Keeping Cats Away

[BonesMcKay]

I got my BTS about two weeks ago and he's finally comfortable it seems. He was hiding for a while and I mostly left him alone unless feeding him. Seems to have worked and now he's out when I'm home and watches me while he's sitting on his basking rock. He's *darn adorable and I love him to bits already.

The issue is now that he's out, he's attracted the attention of our cats and dog. The dog lost interest very quickly and our lazy grey cat can barely jump up one foot and is basically not interested. The issue is our other cat. She's super interested in the skink. I don't want to do the water bottle method because I know that it'll only deter her when I'm around. I need something that says, this enclosure isn't worth touching do this instead.

Anyways, right now I've set up double sided tape around the enclosure. She tried touching it this morning and she gave up. She's a finicky cat and was declawed as a kitten (not my idea). Her paws are sensitive so she's easily deterred by things like that. When I'm home she has zero interest because I can open the door and she can hear the birds. Is there other things I can do to make the enclosure super not worth her effort.

[Scotts1au]

Unfortunately not, it is a cat.

[dragun207]

I have the same issue, dog could care less after a couple sniffs, my other cat is too scared to jump that far, but the third... well he's a sneaky little bugger.

Unfortunately I do use the water bottle for my little trouble-maker Manny, since there is little else that can deter him in any way. But after giving him a light mist once, putting the spray bottle on top of, or near the top of the tank helps keep him away.

Another idea (totally up to you since this can seem totally cruel to some people) is to put upside-down tape where they like to jump. My friend did that with his cat due to the stress it was causing his python from the sound of the cat on the mesh lid.

totally up to you, there's a lot you can do to deter cats, and sometimes leaving your window open is enough- especially if there's birds chirping!

(ONLY DO THIS IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE DOOMED)
this is terrible.. but I released some crickets in the room so that the cats could hear them and become preoccupied. Worked like a charm for my other cat, but Manny only eats spiders... so you can assume how that went

[BonesMcKay]

Yeah, I tried the tape. Think she's reconsidered jumping up there....though, apparently my dog it fascinated by upside down tape. The pet equilibrium is a fickle one, lol.

[DerpyHerpLover]

The best thing in the world to keep a cat off of a tank or other surface is aluminum foil. If you can lay a sheet where they like to jump up, it will be like kitty kryptonite. Most cats can't stand the crinkly feeling of the foil on their pads. And much safer and humane than the double sided tape too.

[DerpyHerpLover]

Here is a humorous demonstration of the power of the foil:

tmp_30056-20076597_12_377_249699513813.gif

[BonesMcKay]

Here is a humorous demonstration of the power of the foil:tmp_30056-20076597_12_377_249699513813.gif

Oh god, I love it. I got her a shelf above it to look down at things. I'm going to add a mesh tunnel for her so she doesn't get bold and jump down. But so far the tinfoil landing pad is dissuading her.

[kingofnobbys]

Best option is banish the cat if you have or are planning on having a pet lizard.

At least make sure the cat and lizard never meet and the cat never gets an opportunity to go into the room where the lizard is kept (EVER).

Of cause cats are sneeky and hardwired to attack/ torture and kill lizards , and it only take one moment for everything to turn pear shaped if someone forgets to close a door / window or to keep puss locked up / out , and then the result will be bad for the lizard.

My advise - rehome the cat.