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 #2039546


Ditzzy
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 How can I get my cat to stay off tank?

For the past week or so, my cat suddenly realized that my crested Gecko is edible and hops up on his tank every chance she gets. I’m worried that with her constantly messing with him she’s going to stress him out or that she’s going to push the screen on top out or catch him with a claw because he likes hanging from the screen. At first I just pushed her away and told her no. . She goes immediately back every time. I try petting her and rewarding her whenever she walks away from him. I’ve tried covering her eyes until she backs up but then she goes back. So then I push her off of the bed, because my tank is right beside it and she just tries climbing up his stand on the other side. I’ve started kicking her out of my room but she get’s really freaked when she’s not around anyone so I let her back in after 10 minutes or so... guess where the first place she heads is. I tried covering his tank but she still hops up there, and it’s not fair to Jicho to be covered all the time. Then I tried taping duct tape sticky side up around where she stands to get him because she doesn’t like stepping in it at all, but that doesn’t work. She’s stressed me out so much that one time I started yelling at her and when I picked her up I wasn’t as gentle as normal, but then when I picked her up to put her out of my room I could feel her little heart beating so fast, I scared her and that makes me feel bad. But I’m really worried about my cresty’s health.

is there anyway to keep my cat away from him and to keep her from hopping on his tank? Like anyway to train her or put something by his tank to keep her away?
07/15/09  05:01am

 #2039655


KrazyKelli
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   Message To: Ditzzy   In reference to Message Id: 2039546


 How can I get my cat to stay off tank?

Haha, good luck with whichever you try. That cat is going to be hooked until the gecko is gone. I had a similar problem with my cat, Morris. He chose a specific tank, too.

There are two solutions.

The surefire solution is to move the gecko to another room. A room that you can close off. You could also move the tank to a higher area in meager hopes that the cat can’t jump up there.

The other solution, one that’s half-half on effectiveness, is to get yourself a small squirt bottle. Every time kitty goes up onto the tank or even so much as thinks about it, hit the cat with water. You can back this up by roaring out, "GET DOWN YOU STUPID CAT!" Soon the cat will come to realize that every time you touch the water bottle, it needs to be off the tank or out of the area.

I have also tried knocking the cat down, locking it in a carrycage for 5 minutes every time it was caught, spraying cat-off junk (don’t do it, it’s not worth the eye infections and subsequent vet bills), clapping my hands, etc. None of those worked. Once a cat sets itself on something, it will not back down. That’s part of what makes a cat a predator.

Now you could try training the cat with positive reinforcement/ treats. It is possible to train a cat. It’s just that I don’t know how you’d reinforce Not doing something. A cat isn’t like a dog in training. It’s rather that you have to convince the cat that it wants to do the opposite; that it will find pleasure in doing the opposite. For example, I’ve trained my cats to come back into the house on command. This started when Puff would run out every time I’d open the door. By letting her out, then putting treats on the rug just inside, she came to realize that coming back in and sitting on the rug gave her treats. Later I removed the treats so she knew they came from me, and when I gave her a specific whistle, she would come back inside to the rug and get said treat from me. This was replaced thereafter with solid petting if she came inside at all, and a treat if she stayed inside while the door was open. You can also reinforce a trick the cat teaches itself in a similar manner, such as a cat that catches mice. You’d train it from catching mice to bringing mice to you - to bringing balls and other toys to you. If the cat gets pleasure out of it, it will do it.
07/15/09  11:07am

 #2040308


S.S. toadgirl
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   Message To: Ditzzy   In reference to Message Id: 2039546


 How can I get my cat to stay off tank?

I dont agree with the yelling at the cat, but the scwirt bottle works good. add a little vinager to it. They hate the smell and the sudden burst of water. just say no in a firm, slightly elavated voice. if it doesnt work you may have to move gecko or keep your cat out of ur room. hope i helped. :/
07/16/09  11:55am

 #2041184


Shadowcat0789
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   Message To: S.S. toadgirl   In reference to Message Id: 2040308


 How can I get my cat to stay off tank?

I know everyone’s going to jump down my throat for this one but oh well.

Move the gecko to an isolated area then lay down set mouse traps around his cage. Carefully lay newspaper over top of the traps so the cat would have to step on them any time she wants to get to the cage. When she steps on the paper it triggers the trap, freaks her out, she doesn’t go back. If she steps on the trap itself she’ll be fine bc of the paper. The squirt bottle works well also if you’re going to be in the room when she’s in there

Good luck
07/18/09  02:03am

 #2041375


S.S. toadgirl
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   Message To: Shadowcat0789   In reference to Message Id: 2041184


 How can I get my cat to stay off tank?

i think the traps are a good idea - as long as she doesnt get hurt. I cant believe i spelled squirt wrong lol!!!
07/18/09  07:31pm

 #2041983


Ditzzy
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   Message To: S.S. toadgirl   In reference to Message Id: 2041375


 How can I get my cat to stay off tank?

Thanks everyone :) I’ve been squirting her every time she goes to it and I’ve been doing this for several days but she keeps coming back, I think she’s attributing getting squirt more to me than the gecko. I set up her old cat tree to see if she would sit on that instead of his tank but it’s not working. I’ll just keep dumping water on her till it works then...

I’m not going to go buy mousetraps because it seems like too much trouble, and I’d end up being the one stepping in them anyway xD

Thank you all again :)
07/20/09  03:10am


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