Leos With Other Pets?

[Patrick19]

Hi, newbie here!

I was just wondering how leopard geckos are with other pets (dogs, cats, etc.) I have been looking into getting a leo for some time now, but have a cat and I am not sure how they would do under one roof. I am afraid that my cat would harm a little gecko.

If I have a screen top over the terrarium, it should be ok, right?

Have any of you experienced an encounter with a cat/dog and a gecko, where the gecko is harmed?

Any response would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

[acpart]

Cats and leos can work if done very carefully:

1. Secure screen cover that the cat can't knock off (consider locking clips) or that won't fall apart if the cat sits on it (cats on cages is an occasional problem in my house

2. Cage in a secure place where the cat can't knock it over

3. Cage in a room off-limits to cats if possible

4. If that's not possible, it might be preferable to situate the cage where the cat can sit somewhere and look inside, as opposed to trying to climb or jump to see what's inside and doing damage to the house, itself or the leo

5. Never take your leo out unless you're sure that the cat has no access tothe room. I had one leo clawed because I had her on the rug and didn't notice the cat (minimal damage, healed fine; I'm much more careful now) and another killed when it got out and the cats got it

If you can do all this, you'll probably be OK.

Aliza

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Hi, newbie here!

I was just wondering how leopard geckos are with other pets (dogs, cats, etc.) I have been looking into getting a leo for some time now, but have a cat and I am not sure how they would do under one roof. I am afraid that my cat would harm a little gecko.

If I have a screen top over the terrarium, it should be ok, right?

You'll want to have a secure lid. A dog or cat would most likely injure or kill the Leo if it got a hold of it.

Have any of you experienced an encounter with a cat/dog and a gecko, where the gecko is harmed?

Any response would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

Not personally, but there are plenty of bad reports in the forum here. If you do a search, you're sure to find a few. At the very least, the Leo will throw it's tail. I don't need to tell you what the worst outcome is. :main_no:

 

[Bodon]

With a secure lid you should be just fine. When i hold mine our dog doesn't seem to care and our cat doesn't even watch it in the tank. As long as no other pets are around when they are out i dont think there is any problem.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I have 4 cats and 26 leopard geckos now. I have had nothing happen to my geckos yet. The cats do watch them in the tanks and sometimes sleep on the screens but nothing a water bottle can't fix lol.

 

[98XJSport]

My rabbit is jealous if Im paying attention to the geckos, but the worst I get is a headbutt on the ankle

 

[malt_geckos]

We have our geckos in a breeder rack. Our cat will pull out the tubs and let the geckos out! She hasn't hurt one yet. I keep the tubs taped shut so she can't mess with them.

 

[syntheticreality]

i left the lid off of my juvie tank just long enough to walk 10 feet away and fill up the mealie dish. In that amount of time, my 1 year old kitten jumped straight up inside of the tank. Luckily I grabbed him before he a leo ended up in his mouth. I've tried squirting him with a water bottle and shooting his butt with a LOW POWERED toy airsoft gun to train him to stay away from the cages. No matter what I do, curiosity overcomes his better judgement in almost all situations.

I guess it depends on the personality of the cat. You can make things work, you just have to be careful.

 

[Stevie]

A gecko bit my dog in the nose once and since than he's afraid of them! perhaps this could work for your cats as well! (kiddin').

Greets,

Stevie

 

[goReptiles]

Aliza seemed to hit the points pretty well. I have several dogs and other animals in my house, and they all are fine. I'd say cats are about the same. Just definitely make sure to have a secure lid! I know I'd lose a few anything if I left lids and cages open. One of my pups chases and kills lose crickets, imagine a lose gecko. :-(

 

[rubym]

My 4 foot female iguana, tail whipped our dog one day. She got out of her room and he got to close. He ended up with a busted lip and and a major fear of anything that crawls. Our cat is 16 years old and has been through so many creatures in the house that she has no interest in them but she has never chased a mouse in her life either. As everyone else has said with the proper precautions a gecko would be fine in the house.

 

[LadyGecko]

As was already stated-A secure lid and keeping the tank(s) in a place where they cannot be knocked over is a must when mixing cats and reptiles in the same home

I have numerous indoor cats and numerous geckos and I am vigilant about screen top integrity and making sure that the lids are firmly held in place

My cats are all over my geckos tanks at times and they have not bothered them-especially when the geckos are raised from small babies
The majority of my Leos are now kept in tubs in old dressers converted to racks and I keep the tops/lids on the sterlite tubs and poke ventilation holes in the front of the tubs or the sides

I also had an Iggy and the cats gave him a wide berth whenever he roamed on the floor but there were certain cats that got along with Spike just fine

Good Luck

Sandy

 

[Patrick19]

^^^That's so cool, fantastic pictures!

Just want to say thanks to everyone who has responded so far and to the ones who may respond later. You have really eased my decision on getting a gecko and have well informed me. Thank you once again!

 

[BettaDragon]

You also have to be careful of how smart a cat is. Mine has learned how to open the lids that slide to lock into place. I just keep my cat out of the room where the geckos are. What I've noticed with her is she cares more about the crickets in the tank than the geckos themselves. She once came in the room when i had one of the floor. She tapped it with her paw (didn't use claws thank god) out of curiosity before I could shoo her away. The gecko hissed at her and she ran off. Ever since then she's been afraid of that gecko and that gecko only.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Zilla Critter cages have a built in screen lid that slides out and has a place for a lock (which they also manufacture). They're way more secure than a regular screen lid with clips. Here's the link: http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/critter-cages.htm

 

[BettaDragon]

That's what I have. I just don't put a lock in it. A paperclip would probably work though if it's bent. Keeping the cat out of the room is a lot less stressful. I don't have to worry about her breaking the screen with her glutenous mass if she sits on top of it.

 

[LadyGecko]

That's what I have. I just don't put a lock in it. A paperclip would probably work though if it's bent. Keeping the cat out of the room is a lot less stressful. I don't have to worry about her breaking the screen with her glutenous mass if she sits on top of it.

:main_laugh:
are you saying that you have a "Fat Cat" ?

 

[BettaDragon]

:main_laugh:
are you saying that you have a "Fat Cat" ?

Yes I do. When she runs, her fat waddles from side to side.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Those Zilla tanks are good. I have one. I have anouther with a sliding screan top also. On the tanks my cats lay on, I have an extra metal screan top on one and an extra glass cage door. The cats are more fascinated with the crickets then the geckos. My oldest cat leaves all lizaeds alone. She caught a big aligator last sumar and it gave her a bloody paw.

 

[fallen_angel]

I have 4 cats and 26 leopard geckos now. I have had nothing happen to my geckos yet. The cats do watch them in the tanks and sometimes sleep on the screens but nothing a water bottle can't fix lol.

lol, very true..same here, but we have 6 cats and not as many leos yet

and as most have said, the screen top being sturdy and lockable is most important. We keep cats out of the hatchling room entirely, though, as we don't want them to get stressed out.