#reptles

This post is directed towards cats and small animals (more specifically reptiles). I have little experience with cat/dog relationships, so I apologize if you thought that was the direction I was going in. 

 That being said, if you're reading this chances are you have a cat and are wanting to get another pet (or vise versa). It makes sense given how cats are the second most common pet in the world (after fish). And considering their predatory instincts, you may be worried about the safety of the new animal coming in. So the question lies. Is it safe to get a small pet if you already have a cat?

 Short answer: Yes, if precautions are taken 

Long answer: Stay tuned! 

 Step 1: This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how some people trust their cats and how that trust is vastly misplaced. Make sure the cat is OUT of the room before you feed/handle/let out your reptiles. This is SUPER important! You don't want the cat hanging around while you're opening/closing terrariums. No matter how long. Cats are hunters and cannot be trusted around small animals. Accidents happen. Usually more often than they should. Even if you think you are watching it, if you turn your back for a few seconds it could mean a meal for your cat and the loss of your other pet(s). You also don't want to scare your smaller pets with the presence of a predatory animal. Make sure the room is safe before letting anyone out. 

 Step 2: Cat-proof the room as much as possible. Make sure your setup is arranged where it's difficult for a cat to see and gives it little space to jump up on. A cat won't make the attempt if it can't SEE where it's going to land. I have my terrariums pushed up to the edge of the shelf which give her no ledge to land on if she tried to hop up there. I also have most of my tanks set on a metal rack that would hurt her feet so she knows not to attempt. This doesn't stop her though, from getting as close as she can. I place sheets of aluminum foil on the floor in front of the terrariums. Cats hate the feeling of foil and won't walk on it. The foil keeps her back a few feet and negates her ability to touch the cages. I suggest doing this if your cat is going to have access to the room that your other pets are in. 

Yeah!It’s, uh, not a very good picture, though. I just snapped it and it’s- the light is bad, there’s a lot of glare, etc. So I’ll explain what everything is!