Beware

[aerofine]

I just wanted to point out a warning to all others, from my own experience today.

There are always threads about what damage dogs can do to tortoises, but I just wanted to point out what cats can possibly do.

We adopted an 18 month old cat over the weekend, called Solo. This morning, whilst getting ready for work, I completely forgot about shutting the door to where the torts are in their table. We have a dog, who wanders into the torts room and never bothers with them, we don't have kids so there is no need for us to shut the door really. However, whilst getting ready I heard a thud. When I got to the bedroom where the torts live, I found Solo had taken Hoji from out of their table and was rolling him around the floor. Heart stopping moment!!

Luckily Hoji is fine, Solo must have only had him for a minute or so.

But I just wanted to say to all that cats can potentially hurt and kill your torts! I knew that this could be the case, I am not so naive, but I have read many times on here how lots of cats are fine with torts. Not in my case! I would trust my dog with both of my torts, but not the cat now!!

[chris_greg]

Glad to hear your tort is okay.

I dont have any cats or dogs but i have 2 kids under the age of 4 and i cant trust them with the torts yet, my little girl tried to pull Mr Ts leg off last time i showed him to her

[daysleeper1985]

...and not to mention the 'brum brum' effect!

[Mrs Mental]

ohhh bloody hell bet you nearly pooped your pants when you saw the cat rolling the tortoise around on the floor. Am just relieved to hear that Hoji was okay after his ordeal, poor little chap.

To be honest cat, dog, goose, moose, whatever I'd not trust any animnal full stop - we can't ever know what they're gonna do can we cos they're animals and we're humans. I think sometimes people do think they know their animals really well and then they become to relaxed or complacent around them and thats when things happen and people cant ever believe their pet could do such a thing. Please dont think I'm talking about in this instance cos I'm not - I learnt after getting bitten by a dog as a children - the same dog I'd always been able to do anything to/with - why he did it that one time I dont know but for that split second he really did mean to hurt/kill me. I've always remembered that and learnt a very valuable lesson in that I do not trust 100% ANY animal cos I do not know how he thinks or understand him.

Anyways sorry Im wabbling on there arent I - like I said am really pleased that Hoji is okay poor little chap and thankful that you were there to save him. And thanks for the warning cos I think it never hurts to re-iterate things to people does it.

[dreamer]

Oh my goodness - glad your tort is ok! Not really a cat person but after seeing what my cairn does to his toys he wont get anywhere near my babies!

[ceecee]

The problem we have is we have no other pets but the neighbours do!

They all have cats which climb over the fence and come into our garden. You can't keep them out (short of a land mine), so I have insisted we have a wire fence over the top of the enclosure so the cats can't get access to the tortoise.

I know they are interested in her, I have seen them watching her and I know if they got the opportunity they would paw her. God knows what damage that could do, as their claws are sharp!!

[tortoiselady]

I remember when I was a girl, a friends cat killed her tortoise
I inherited my mother's 111 year old hermanns last year, I was petrified our cat would attack her, as anything that comes into our garden she does attack and often kill, she is a predator, of course!

My husband told me that the cat would definately not attack the tortoise as she would instinctively know that the tortoise is an old, useless, slow old lady who is long retired and uses a zimmer frame How right was he, the cat actually protects the tortoise and they have become best friends, shows how the cat has been lonely for years!

[tortoise_dude]

Well done for telling us- many would not be brave and sweep it under the carpet for fear of what might be said.

I know this sounds daft- but it was a blessing in disguise that now you know that they are not safe together, and that you can't trust the cat. At least she did not get hurt or require vet attention.

Give hoji a chin tickle from me!