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How do you train a cat not to attack a lizard's terrarium?
For the past few months, we've been having a little trouble with our otherwise adorable kitten. His big sister (from a far different mother) is a bright red crested gecko named Ren. Naturally, Liam the cat loves to watch Ren the lizard hop about her terrarium, and swipes at her at any given opportunity. Unfortunately, the only terrarium we have for the lizard has a mesh top, so we're afraid of Liam hurting her. We'd buy a better terrarium, but they're expensive. We'd move the terrarium, but we live in a very small apartment and there's no room anywhere but the living room.
How can we train the cat to stop picking on the poor lizard?
On the suggestions of others, we've tried things like moving him, diverting his attention with toys when we see him attack, hissing like a mother cat, and even spraying his fur with water.
But none of this does anything! For instance, if you spray him, he simply recoils and rushes right back at the terrarium!
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♥ Liam &hearts
on Feb 26th 2011
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in Behavior & Training
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You must understand that Liam is a predatory animal. My son's cat, in North Carolina, spends his day hunting and catching the lizards down there. It's what cats do 8-) You can purchase just a top for Ren's terrarium. I had one for my gerbils that was a very strong screening material. Make sure that Ren has a big cave inside her tank to hide in. If Liam can't see her, as a hyperactive kitten he may lose interest. Punishing him isn't going to do any good although you can try shaing a soda can with a few pennies in it as him. Are you sure you couldn't put Ren in a bedroom or even a bathroom? Once the novelty wears off, Liam may lose interest in Ren because, be frank, she just isn't that much fun. Unless he actually gets ahold of her, he won't hurt her. I've had cats and fish, cats and gerbils and my friend had a cat and a bird and they pretty much all existed together with no harm/no foul. He's just doing what comes naturally. Keep distracting him with toys and playtime!
Izadore (Izzie)
answered on 3/3/11.
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