an issue. the snakes I have in a rack (of sorts, still didn't get my big rack built) system now go nose to nose with the cats as well. And I have no regurge or non eaters....I guess they both just know they can't eat each other.

The Biggest problem....
When the cats steal the hatchling boxes!

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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

Fake plants would work, of if you didn't want them up there because you'd have to move them every time you wanted in the tank. Try packing tape, reverse roll 5-6" pieces (so they are sticky side on both sides) and stick them on various places on top of the screen. Cats HATE being stuck to something and it they will usually only get up there once and have paws and fur stuck (although not so stuck that they can't free themselves) and then never again. That's how I trained my cats to stop jumping on the counters.
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

heeey that tape is a pretty good idea i have 4 little hell raisers runnin around here lol and only the kitten seems to be interested in them ne more...atleast that ive seen. whenever i see them up top tho i use the spray bottle that i keep in there for shed phases. seems to work good i havent seen her up theree much ne more she only uses it sometimes as another level to jump from

Wow! What a great idea. I never would have thought of that but will try it tonight when I get home. Thanks alot!

All you have to do is set some loaded mouse traps on top the cage.Kitty will get the point in a hurry not to climb up there.Also works on dogs that like to raid the garbage can....Paul.

lol for dogs i could see but cats? it would probably snap there hand and break some bones lol maybe not i think ill try the tape nd stick to the bottle tho lol

>>lol for dogs i could see but cats? it would probably snap there hand and break some bones lol maybe not i think ill try the tape nd stick to the bottle tho lol

Set them and then place a couple four sheets of newspaper over them. The snap sound is amplified by the paper snapping and the paper keeps the delicate paddys out of the way.
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Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

and set them down carefully without springing them. Then the cats would spring them and get startled, but never actually get caught in the trap.

Well I keep my snakes in closed doors away from the cat. Why well my cat got on top of my screen and fell through in to the home of my adult 3 ft Cal King. Well Needless to say cat got bit Snake got loose and had to find the snake in one of my kids hotwheel playsets still in the box. Im sure the cat meant no harm but it could have been worse so now we are extra careful. Problem is you just cant teach a cat to stay off. As soon as it knows your back is turned its up on the highest spot again. although I do like Pauls reply LOL

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1.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.0 Cat
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"