Need some advice

[Newtoreptiles]

Hiya, so I've been researching chameleon care for a while now and am based in the UK. I understand that they require a mesh enclosure, but need some advice. How sturdy is the repti breeze xl, reason I'm asking is I have 4 cats, although the chameleon would be kept away from the cats, how strong is the screen. Another thing about that, I have 4 indoor cats and also a bearded dragon and tortoise, my cats be interested in a new enclosure for a week or 2 before losing interest anyway. So would allowing them in the same room be stressful for a chameleon even if the enclosure was heavily planted or does it just depend on each individual chameleon. Thanks

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi and welcome. I use the ReptiBreeze and a similar other type and also have a cat, but she is old and sick. I have had younger cats (including a kitten) in the house before and my chameleons were all safe. However, they were all on stands and there was nothing nearby that a cat could have jumped from to get on the enclosures. Also, I keep my enclosures quite high from the floor and they were all planted and bioactive. Adding an additional visual guard, I hang plastic plants on the front screen to give my chams extra privacy. I believe the kitten did realize that there were creatures inside the enclosures, but she had lots of toys to play with to occupy her and I didn’t allow her in the room unless I was in it and could monitor. Cats have been known to get on top of enclosures and fall thru the screen top and then one bite is all it takes to end a chameleon. If you have younger playful cats, I would suggest either a seperate cat-free room for the chameleon or make some modifications to the enclosure to make it cat-proof. Hardware cloth is one option to reinforce the screen. Acrylic panels on the sides and part of the door is another.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I'm unsure exactly how strong the cage is, but I am sure a cat's claws would have little issue puncturing holes in it.
On that note, I would extremely encourage setting the chameleon up in a room where the cats are not allowed because, see, cats are funny. They understand there's things they should not do, but they only know that they should not do it in your presence.

 

[Newtoreptiles]

Hi and welcome. I use the ReptiBreeze and a similar other type and also have a cat, but she is old and sick. I have had younger cats (including a kitten) in the house before and my chameleons were all safe. However, they were all on stands and there was nothing nearby that a cat could have jumped from to get on the enclosures. Also, I keep my enclosures quite high from the floor and they were all planted and bioactive. Adding an additional visual guard, I hang plastic plants on the front screen to give my chams extra privacy. I believe the kitten did realize that there were creatures inside the enclosures, but she had lots of toys to play with to occupy her and I didn’t allow her in the room unless I was in it and could monitor. Cats have been known to get on top of enclosures and fall thru the screen top and then one bite is all it takes to end a chameleon. If you have younger playful cats, I would suggest either a seperate cat-free room for the chameleon or make some modifications to the enclosure to make it cat-proof. Hardware cloth is one option to reinforce the screen. Acrylic panels on the sides and part of the door is another.

Completely understand, I have 1 under1 year, 1 that's turning 3 and the other 2 are 4. TBH they have so many toys and chase each other around all day that my other animals aren't interesting to them. But I know they can be silly and they love sitting ontop of my beardies vivarium. If I do get a chameleon which I hope to one day, I'll had to consider putting it either somewhere secure or a seperate room. Thanks for the info

 

[Newtoreptiles]

I'm unsure exactly how strong the cage is, but I am sure a cat's claws would have little issue puncturing holes in it.
On that note, I would extremely encourage setting the chameleon up in a room where the cats are not allowed because, see, cats are funny. They understand there's things they should not do, but they only know that they should not do it in your presence.

So is it a fabric mesh then, cause if it's metal I wouldn't think a cats claw would damage it?

 

[MissSkittles]

So is it a fabric mesh then, cause if it's metal I wouldn't think a cats claw would damage it?

It is a metal screen, but a cat could very easily tear thru it. I adore cats, but I wouldn’t trust them with any of my reptiles. My old sick cat gets all excited and starts getting pawsy when I sit on the bed holding one of my beardies. Thankfully (kind of?) she isn’t in any condition to cause mischief…it has to come directly to her.

 

[jamest0o0]

Agreed, a cat could very easily tear through the reptibreeze screen. I used hardware cloth for my giant outdoor enclosure and that is what you’ll probably want to use if your cats have free roam around the enclosure.

 

[Newtoreptiles]

It is a metal screen, but a cat could very easily tear thru it. I adore cats, but I wouldn’t trust them with any of my reptiles. My old sick cat gets all excited and starts getting pawsy when I sit on the bed holding one of my beardies. Thankfully (kind of?) she isn’t in any condition to cause mischief…it has to come directly to her.

All the reptile shops that I have spoken to keep their chameleons in wooden vivarium and when I ask them they say mesh is the better choice but wood works as well. I'm under the impression that there's not enough airflow with wood though right?

 

[MissSkittles]

All the reptile shops that I have spoken to keep their chameleons in wooden vivarium and when I ask them they say mesh is the better choice but wood works as well. I'm under the impression that there's not enough airflow with wood though right?

Much depends on the general humidity levels of where you live. If you lived somewhere very dry, you would want a more enclosured enclosure to help keep humidity in. However, I much prefer screen or hybrids as they are more versatile and can always be modified as needed.
For the airflow question, if things are more enclosed, then you need specific ventilation to create a chimney effect. Usually that means ventilation openings near the bottom and then the top being screen. Air gets drawn in the vents and as warmer air rises, is pulled up through the screen top. Many wooden enclosures that I’ve seen from those in the UK have solid tops and the vents, if they are there, are near to the top. This won’t work as you need a screen top for your lights. Placing lights inside the enclosure creates a large risk for burns.