Cats v. Aquarium Filter

[chrikc1]

Hey all! I have a bit of a dilemma and I would like to get some insight. I have read countless articles about keeping your cats out of an aquarium but my problem lies with the actual filter, not the tank. My babies are fine with not getting in the tank (although they love to watch the fish) but they love to pull the cover off of the filter, grab the cartridge out,and rip it up. They spread the carbon granuals all over the house. They get soaking wet doing this but it doesn't deter them. I literally cannot keep one in there longer than a couple of hours. Has anyone else had this issue? Should I worry about their contact with the filter? Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

 

[jcat]

I had that issue with our last cat. He pulled the charcoal filter out of his water fountain several times and carried it around. I ended up taping the lid down. Perhaps somebody with an aquarium can tell you whether it's risky.

 

[Kieka]

Luckily my filter and tank are too tall for the cats to get on. But I think maybe trying a strip of Velcro along the edge of the lid may provide enough resistance to prevent the cats from taking it off. Or one of those Velcro cable ties around the whole set up. It would've reusable and removable but should obstruct air flow as long as you aren't creating a seal along all sides. At least that would work with our filter and set up.

Maybe if you could provide a photo of your set up?

 

[duncanmac]

If you can't strap down the lid - can you use a canister filter?

If you aquarium is fairly well established, you can stop using charcoal and just use floss (and if your cats are ripping that up, you can use a sponge on the intake.)

With a hang-on-back filter, its there mostly for aeration not filtration, so you can skip the filter medium altogether and just vacuum the tank/change the water a little more often

 

[Freedom]

Well this does have me chuckling! Thank goodness I never had to deal with this particular issue!

I agree w/ all the suggestions so far. Is this a hang on the back type? Taping it may solve the problem. With cats - well, dogs as well - once they try something and find it fun, they just keep on doing it! Intervention is needed, usually involving invention lol.

 

[wahine01]

What type of filter do you have?

 

[MoochNNoodles]

We duct taped the filter to the tank and the lid to the filter when our 2 were young. They would make a racket trying to move it to get inside it.

 

[wahine01]

I'd say taping the filter/aquarium lid shut would be your best bet, or otherwise try covering it a tinfoil for a while.

I have 3 aquariums at home but so far my only issue has been my kitten climbing on top of one which has a GLASS lid... I guess if he falls in it will a quick lesson on not trying that again! Thankfully I've only caught him doing that once. He's more obsessed with trying to eat the fish food when I'm feeding them!