Quarantine

[trinalynne05]

I haven't gone to get my chameleon yet because I am still working on a good setup, and doing as much research as I can. This will be my first chameleon, so I'm trying to make sure I have a solid foundation of how to care for him before I take the plunge.

I have a cat at home. She is very docile, but I am still not sure how she will take to a new creature in the house. I am putting my chameleon in a very low traffic area in the house, and will keep the door shut for the 45 day quarantine period. Does anyone have any experience introducing a chameleon into a house with a cat? Any advice is greatly appreciated. I want to make the transition as less stressful as I possibly can on both of my creatures.

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[kplatvoet]

Most cat's will not bother chameleons and most chameleons don't get stressed out by cats- Your cage should be placed higher than eye level for the cat- and secured so that if the cat were to see a cricket climbing up the screen or your chameleon climbing up the screen jumping up the cage isn't going to knock it over.
My cat's don't have any interest in the chameleon's they don't move fast enough to interest them - the chameleon's don't seem to notice the cats either I've never seen them change color or show any signs of stress. From what I've read most react the same - there have been a few exceptions where a chameleon shows signs of stress or a cat is very interested in eating a chameleon. I have my chameleons in their own room where the cat's don't go unless they are following me - they are much more likely to show interest in the crickets - I don't mix the two if I can help it - I have my cages secured so that the cat's can't knock them over even though they have never tried.

 

[modernjamie]

Having cats was the biggest challenge when I first got my chameleons. I have very active 3 young cats and they literally go everywhere at home. I live in an one bedroom apartment and I placed both of my chameleons in the bedroom. When I let my cats to go in there for the first time, they were NOT interested in the chameleons. They were crazy about the crickets like the previous commenter mentioned. But when they got bored with the crickets, they moved their interest into the cages (not the actual chams). The cages are placed on the shelf and my cats were trying to see everything, jumped on the shelf and unintentionally almost knocked it over. So now whenever both my chams see the cats, they just turn very dark.. and act very stressed. So I now close the door to the bedroom every time so the cats do not have access to the chameleon's room. I think it's best to separate them but it depends on how active your cat is.

 

[Kath44]

My cat is still young too, around 2yrs old. Like previously stated, my cat isn't interested in my Cham. He is very interested in the bugs, aswell as the dripper. He has climbed to the top of cage before now, Cham not bothered in the slightest. But I don't allow my cat access to the same room unless I'm there.
I'd never leave Cham out in same room if my cat is around either. You just never know.
Kath.

 

[kplatvoet]

This is a very good read concerning cats and chameleons I was looking for it before and couldn't find it -
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/dansb/785-how-secure-against-cats.html -

 

[chameleonowner32]

I haven't gone to get my chameleon yet because I am still working on a good setup, and doing as much research as I can. This will be my first chameleon, so I'm trying to make sure I have a solid foundation of how to care for him before I take the plunge.

I have a cat at home. She is very docile, but I am still not sure how she will take to a new creature in the house. I am putting my chameleon in a very low traffic area in the house, and will keep the door shut for the 45 day quarantine period. Does anyone have any experience introducing a chameleon into a house with a cat? Any advice is greatly appreciated. I want to make the transition as less stressful as I possibly can on both of my creatures.

Thank you in advance!!!

The first day of any of my chams, i let my dog and cat smell them so they dont get curious, they never come in my room because the doors shut anyway. But both of my furry friends are shy anyway. One time My oustie was on my bed and my dog jumped up and rex flarred up and hissed so she ran away and ever since doesnt bother them.

 

[trinalynne05]

That eases my worry a bit. My cat sleeps between my legs in my bed with me. She is an older rescue, but she follows me absolutely everywhere. I can't even shower alone. LOL. I have a desk on the wall next to my bed which I am considering putting my Cham. I also considered putting it in my spare bedroom (currently a library). I don't go in there much at all however, and want my Cham to be able to see me periodically throughout the day. I think my Cham will be a bit easier to tame if it sees me more frequently, but again I have no experience. Do you guys think my bedroom is a better spot than my office?

 

[kplatvoet]

If you put it in your room make sure there's not room on the desk for the cat to sit there and look at the chameleon at eye level- and you are able to keep the cat out of the room when you aren't home - and that the cage is secured so that the cat jumping on the cage for any reason will not knock it over. From what you say about your cat it sounds like it will ignore your chameleon- It might go the other way and become jealous. I think the ignoring is most likely from my experience with both cats and chameleons- and I think your cat will make it obvious quickly if she's going to be a problem.
If she sleeps in the day in your room while your not there now I would suggest that you start keeping the door shut with her out of it - so she gets used to it before you add the chameleon. And setting up the cage before the chameleon comes so that you can make sure she isn't going to try and use the cage as a nice place to nap. (my grandmother had a cat that would crap outside her door if she shut it - cats can be very spiteful)
I do think that keeping the chameleon in your room where it sees you will help in taming - but the first time the cat jumps on the cage to get the cricket you just fed it you would be set back about a year and a half- None of my cats have every done that - certain cats (one in a hundred or more) get it into their little heads that killing the chameleon is their goal in life - and in that case it's best not to have a chameleon.