How to Keep a Cat Out of the Aquarium

Cats like fish and often are attracted to watching fish swim in an aquarium. A cat may try to remove the fish or otherwise disturb the habitat. Keep the cat out of the aquarium by making temporary adaptations. If you can't convince the cat that messing with the aquarium is a bad idea, make changes that offer few inconveniences in the long term.

  1. Screen the Top

    • Construct a metal screen top for your aquarium out of heavy chicken wire or similar material. Use wire mesh that is sturdy enough for the cat to sit on without bending it or falling into the aquarium. Construct the screen from a piece of mesh approximately 6 inches wider and longer than the top of the aquarium so you have a 3-inch overlap on all four sides. Cut 3-inch slits in the mesh on the corners so you can fold the mesh with flaps and wire them in place. Alternately, attach the mesh to the back edge of the aquarium with hinges and wrap the overlap on the front edge over the sides and wire it together. With wire mesh, you can feed the fish without removing the cover. Use plastic tie wraps to suspend a light from the mesh if you use a light to warm the water.

    Sticky Feet

    • Place a sturdy piece of plywood over the top of the aquarium and secure it with elastic loops or cords. Place long strips of double-sided tape, duct tape with the sticky side up or strips of nonpoisonous flypaper on top of the plywood. Staple the strips to the plywood. The cat won̵7;t like the sticky stuff on his paws and will decide he doesn̵7;t want to mess with the aquarium. Leave open segments where you can add fish food without disturbing the tape.

    Aromatic Solution

    • Spray newspaper strips with white vinegar and allow them to dry. Place some of the strips around the bottom edges of the aquarium and some on the plastic top, mesh cover or other cover for your aquarium. Your cat finds the smell of the vinegar distasteful and will avoid the aquarium. Replace the strips every couple of days or respray the strips. The cat̵7;s sense of smell is stronger than the human sense of smell, so the smell should not be offensive to humans.

    Avoidance Technique

    • Use an industrial spray bottle or water gun to spray the cat when you see her messing with the aquarium. Ideally, the cat doesn̵7;t see you spray the water and associate you with the action. Don̵7;t engage in staring down the cat and set up a power struggle with the cat.