Question: Snakes and Cats

[fantasticp]

I have been thinking about getting a snake for a while, and really only want ONE, so it might as well be the one I want as long as I read up on it, right? Well, I want either a Surinam redtail or an Argentine boa, and thinking years down the road when this theoretical snake is much larger.....there is only one thing stopping me from getting one. Will a large snake in your arms/under supervision lunge at an unsuspecting cat walking by? I'm sure some of you snake lovers have cats.... Do you put them in another room when the snake is out? Would either of these two snakes attain enough girth in the next ten years (max life left on my cat) to attempt eating a cat if I purchased them as babies? Of course the snake would be caged properly when I am not in the room, I am just worried about the odds of him/her lounging on my stomach watching TV one minute, and turning to the left and lunging at a cat the next. How about a Brazillian rainbow boa? They appear more slender. I definately don't want to get a snake until I weigh all the potentail consequenses, present or future.

 

[mimic58]

Lol a Boa would definatly try eat a cat if it had chance hell id worry about my 38Kilo Dog.........

 

[fantasticp]

Has it happened to anyone? I mean out of the blue, no warning signs...

 

[Schlyne]

I always put the cat up (usually in the batheroom) whenever I have one of my snakes out. My snakes will never reach the size of the snakes you're talking about, but I do this keep from anybody getting hurt.

The cat thinks the snakes are her toys, and a pounce could seriously injure one of them.

As for the snakes (we're talking ball python, IJCP, and milksnake here)....well right now they're probably more afraid/curious of the cat than being interested in it as food, but I don't want the cat getting bitten for something stupid either (which would be instigated by my cat, I'm sure). It's in your best interest to keep them totally seperated.

 

[mimic58]

Depending on the species, but yes larger boas have not just killed there owners other pets but in some rare cases even there owners.

 

[fantasticp]

I guess I'm also asking how long before they would reach cat eating proportions with no power feeding. If waiting a few years will make sure my cat is long gone before then, that is cool too.

 

[mimic58]

not all that long ,i dont spose it would need to be much more than 5ft to kill a housecat they can reach that in a year or so.

 

[Schlyne]

Has it happened to anyone? I mean out of the blue, no warning signs...

I seriously doubt something like that would happen to a PROPERLY feed and cared for boa. Most of the serious accidents you heard of with a giant snake killing it's owner, or some other fashion has been sheer abject stupidity.

Taking a 13 ft burm across the street to buy a chicken for it and then letting it roam around free while you've got food for it, is not a good idea. (I won't elaborate on the chicken). That's one case I've read of where the snake killed it's owner...it's very stupid owner.

It's up to you if you decide to wait for the cat to pass on or not.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

I have two corns and a cat. The cat doesn't care about the snakes but I let it sniff on one of them (the tail) when I had them new. Just so that the cat would get familliarized and wouldn't be stressed out anymore. I know my cat from tip to tail and there was no danger whatsoever at any time - from the cat that is! The snakes were already adults then. I was careful about the procedure and held the snake so it wouldn't see the cat. Since every time I'd carry one of the snakes arround and the cat would walk past us the snake tried to kill it with its Mesmer stare. They really tightened up arround my arm when the cat was close. So you don't want your cat come too close to one LARGE snake you carry about! My female has turned into a real snake version of the OBT lately. She freaks me out, strikes at anything basically, really aggressive so I have started to handle her... well not to handle her at all! I treat her as if she was dangerous and always keep her at distance. Not too easy really. If they set their mind on something they want it. And they REALLY want it, so if a large snake was to develop an appetite for cat I would say you'd have a really serious fight on your hands! Next thing is also that the snake going over into feeding mode won't be that easy to talk down anymore and won't really listen to it if you tell it to "Please stop it!". It might even get angry at you!

So unless you KNOW (and I mean KNOW! Spellt K-N-O-W like in KNOW) your cat and that it doesn't care about snakes it could be ok from that standpoint. But the snake will absolutely react defensively, if not with feeding mode if it gets the scent and sight of the cat. I don't believe there is a way to train or condition the snake so it won't go for the cat. I'ts as if you tried to train yourself that the nice warm quaterpounder with cheese lying on your desk is in fact your new roommate and a "look but don't touch" object only! As logical it is for you that it is still only a burger, as absolutely brilliantly clear will it be to the snake that the cat is either food or danger and will react appropriatly without asking you first... So... lookout!

 

[fantasticp]

I'ts as if you tried to train yourself that the nice warm quaterpounder with cheese lying on your desk is in fact your new roommate and a "look but don't touch" object only! As logical it is for you that it is still only a burger, as absolutely brilliantly clear will it be to the snake that the cat is either food or danger and will react appropriatly without asking you first... So... lookout!

That reminds me of a theory I used to have about those movies where some guy has tiny people living in the mouse hole of his house. The theory was that no matter how good a friend he was, you would eventually eat him. You would just have to. Curiosity would take over.

I guess I may have to wait out nipples (the cat), or wait out my boyfriend! She is way too feisty to stay away, and can open the bedroom door. I already have to throw sacrificial crickets to stave her off during feeding time for my inverts. I really want a snake too. Maybe I can afford a bigger apartment or a condo in a couple years. I suppose I could have a "cat cage" for when the snake is out. Only fair, right?

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Well, fair from our standpoint tho not from the cat's obviously. Couldn't you lock the door? That way you'd not have to worry. Or put something in under the door to block it if it happens to open towards the "snake room".

Everything is possible, you just might have to put up with a little more preparation. But I wouldn't lock the cat up in a cage if you are thinking of carrying the snake arround for several hours. Your cat is most certainly used to freedom so it would certainly not like being in a cage. I wouldn't even count on it that it appreciates being locked up in a room, but that I think is good enough. They shant get everything they want

 

[xelda]

You should probably research some more to see if there are any snakes you'd be interested in that WON'T be a risk to your cat. You may be surprised at how easy it is to land in a sticky situation no matter how well you try to plan everything. You could lock up your cat during feeding times, but what if your snake got loose?

Just keep digging around some more. You have plenty of options available.

 

[fantasticp]

Oh, I would definately get a lockable snake tank. I have too many other pets not to.

 

[mimic58]

I keep all of mine in locking cages....if the snakes over 8ft with a decent girth you will need a specialist vivarium with a toughend or reinforced glass front as they are strong enough to push out and break the regular glass sheets,