Last year our son was given a very pretty betta. Our then cat was elderly and couldn't have cared less. He died just last spring. We've now adopted a new kitty buddy who is very smart and curious. Just today he's discovered Fishy O'Gill and thinks he's the coolest thing. Problem is, we have an open-top 5 gallon bowl on the top of our built-ins (like a mantle) and don't have another good place to put him.
I'm trying, now, to keep the cat out of the fish's area but this isn't going to be any sort of long-term remedy. Now Milton (kitty) is fixated on Fishy and I have stuff to do. He's in the kitchen with me right now, swing door closed, and we do play with him a lot, but am not going to be able to distract him every time he gets interested.
Any and all helpful suggestions would be appreciated. I'm open to getting a larger tank with a lid, but won't be able to for a few days as my husband is at a convention for Fri/Sat. Just a temporary solution would be great. Thanks! I may move the bowl to my son's room again, but would prefer not to-- hurt my back the last time I lifted the thing. :(
Thanks Bunny. Everything's in place. Kitty is stymied but he'll live, and so will the fish, for now anyway!
Not sure Milton wants to play or eat Fishy. He gets a lot of playtime with us (Da Bird, puffballs, laser pointer.) We've only had him for a week and a half or so, so I'm not sure if he wants to hunt, eat, or play with Fishy.
Milk crate and two cinder blocks?
point being, you want to put something over top the fish bowl. Something to keep kitty out. Cinder blocks will keep kitty from swatting and upending the milk crate.
Best,
F. B.
All it's going to take is one time in the water then kitty won't want to be anywhere near the tank again. I'd let kitty be up there and secretly squirt it with a spray bottle you've prepared in advance. As time passed kitty will learn water and fish tank equal getting wet and he'll go away.
Does your cat "play" with the Beta? Our cat loves to drink from our fish bowls. The vet said it's not bad for the cat and the Beta doesn't seem to mind sharing. He actually goes up towards the cat while she's drinking.
I draped screen mesh over the top of my fish tank and held it in place with several rubber bands joined end to end to be long enough to go around. .
Until you get a screen, just put a cloth over the top and tape it down. With a smaller bowl I put net I had left over from fabric store over top and heldbit in place with a large rubber band.
We had a large gold fish when we were growing up and we had a screen top lid for the aquarium tank.
We use to pet sit our neighbors cat and he never messed with the screen.
He'd sit next to the tank and watch the fish for hours on end.
The cat was entertained and the fish was safe.
Put Fishy in a cup, empty the tank, move tank into Boy's room, fill tank as needed by whatever care a Beta needs, add Fishy back. Tell Boy that Fishy is his and he MUST keep his door closed when he is not in it or else Fishy is likely to become a Milton snack.
Good luck, we have 3 cats and my daughter has been bugging for years for a fish.
