Cat threat assesment.

[CoryCrandall]

Greetings everyone! I've only been on the forum for 15 min. and I'm lovin' it. I have searched many of the threads for this question, but I havnt found a clear-cut answer.

Has anyone ever seen an injury caused by a cat?

I have a Sulcuta apx 7" and I am planning on upgrading his indoor habitat. I would like to have an open top. I'm sure at leat one of my cats will want to jump in there are and steal the basking spot. If I were a judge of my cats, they've never seem interested in the tortoise, and they have been inddor cats all thier lives. None of them are the hunting type.
Please share any stories you may have concerning cats and torts.

 

[tortoisenerd]

You will get answers each way. My vote would be better safe than sorry, even if you have had them interact well together many times. Cats aren't as much of a threat as dogs, but I would hate for me to vote that it is safe when it is not. No, I have not heard of any cats injuring torts but maybe this thread will bring someone forward? Best wishes and welcome to the group!

 

[Stephanie Logan]

My cats have jumped up into Taco's enclosure to steal the basking spot, and Sirius K even crawled into the hide to snooze a couple times. Since I started training them with a squirtgun though, the intrusions have pretty much ceased.

When Taco romps in the sunporch my four fat furry felines take little notice...they will come up and sniff her a bit, and sometimes when they're all stretched out in full-distance napping position it is Taco who will walk up and stare at one...and stare...and stare, until the cat will roll over, stand up and walk away.

 

[terracolson]

My cats started to use the enclosure as a litter box.. but once i went to a orchard grass bedding they stopped..

out side they lay down with them, infact since they have been kittens they have been buddies...

 

[Yvonne G]

7" is pretty big for a cat to bother about. The cat might look at the tortoise and watch its progress as it walks, but once he gets used to the new animal in the house he will probably lose his curiosity about it. I've seen cats pick up hatchlings and walk away with them, or bat them around with their front paws, but 7"? no, I think your sulcata is safe.

to the forum!!

 

[Meg90]

There was a member here that had his 3.5" sully hatchling chewed to death by a cat.

They CAN do damage if they want too. If you even think your cat will be a problem, cat proof, or put the tort in a completely seperate room.

I have my kitty at my mom's house until my baby torts become too big to be carried off.

Keep in mind that if your table in on a high surface, and the cat manages to knock the tort out of it, a fall can do some major damage--cracked shells, broken limbs, shock etc.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I have had cats all my life and have 2 now. One sleeps with my babies and steals the best basking spot daily. My other cat couldn't care less about the tortoises. So it really depends on you and your cat. I have 8 yearlings and my older cat sleeps with them under the basking light...I never worry that my cats will harm a baby.

 

[kimber_lee_314]

None of my cats have every bothered my turtles, not even the hatchlings. The only problem I've had is them eating the chicken I put out for the turtles!

 

[kit-e-kat]

Welcome!
My cat is curious about my Greek yearlings. He sniffs them and paws them, but I'm always around when the're wandering in the yard. I have a screen over my enclosure made of PVC pipe and hardware cloth. It was relatively cheap and easy to make. My cat will sometimes sit on the hardware cloth screen and watch the torts. If there are any concerns, I would construct a screen to protect your tort not only from your cat, but other cats, possums, skunks or raccoons. It could be cheap insurance and some peace of mind. Maybe bird netting?

 

[biglove4bigtorts]

Cats can be decieving in the trust we build with them. Some cats will hunt and play with prey, just for the fun of it. Indoor cats seem lazy and uninterested, then one day, while you are out of the house.....

Have you ever seen a cat or dog in a playful mood, where they really are clumsy, goofy, almost drunk-like? Imagine that same mood, where they really are thoughless and a bit of movement catches thier eye. A puncture wound from a playful cat's teeth can be very seriouse...infection and physical damage in a small tort could mean its life.
I had an indoor and very docile cat break through a lid and kill a baby iguana, when I was 11 or 12ish. I also had a Jack Russel open a closed bathroom door and ope the shower stall door and eat another baby iguana! Animals are cunning, inventive, and deviously intelligent...whether aggressive or playful, the unintended interaction between different pet species can be life altering or life ending for a beloved friend.
At the least,. the cat may knock over a basking light or make a mess of the cage. I's be very cautious.

 

[TortieGal]

They can poop in the enclosure, knock over the basking light and start a fire, Knock over the enclosure, bite the tort or snag them with a claw and could get them in the eye. I would not trust them unsupervised.

 

[kit-e-kat]

Cats can be decieving in the trust we build with them. Some cats will hunt and play with prey, just for the fun of it. Indoor cats seem lazy and uninterested, then one day, while you are out of the house.....

Have you ever seen a cat or dog in a playful mood, where they really are clumsy, goofy, almost drunk-like? Imagine that same mood, where they really are thoughless and a bit of movement catches thier eye. A puncture wound from a playful cat's teeth can be very seriouse...infection and physical damage in a small tort could mean its life.
I had an indoor and very docile cat break through a lid and kill a baby iguana, when I was 11 or 12ish. I also had a Jack Russel open a closed bathroom door and ope the shower stall door and eat another baby iguana! Animals are cunning, inventive, and deviously intelligent...whether aggressive or playful, the unintended interaction between different pet species can be life altering or life ending for a beloved friend.
At the least,. the cat may knock over a basking light or make a mess of the cage. I's be very cautious.

We must keep in mind that they are animals as well as pets. It is hard to cover all bases when it comes to preventing tragic events. I've had cats that I have had for years, and suddenly they may scratch or even bite me when they become startled or angry. It's the animal's natural instinct that is sometimes hard to predict. Blame can't be totally be placed on our cats or dogs. We must be proactive in protecting any of our pets, assessing any possible hazardous oppertunity, and of course, exchanging ideas and thoughts on this wonderful forum.