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Is my snake in danger?

Amberjolly

Amberjolly

New member
I have a cat that gets into and on everything! I live in a one bedroom appartment so there's no where to lock him up he has run of the whole place.
The fear I have is that when I get my new snake the cat will try to scratch at the screen of the viv or jump on it and break it.
Me and my girlfriend have decided to get the viv and watch what the cat does for a few days before we get the snake so maybe he will see there's nothing in it and get bored. Also once we do get the snake we are going to lock the cat out of the bedroom for couple days but if the cat doesn't stop with the viv what do I do?
And is it ok for the cat to lie on top of the viv if he is not doing any damage to the screen? Or will that bother the snake to much? any help would be awsome! Thankyou -Amber
 
I remember reading on here that a cat fell through the screen. So maybe build something over the screen to make it more solid but still get ventilation?
 
If you have one of the hard wire tops that they sell at Petco, then it should hold the weight of the cat. But, if you are using just a regular screen type top, then I would say it is not safe for the cat to be on top. Screen is a whole lot easier to bread than the wire tops.
 
yep. the softer wire mess will tear. i had that happen to mine when i first got my tank. one of my cats kept walking on it. i put another screen top over the wire mess part an that helps. all my other tanks have the hard screen tops. you can try squirting your cat with water to get him off the tank / cage an see if that deters him from getting up there. helps with mine. now my cats don't seem to walk around on them. Oh, yes having a cat lay on top of your snake cage would cause stress on the snake in my opinion. They see it as something big trying to get at them from above.
 
My cat lays on top of the snake tubs all the time...it doesn't appear to phase the snakes at all. She also sleeps right behind the viv...the most notice the snakes pay to them is Kash will occasionally go over and peek through the closest air holes at the cat. Otherwise, they pretty much ignore each other.

We try not to let the cat on the mesh tops, however. Just in case.
 
Do you have a shelf that you can put your viv on where the cat couldn't even get on top but leaves a couple inches of air space? The cat will probably stress a baby out but snakes are pretty adaptable. After awhile, the snake will get used to the cat.
 
Dracoluna said:
Do you have a shelf that you can put your viv on where the cat couldn't even get on top but leaves a couple inches of air space? The cat will probably stress a baby out but snakes are pretty adaptable. After awhile, the snake will get used to the cat.
Click to expand...

I have no where lol this crazy cat was on top of my door once all 2 inches of room and he stands on mirrors it's crazy lol but I am going to get a wire top and try to make the cat leave it alone I'll keep everyone updated if the cat leaves it alone or not.
 
If you have trouble keeping the cat away, you can use a cotton ball soaked in eucalyptus oil near the cage. Cats are very sensitive to the smell, it's natural, and won't hurt the snake.
 
The Exoterra metal screens are tough enough to withstand the weight of an average cat. My male is about 8 lbs or 9 lbs and sits on them all the time, with no issue.

If you have the slide lock cages, I don't think those screens would hold, so either get one of the other type of screens to put on top, or a board or something... pegboard would work well.

Also, be very careful if you ever use a heat lamp with cats... make sure it is well-secured. Those can easily start a fire if knocked over.
 
I had one of our cats that would jump up on my 40 gallon breeder tank screen lid where I keep my oldest corn snake, it's right below a window in our bedroom, it was fine for awhile but one night when we where having a really bad thunderstorm/tornado warnings and I was just coming home from work , and I found her tank screen llid ripped/torn and all the things I had sitting on top was inside and had fallen in. Lucky for me Diamond/the snake was still inside the enclosure it was when she was in shed so she hadn't taken any notice. I bought a new lid and now we always make sure the bedroom door is closed and latched behind us so the cats can't get in there.
 
if your worried about the weight of your cat damaging your screen I wouldn't worry too much. My cat is nearly 18lbs and climbs on one of my bearded dragons lids all the time. Although if you wanted to add more security. You can get a piece of wood and drill multiple holes in the top and place that on the screen.
 
I would put a brace over the screen for the cat to sit on. One of the tanks in an old aquarium I bought with a neon light so the tank doubles as a bedside lamp. My six year old cat, Holly, was an acrobat when she was younger. She mellowed out into a couch potato so I don't brace the lids anymore.
 
I placed pegboard on the lids of my screen cages if they are in an area that other animals such as cats will be. This will allow air flow but provides a strong cover that won't collapse under the weight of a cat. My snakes are generally housed in the snake room and not where the cats can get to them. Only the false water cobras are in the livingroom and they are in solid cages without screening.
 
I realize I'm a little late in posting, but I'll proceed regardless :)

I was of the previous mindset that I should keep my cat a safe distance from my snake at all costs. When I was a child, my old cat killed my hamster while I was away at summer camp. I came home to his empty cage and my mom claiming that there was nothing left but a lone ball of hamster fur. I've since questioned this; did my cat really eat the hamster in its entirety, or was my mom withholding the gruesome details?

Naturally, this experience permanently scarred me, my poor hamsters horrific fate tattooed in the folds of my brain. I am of the mindset to never, ever put it past a cat to kill anything it can. Honestly, as snuggly and lovable as my kitten can be, I would fully anticipate her to eat me if I were to shrink in size or visa versa.

I am, as a result, very cautious with my cat and any small animal that comes into my possession. As soon as I got the snake, my cat Lilly Beeps showed immense interest in it. She paces his viv at night when he's out and about. She frequently stands on her hind quarters and looks into the tank. Despite this, she has never, ever tried to jump on the tank. This is a cat that, like every other cat in the world, loves being in high places, but jumping on the viv holds no appeal to her.

I am comforted by this, but as I've said, I still don't trust her.

The first time I held my snake with her in the room, she got a glimpse of him and charged me. She literally looked me in the eye, and ran straight for me in the snake. Like she was going to maul him right in my lap!

I will say that as the snake gets bigger, her interest in killing him has seemingly wained. I even had him in my lap yesterday while she sat two feet away. She did nothing. I even waved made him slither around a little bit to make sure she knew he was out. Perhaps she realizes that one day, he might be able to eat her (although he would have to get pretty huge - but she is a small kitten).

Anyway, I'm aware I just wrote a huge narrative to a relatively simple question. So, in answer, yes. So long as you have a snake (or especially a hamster), your snake probably is in danger, because cats are really cruel in their love for killing. That being said, I think if you employ safeguards and make an effort to ensure the safety of your snake, you won't have any issues.

Just don't do anything stupid like leaving him in your mom's care while you're at summer camp ;)
 
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