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Many pet owners like having multiple types of animals in the same house, but cats and fish tanks can present particular challenges. Many cats love to hunt anything that moves and fish tanks can be a particularly alluring target. Furthermore, not all fish tanks are secure and this may make your fish more vulnerable to your own or neighboring cats.
However, it’s definitely possible to keep the two together. We’ve created this handy outline as to how you can do so and the benefits and challenges it may bring.
What’s more, the Your Aquarium Place Team is developing a powerful and innovative new AI companion for fishkeepers. FishGuru will help you with cat-proof fish tanks and many more common and less common challenges. To make the user experience as smooth and relevant as possible, however, we would appreciate it if you fill in this short survey here.
You’ll not only be helping us with development, but other fish owners worldwide with new solutions to their challenges, too.
Keeping Cats and Fish Tanks in the Same House: What You Need To Consider
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It’s easy to buy a fish tank and assume that it will be safe from cats due to the fact it is self contained. However, cats are relatively smart pets, and you should never underestimate your cat’s ability. If you’re reading this, you may be thinking about buying a cat when you already have a fish tank, or vice versa. Or, you may have both in your house and have been struggling with keeping your cat away from your fish tank. Either way, a cat-proof aquarium is important to understand.
Luckily there are some definite quick fixes that you can implement to prevent your cat from getting to your fish. However, they require a bit of knowledge of basic cat behavior. You’ll also have to assess your fish tank and its positioning to see how secure it is.
However, if you’re looking for this kind of solution, look no further. We’ll break down everything about cat and fish behavior and how to prevent the two mixing, so read on.
Do All Cats Hunt Fish?
The first thing to think about is whether you even need to worry. If you have an elderly cat that seldom hunts, you won’t have as big an issue with cats and aquariums. That said, whilst some cats don’t find fish tanks that interesting, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Cats are hunters, they like to chase things, and sometimes a tank full of moving fish is too difficult to resist.
Even if your cat does not immediately or currently show interest in your fish tank, there is no reason why things may not change in future. If and when they do, you may find that you’re thankful you put precautions in place.
When Might Cats Prey on Fish?
Although it’s likely most cats will take an interest in your fish tank at some point, there are some ways to predict and prevent this before it happens.
Multiple factors influence the prey drive of your cat and they can encourage or discourage him or her from investigating your fish tank too closely.
When They Are Bored
Cats that are bored are much more likely to take an interest in things they shouldn’t. Whether it’s climbing on curtains, taking a look in the outdoor pond, or investigating an indoor fish tank, bored and understimulated moggies are more likely to get into trouble.
You can enrich your cat’s environment with scratching posts, toys – especially ones they can chase – and other ways of stimulating their hunting instinct. This has the added bonus of preventing your cat from directing their energy towards your fish. However, it’s also a good idea anyway – because cats that are bored and understimulated are more likely to develop behavioral problems or even other medical conditions.
When They Are Stressed
Similar to when they are bored, when your cat is stressed they may be more likely to direct pent up energy and aggression towards anything in reach. Unfortunately this can often include your fish tank, which is why a cat-proof aquarium is so important.
Ensure that your cat is stress free by giving them plenty of stimulation, but if your cat seems excessively aggressive, it’s important to check as to whether there may be some sort of underlying medical condition that could be causing this at a deeper level.
When They Are Hungry
A hungry cat may naturally take an interest in your fish tank. Although fish are not necessarily that appetising, cats still feel a strong connection between their appetite and their prey drive. This is as wild cats would have had to have hunted for their food.
This connection between appetite and hunting still remains in domestic cats. As a result, a hungry cat may indeed begin to show an interest in your fish tank.
When They Are Home Alone
Lastly, when cats are home alone, they may lack stimulation, and direct this towards your fish tank. Furthermore, if they know this is an out of bounds area, they may seize the opportunity to investigate it behind your back. Remember, cats are curious and exploratory animals and the unknown and forbidden is naturally a huge draw for any cat.
Fortunately, there is lots you can do to prevent your cat showing an interest in your fish tank. This can include making it unappealing, or simply not worth the effort.
What Kinds of Fish Are in Danger From Cats?
In general, most fish that are in an open fish tank (without a lid) are in danger from cats. A bored cat can easily put a paw into the tank, bat a fish, and quickly cause lots of damage.
However, some species are easier than others for cats to catch. While small, schooling fish are less likely to be on the receiving end of aggression due to their ability to hide, other fish do not have this defence. Larger, fancy goldfish that are slow moving are easy targets for an adventurous cat.
Additionally, fish in goldfish bowls or nano tanks are especially in danger as these tanks can be knocked off a flat surface and onto the floor by an enthusiastic feline visitor. There are other reasons why you shouldn’t keep your fish in a goldfish bowl – point blank. Yet either way, neither of these structures are particularly protected from cats that might think about knocking them off a surface.
Is There Such a Thing as a Cat Proof Fish Tank?
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Sadly, there is no such thing as a specifically cat-proof fish tank – i.e. a tank that is designed to keep cats out. However there are many varieties of fish tank that are naturally cat-proof by their design. Furthermore, if you don’t have a cat-proof fish tank, you can easily make your tank impossible for your cat to break into via multiple methods.
How To Tell if Your Fish Tank Is Cat-Proof
There are a few kinds of tank that will never, no matter what you do, be cat-proof. Some of the main varieties are as following:
Although they may look great from a human perspective, lidless tanks are always a no if you have cats. As we mention above, curious cats may put their paws in the tank. Or, they may manage to knock over or break the tank, spelling disaster for its inhabitants and creating dangerous broken glass. Remember also that some aquatic plants that are common with this kind of tank setup, like the pothos, are toxic to cats.
Goldfish bowls are bad for fish on multiple levels, and you should ideally avoid them at all costs. However, they are especially bad in terms of accessibility to cats as they are unstable, often easily accessible, and very easy to knock over.
Incorrectly Secured Nano Tanks
Whilst you can keep a nano tank with cats in the house, you have to secure it correctly. Due to their small size, nano tanks are light enough that the wrong attention from a curious feline can inadvertently knock the tank over or off the surface where you have kept it.
Possible Difficulties With a Cat-Proof Fish Tank
Creating a cat-proof fish tank is not without difficulties. Here are some of the most common troubleshooting scenarios you may find.
Your tank may be cat-proof, but your cat is still staring longingly at the fish inside. This can be difficult as this behavior can stress the fish out as they sense the presence of a predator. You can fix it by screening the tank off from your cats, or moving it so there is no place for the cats to sit and watch the fish. This will make your fish feel safer, but also send the message to the cats that there is nothing to gain from watching the aquarium…
Even if you have a lid on your aquarium, if this is too easily removable – for example, if your cat can stick a paw underneath it – this could spell trouble for your fish. Remember, cats learn easily, and if they are determined, they may quickly find a way to open the lid.
Therefore, make sure your tank lid is secured, normally with clips or some sort of clasp. This will prevent your cat from figuring out how to remove it.
One often overlooked feature of fish tanks that can pose a danger to cats is the wiring. If your wiring is insecure and your cats like to hang out near the fish tank, this can quickly become an issue for the safety of both your cats and your fish. Why might this be a problem?
An overly curious or playful cat may pull out a wire with disastrous consequences, stopping your tank’s filter, bubbler, or so on. For nano tanks this can also be strong enough to knock the tank over, and the mixture of water and electricity can potentially result in a shock for both cats and fish.
A cable tidy or other way of keeping your wires secure and out of reach of cats – especially so they don’t trip on them – is vital to prevent this.
Many of the issues here come into play when your cat can quickly access your tank. This means if your tank is on a surface your cat can easily climb to. Therefore, one of the best solutions is simply to secure it so there is no surface for your cat to climb on. Having a tank stand – or simply putting your tank high enough up on a shelf – can provide an easy solution.
However, some cats may climb on top of the tank itself and stand on the lid. To prevent this, house your tank on a shelf so that there is no space for your cat to climb on top. Otherwise, this can quickly become a recipe for your lid breaking.
What Is a Fish Tank With a Cat Hole? All About This Viral Trend
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What is a fish tank with a cat hole?
You may have seen some viral videos and articles that show fish tanks with specially created viewing holes for your cats. This is a deliberate viewing hole within the tank so your cat can watch your fish.
However, are these a good idea? Or, are they stressful to your fish, and do they encourage cats to take too much interest in your fish tank?
We recommend against a fish tank with a cat hole, viewing hole or other additions. These will only encourage your cats to stalk and hunt fish, which is what you want to avoid.
Author’s Note: Having cats constantly watching the aquarium can hurt your fish, as the chronic stress can prevent them from having proper immune function.
What Can You Do To Prevent Cats From Hunting Fish
We’re outlined the best ways to keep fish safe from cats, but for those looking for an easy solution, these are the main areas you should focus on:
Secure your tank: This means lid, stand, and location. If your tank has any ways for a cat to get a paw in, it’s not secure. This is one of the most foolproof methods and other methods should not be relied upon.
Give your cat enough stimulation: Whilst this should not be a substitute for securing your tank, giving your cat enough stimulation can drastically reduce the levels of interest they show in your tank.
Make your tank less appealing: Lastly, making the tank less appealing but putting it out of reach so it’s not worth your cat’s effort can prevent a lot of cats from taking an interest in fish.
Best Types of Cat-Proof Fish Tank
Lidded Rectangular Aquariums: Lidded rectangular aquariums are easy to secure, fit well on most surfaces, and come in a huge variety of sizes.
Hexagonal Tanks: Whilst they have their pros and cons, hexagonal tanks are very difficult for cats to access due to their small top-to-total-volume area, comparatively small lids, and the fact their typical stands and locations make them less easy for cats to access.
Fish Tanks With a Combined Stand: Fish tanks that come with combine stands reduce the need to add your tank to an existing surface that your cat can stand on. By minimizing the surface for your cat to access the tank from, you create a powerful deterrent that makes your tank simply not worth the effort.
Setting up and Finishing Your Cat-Proof Fish Tank
Lastly, if you’re setting up a tank in a house that will have cats and aquariums, the following checklist should ensure you have covered all bases and you won’t have any unpleasant surprises further down the line…
Wire security: Have you secured the wires and got a cable tidy? There are many options for doing this and not only does it keep your cats safe, it can help prevent dangerous ground loops from forming by controlling the position of cables.
Author’s Note: Having a fish tank with a dedicated cabinet and stand can provide an easy space to add the wires that will keep them out of the way of cats, babies, and any other pets.
Location: Is your tank in a good location? Minimizing the surface area available for your cat to stand on, and the space above the tank for your cat to sit on the lid, will deter any felines from taking too much interest in your fish.
Stability: Is your tank stable and secure ? Many cats love to knock things off different surfaces. You can prevent this by ensuring it is not near any edges, especially if the tank is very light (generally nano aquariums)
Viewing: Whilst not an option for every pet owner, if your tank is visible easily, this can entice the curiosity of your cats. Reducing visibility in terms of cats and aquariums can therefore help deter them. Remember, out of sight, out of mind.
Lid: Does your tank have a secure lid that uses clasps to prevent a cat opening it? This is a no-brainer, but is sometimes easy to overlook as you think about other things.
Final Thoughts
Setting up a cat-proof fish tank is not hard, but it does take some forethought and consideration. This is because cats are relatively intelligent animals, and you might not immediately spot all the ways they can access your fish tank.
What’s more, you can never anticipate all the reasons your cat may show an interest in your tank, as all cats are different. Therefore, even if you think you know your moggy well, you can never be sure what they might make of the new – and rather exciting looking – aquatic additions to your house. So, take precautions, secure your tank, and you will find that keeping cats and aquariums can be easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all cats like to chase or hunt fish?
Whilst the temperament of individual cats may vary, it helps to assume that your cat may enjoy chasing or investigating fish. This is because most cats overall tend to have a high prey drive and they like to exercise this.
In fact, if you don’t give them enough of an outlet for this, it can lead to all kinds of behavioral difficulties – not limited to becoming too curious or interested in your fish tank.
What does it mean if my cat spends all day by the fish tank?
Due to cats’ strong prey drive, they often need something to chase. If your cat is spending a lot of time by the fish tank, it might be that they are under stimulated and they need to get rid of this excess energy. If you have a cat toy or other form of enrichment for them, it’s best to spend at least half an hour every day playing with them.
Author’s Note: This means that they can burn off the excess energy. Understimulated cats are more likely to become curious and pose a danger to your fish.
Why do cats like to chase fish?
Simply put, cats are predators, meaning they have a strong prey drive. This is the drive to hunt and pursue any animal smaller than them, including birds and fish!
This is an evolutionary hangover, as domestic cats are technically only semi domesticated. Unfortunately this prey drive can and does often extend to your pet fish or fish in the outdoor garden pond. So, it’s vital to ensure all your fish have a secure environment free from the threat of your cat.
Cats.com uses high-quality, credible sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the claims in our articles. This content is regularly reviewed and updated for accuracy. Visit our About Us page to learn about our standards and meet our veterinary review board.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mam.12230
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10750-014-2096-x
http://www.cma4ch.org/chemo/ftp/EST016_Ground_Loops_handout.pdf
