Reptile cages in your home can be fun, but they should also be considered potentially hazardous for cats and dogs, who may see reptiles as prey animals that must be killed off. Cats in particular are natural predators who might see reptiles as food source that requires killing.
Reptiles can react violently when startled, potentially injuring both animals. To avoid such an unfortunate scenario, there are various methods for keeping your cat away from the reptile cage.
Place the cage in a secure location
For optimal results in protecting your reptile cage from your cat, the ideal location would be up high in a cupboard or somewhere where they cannot play freely in the house. Should they attempt to reach it and knock it over by jumping on it, their weight could damage or injure it and potentially injure its inhabitants – an anchored cage is best as well; or an alternative method might include placing a baby gate or barrier between their reptile and cat that helps prevent access into its space.
Reptiles are prey animals and should be kept in an environment free from threats such as cats, dogs or rabbits that might introduce themselves as domesticated pets – this could result in injury to both parties involved. Doing so would only increase stress for both of them involved – not fair on either animal!
However, if you own both a reptile and cat, they can co-exist safely by taking certain precautions. Some examples include keeping the cage high or out of sight from your pet, using deterrents to render it inaccessible, training your cats not to approach the terrarium, and making sure you provide alternatives such as hidey holes or scratching posts as hiding places or distractions from approaching the cage itself. Play games with your cats that divert their attention away from it such as hide-and-seek or chase!
An essential step when keeping cats around terrariums is making sure it is out of reach – this is essential as cats can often push terrariums off shelves or figure out ways to open up lids of terrariums, so storing it somewhere like your garage or spare room may be best.
Your pet may try to explore your terrarium, so there are several methods you can use to deter him or her. One approach would be spraying it with pungent liquid. Others include buying plastic mats with relatively soft spikes that make lying on them uncomfortable or purchasing battery-powered “Scat Mats” that emit pulses of static electricity when touched – all available from pet stores and online retailers – although before making your final choice for deterring pets it would be wise to test which option best works on them first.
Use deterrents
If your reptile cage remains accessible, there are still methods available to you to help keep cats away. Deterrents such as placing it in a secure location, spraying deterrent spray and making the cage non-accessible may work; or you could provide toys, books, or cat trees as distractions from approaching it.
One way to prevent your cat from approaching a reptile cage is to place a bucket with pungent liquid, such as cayenne pepper or ammonia, near it. Be sure not to position this bucket directly next to it. Bright lights or loud music could also be effective tools in discouraging her from approaching.
Keep in mind that even though your reptile, tortoise or bearded dragon may appear well-trained to you, they still have instinctive behaviors which could trigger their fight or flight instinct and lead them into biting you or another animal in an unexpected moment. Any number of things could startle them and cause them to bite, pounce or scratch in reaction which could result in serious harm to both yourself and them.
For your own health and that of your reptiles, providing them with their own separate species-specific enclosure in a room or area of the house that does not permit other animals will help reduce stress while assuring them of safety in living alongside you and any pets in the same home.
Remove any tall grass, weeds or plants around your house that might attract snakes; this will help deter them from entering. Inspect the exterior of your home regularly to make sure there are no cracks or gaps where snakes could gain entry.
Make the cage non-accessible
There are a few steps you can take to keep your cat away from a reptile cage: firstly, locate it safely so they cannot access it; secondly, you may use deterrents like sprays or repellents with unpleasant odors to discourage their approach; thirdly electronic devices that emit an audible high-pitched whine when your cat approaches.
Another way to protect reptile habitat from cats is erecting physical barriers. You could install fencing around its enclosure or place it on a high shelf that your cat cannot reach; this will stop him/her from accessing and potentially harming their cage. Lastly, when handling reptiles and their food be mindful to avoid getting your cat too close when cleaning or prepping the cage.
Reptiles are prey animals, so seeing domesticated pets, like a dog or cat, can be highly stressful for them. Feeling their territory being invaded will cause this stress to manifest itself defensively in either aggression or territorial markings from them – so it is crucial that you know their body language to respond effectively.
As well as using deterrents, you can make the cage inaccessible to cats by lining it with mesh or netting and creating a barrier around it using fencing wire bent into shape and attached at each corner with cable ties – this will prevent her from approaching or trying to escape it if she attempts it.
Use a “scat mat”, which is a plastic mat topped with soft spikes that cause pain when your cat steps on it. There are various different designs on the market; find one that best fits your cat and household – some even emit pulses similar to static electricity, which will startle them.
Train your cat
Keep Your Reptiles SafeWhether it be snakes in a tank or cute turtles in a terrarium, keeping them safe can be a difficult challenge. Cats are known to view reptiles as prey; while coexisting between reptiles and cats is possible in households with both species present, doing so requires patience, training and safety measures vigilance – here are a few tips to keep them away:
At first, it is essential that your reptile cage remains secure from intrusion by your cat. This means securing it with locks or placing it on a high shelf outside their area – this is key for the health and well-being of reptiles!
Deterring cats from approaching reptile cages requires using deterrents. Double-sided tape and aluminum foil are effective options, while you could also purchase motion activated air canisters which release an offensive smell or loud noise when your cat gets close enough.
If chemical deterrents don’t sit well with you, training your cat to stay away from its cage by rewarding when they stay out and redirecting its attention elsewhere can also work well. Play games with your cat like hide-and-seek that encourage it not to enter any forbidden areas!
If your cat continues to approach its cage, try blocking access with baby gates or blockading the entire room except for one very narrow gap that cannot be passed by a cat. This may serve as an interim solution until he or she learns not to approach. Alternatively, use bright lights, loud music or spraying it with cayenne pepper to dissuade him or her from approaching it.