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My cat fell into the snake tank... Advice please!!

maxfox426

maxfox426

Can't Keep A Secret
Tonight, I went up into the office (where our sugar gliders and Reggie live) to collect everybody's food and water bowls. When I got into the room, I found one of my cats INSIDE the Reggie's tank. He had broken through the screen lid and fallen in. When I came into the room, the cat was starting to freak out, as he couldn't escape, and of course, I was freaking out because there is NOT supposed to be a cat in the snake tank!

I grabbed the cat and threw him out of the room, and started digging to find Reggie. He was still in the tank, half under his cave hide on the same side of the tank where the cat had been, and he was positioned in such a way that I was afraid that cat had crushed him beneath the hide. I removed the hide and picked Reggie up just long enough to see that he was still moving normally. As soon as I saw that, I put him back inside the tank and he promptly went to hide under his water bowl.

Normally, the door to this room is closed, but today we had all the carpets cleaned. We had left the door open to allow airflow while the carpets dried, and then didn't think to close it before we left for dinner. :awcrap:

My husband was able to fix the screen on the lid. The slide-lock is toast, but we jury-rigged a way to keep it closed until we can take a closer look tomorrow. We actually have plans in the works to purchase a new, identical tank from a Craigslist seller tomorrow. It was supposed to be a second viv for a second snake... but it may turn into replacement tank for Reggie instead.


Anyways, here's where I need advice...

What should I be looking for regarding signs of distress?
Like I said, Reggie appeared to be moving normally before he went into hiding, but are there other cues I should be looking for. I am used to having pets that hide their symptoms, but being relatively new to corns I am not used to their body language yet. (For years, I used to have rats, and they can hide a lot of pain/illness.)

Reggie is due to feed tomorrow, should I wait an extra day to let him calm down from this event?
This kind of relates to the previous question in that I am not sure how to determined how stressed he is. I don't want to risk a regurge by feeding him while he's still on edge from having a cat fall on him.

Also, I had kept Reggie's two shed skins on a high bookshelf. Now, one of them is missing. The cat being the evil genius that he is... I'm sure he had something to do with it. Either (a) the cat ate it, (b) the cat took it and hid it somewhere, or (c) the cat took it someplace the dog could reach, and the dog ate it.
Should I be worried about the possibility of any of my other animals eating a shed snake skin?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!
I don't mean to be overly paranoid, but I really am worried about the trauma that this could have caused, and I don't know what other questions to ask at this point.


Thank you so much!!
 
I guess I'd see if Reggie is acting normally tomorrow, and if so, go ahead and feed. It won't hurt a dog or cat to eat a shed skin.
 
My cats get to shed skins all the time. My kids often want to "keep" a skin but then will leave it lying around somewhere and I'll find one of my cats with it later on. So I wouldn't worry about that.

The screens on those sliding lid tanks are soooo flimsy! We've had our cats rip 3 so far. So what we started doing was cutting pieces of wood(not pine or cedar) to fit the size of the tank and put plenty of vent holes and just lay it on top of the tank. They're pretty heavy pieces and of course it's an extra step when cleaning,feeding,etc. but we haven't had a cat break a screen again and I don't go into immediate panic mode when I see a cat curled up on a tank.
 
Forgot to mention that there is still screen underneath the wood! The wood is just extra security!
 
Nanci said:
I guess I'd see if Reggie is acting normally tomorrow, and if so, go ahead and feed. It won't hurt a dog or cat to eat a shed skin.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I didn't think that it would hurt anybody to have eaten a shed skin, but I still wanted to be sure.

I'm definitely going to keep a close eye on Reggie over the next 24 hours (at least). I'm just so paranoid since he's my first corn. I really don't want want to lose him to something as dumb as this.


Drizzt80 said:
Cull the cat. :noevil:

D80
Click to expand...

You know, I'll admit to having that thought before... today was just the icing on the cake. Last week this cat managed to pull down a potted plant I had HANGING FROM THE CEILING... but I just love this cat too much. LOL!


MinLynn said:
My cats get to shed skins all the time. My kids often want to "keep" a skin but then will leave it lying around somewhere and I'll find one of my cats with it later on. So I wouldn't worry about that.

The screens on those sliding lid tanks are soooo flimsy! We've had our cats rip 3 so far. So what we started doing was cutting pieces of wood(not pine or cedar) to fit the size of the tank and put plenty of vent holes and just lay it on top of the tank. They're pretty heavy pieces and of course it's an extra step when cleaning,feeding,etc. but we haven't had a cat break a screen again and I don't go into immediate panic mode when I see a cat curled up on a tank.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the cat insight! Now I'm mostly just bummed because the missing skin is from Reggie's first shed with us. I was really hoping to hang on to that one. *sigh* Oh well.

Those screens really are flimsy... which is why we have been keeping the door closed. I feel really dumb for not having thought of it before we left. I'm definitely going to look into getting/making a cover like what you described!




Thank you ALL for the input! I am feeling much better now. :) Still worried, but not flat-out terrified like I was earlier.
 
I don't have any info on what to look for as far as trauma or anything and I hope he is okay. I do have some info that may help you fix the lid. If the frame isn't bent I was told you can take it to Lowes or Home Depot and they can rescreen it. I also did something similar to Min except I used plexi glass instead of wood to help keep the air conditioner from blowing in the tanks instead of cat proofing it but it is a good idea for extra protection incase a cat gets in the room again. Hope everything turns out okay with Reggie, I;m sure he'll be okay.
 
I probably should've added that too. The wood doesn't actually sit on the screen. It sits on the shelf of the tank. Plus it makes it a whole lot easier in keeping temps and humidity at good levels. That was just a bonus for us. The snake are much more active,too. I assume that's because they don't have cats sitting on top of their home peering in at them all the time!
 
I am really concerned about my fat arse kitten falling through the Bearded Dragon screen. I told Tara... those screens are hella flimsy and if she breaks through it, the light and everything will fall in. What if Tank were to be injured? The piece of wood is a good idea... I wonder... would egg crating work too? I have a piece of that cut to just the right size... it was for my marine tank. I may try that, but then again, with the heat lamp it might melt. Ugh. Cats.
 
Serious, The shelves work wonders. And you can cut them to the length you need. I cut my with a Dremel. When I had a cat I used the full shelf. Now that I dont have a cat, I cut the shelf so I only have part... cut holes for the light bulb to fit through and it holds my lights for my bearded dragons..
 
Hypancistrus said:
I am really concerned about my fat arse kitten falling through the Bearded Dragon screen. I told Tara... those screens are hella flimsy and if she breaks through it, the light and everything will fall in. What if Tank were to be injured? The piece of wood is a good idea... I wonder... would egg crating work too? I have a piece of that cut to just the right size... it was for my marine tank. I may try that, but then again, with the heat lamp it might melt. Ugh. Cats.
Click to expand...

Just cut a hole in the crating that's slightly larger than the lights,that way the lights aren't touching the crating at all. I don't think it would melt anything as long as it's not touching.
 
This is why, although I love cats, I won't ever be able to have one again. Not worth the risk if you have the choice and have snakes first.
 
I used pegboard on the lid of my tanks when they weren't in the snake room. I cut it just larger than the top and laid it on there. It will easily hold the weight of a cat and allows airflow.
 
So far, I've had no problems with my cats sitting on the tops of the snake cages. But looking at this thread I may try to come up with something that will strengthen the tops of my cages. Thanks for the thread and hope to get some ideas..
 
Here are my prayers for Reggie, it sounds as though he should be fine though. I think you were lucky to have gotten in the room when you did. I have two cats and they have never tried to get onto the vivs or even up close to them. Although one of them is a definite hunter and my teen's king snake got out and we have never seen her since, odds are she has eaten the baby king.

Tisha
 
Hey all!

Sorry I haven't been responding. For some reason I haven't been getting post updates and I didn't know that more people had made comments.

Anyways, Reggie is doing okay. He's taken two feedings since the incident without problems. I bought wire shelving to cover the screen lid, but even so I still keep the door to that room closed, at least until I'm 100% comfortable that the snake viv is safe. (And even if that never happens, it's fine if that door remains closed.

Again, thank you all for the comments and input! I really appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions! :)
 
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