Kitten scaring fish?

**TheVoldevader** · 03-20-2012, 05:28 PM

My kitten has taken to jumping up on top of my fish tanks, or walking the thin ledge in front fo their tanks and whacking the glass whenever a fish comes out. My three mollies won't come out of their cave now! Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get her to leave them alone?

**sheamurai** · 03-20-2012, 05:36 PM

Training a cat is always a challenge, lol, but I find a spray bottle works well.

**TheVoldevader** · 03-20-2012, 05:45 PM

I keep scolding her and shooing her away from the tanks, but she still won't leave them alone ... *sigh*

I'll go look for a spray bottle :) Only reason I haven't used it yet, is because my kitten loves water. She goes 'swimming' in the tub and everything. I'm afraid she's going to think squirting water at her is praise.

**Rue** · 03-20-2012, 05:45 PM

...I'd suggest a spray bottle too...

**sheamurai** · 03-20-2012, 05:47 PM

Well, you could try the dog training aids. The ultra sonic devices, or the collar that squirts lemon scent on them...

Or maybe a childs nerf gun, lol.

**arcticgibs** · 03-20-2012, 07:26 PM

It is good to start the training while the critter is still a kitten. You are trying to go against your cat's basic instincts of the fish being food, interesting to watch and liking to play.

Make sure the water bottle you chose has a good strong stream so that you don't have to be very close to the tank to us it. Even though your cat likes water, the stream of water will not be pleasant and coupled with a firm "No" at the same time will help in training. You have to also be consistent and diligent -- using it every time your kitten is even looking like it is going to jump on the tank.

We had this issue at our house for a while with a couple of adult cats that terrorized my fish. It worked but it took a while. (I also would sneak up on the cat while it was on the tank and squirted it so that it would learn that just because they didn't see me, they weren't safe to be on the tank.)

I hope this helps and good luck.

**MrJackson** · 03-20-2012, 07:27 PM

Cats that do like water generally don't like it on anything other than their own terms. Don't let them see the bottle when you use it, that's suppose to help.