Pwottle: First off, I am very sorry about your leopard gecko!
Our cat's are more interested in the crickets and the heat lamps more than the gecko's themselves. We have very heavy duty wire screen lids over the tanks-- not the thin 'door screen' type...about 15 gauge (or so).
Because the cats love to sleep on top of the tanks (They know they are not suppose to even get up on the tanks...but we can't watch their every move), We are making 'toppers' to put on top --- a simple 1/2 inch by 1 inch hard wood frame with flat 1/4 by 1/2 inch hard wood slats spaced 1/2 inch apart. They will be used when we are not around, or when we are outside gardening.
The heavy gauge wire lids work wonders...I think that should be your first order of business. You can by them at PetSmart...just ask a clerk for "Cat Poof Lids"...and they should know what you are talking about.
We also clip out cat's claws, not that it would make any difference..but just saying.
Another thing to do, is to surround your tank with brown paper towel for a few weeks. We had to do this with our rescued gecko because the new 'out side the tank' environment was stressing her out so badly...she'd see that cat's and panic...even if the cat's did not notice her...
If the cats can not see what is inside...then all the better. Not attractive, but effective. You may also want to keep crickets in a visible cat proof container, away from your Leo's tank. This provides hours and hours of entertainment.
Not really humane..but...you know.
One last thing, buy the biggest, baddest, farthest spraying water bottle you can find. This is a GREAT method for getting cats away from your tanks. Ha!
Hope this helps.
Scott and Cat
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0.1.0 African Fat Tail
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Flat Tail House Gecko
1.0.0 Long Tail Grass Lizards
1.0.0 Betta (Past away 3/17/04)
1.1.0 Cats
