Securing Screen from Kitty Cat

[codyjames14]

Hello,
I am a mom to a new baby boy named "Ronnie". Love him to bits, he is eating his crickets and veggies. Doing very well, learning my voice and face. We are now going move from the bedroom to my family room, problem is that we have a very curious kitty "Joey" who has spent much time with Ronnie already. She has not been able to get on top of his enlcosure which is a screen that we place 2 lights on top of. I need to find a way to prevent Joey from knocking the lights off and causing a fire and laying on the screen and potentially falling in the cage with Ronnie. Looking for some expert advice out there. Please help me, because right now everyone is doing GREAT
Thanks So Much and I love the website,
Ronnie's Mom

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

I wish I had some advice for you on this, but I don't I have a cat and also have a viv with no top for one of my beardies. Fortunately, the cat has never tried to jump up there.
Hopefully someone who has had this same problem will chime in with some suggestions.
Sorry I couldn't be of any help.

 

[kimbasmom]

I'm afraid it may be trail and error for you and the kitten. I am working on building my little guy's new home, and one of the big reasons I'm really pushing to finish is because our year-old cats really like to watch him and his crickets.

(That's Delta (aka Delta-force kitten) sitting on the crickets looking in at Kimba. The towel on the cricket cage was even an attempt to keep the kitties from seeing the crickets. Out of sight, out of mind didn't work in this case.

(And that's Baxter, Delta's bestest friend, keeping an eye on his friend Kimba.... )

A spray gun and some sharp words kept them from going over his home. Now they go around the cage. The white board was some foam board I tried to put up to block them from going around the cage, but alas...no luck.

Patience and ingenuity will probably be your best bet!

 

[kimmie]

Oh My - look at those cute kitties wondering if they'll be lucky enough to snag some crickets or that cute little dragon for din din!

Sorry I'm no help either. My crew of 5 cats aren't allowed on the side of the house that has tastey treats (aka 2 hamsters, dragon and crickets).

I guess you could always build a viv using the crossfire plans and then you'd have something the cats probably couldn't get into. Well you'd want to lock the plexiglass doors but other than that, they'd not be able to!

 

[definitions]

I have 2 cats a 3 chihuahuas and they are all terrified of my BD I just don't understand it. I take him out of his viv and they all run for the hills. Kind of funny.

 

[cyberdrone]

They make steel grill cage tops. It will withstand the weight of any cat. I did however have to use some clear packing tape to hold it down, as one of my cats is smart enough to lift it up.

This was before I built his viv. I actually witnessed the top being lifted a few times on the webcam, knowing that i couldnt do anything but watch, if the cat got it.. what a horror film.

 

[kimmie]

You could probably make some straps out of webbing with buckles to hold that sort of lid on. You can get that kind of webbing at most fabric stores (used for belts, purse handles, etc). That way it's easy to take off/put back on again.

 

[kimbasmom]

Oh My - look at those cute kitties wondering if they'll be lucky enough to snag some crickets or that cute little dragon for din din!

Thanks. We have six cats. Those are the youngest two. The middle child (a former feral kitten who I adopted when he was so small he spent the night behind the dash of my car. No worries he hung out on top of the glove box and we got him right out, and now, three years and many pounds later you couldn't tell that Tenzin was the little skittish thing...I digress, LOL), also is interested. The older three, having seen my previous bearded many years ago seem not to worry. I told the little guys, wait until Kimba grows up. He won't look like such an easy target then. HAH!

The "cage clips" that came with the lid work well, and that's what I use on the cricket aquarium. The screen on Kimba's home latches.

Tenzin loves to open cupboard doors, so I have no doubt they could lift the screen.

Kimba just stares right back at the cats with a daring expression on his face. He even glass dances in front of them. And a lot of times, as in the bottom photo, Baxter or Delta are behind the cage, basking in the heat, and he's right there next to them.

 

[mindu]

I have kitties too and a new beardie, and I bought a lamp stand which the base sits under the tank so it can't be knocked over. I too was worried about it being knocked off and fire and damaged carpet, etc... They have them at petco and such, or online. I think it is called a reptile fixture stand. try searching someof those key words and you'll find it!