Cats and Chameleons?

C

Chrisseh

New Member
Hey guys. I am thinking about getting a veiled Chameleon. My main concern is household stress. The one I want lives at Petsmart (no hate mail please, I work there and my store is pretty great). She does fine in her glass cage with the dogs and all the people moving about. She LOVES attention and always wants to be handled. He favorite thing is to scale associates faces. With this in mind. . . How do you feel about housing a chameleon in a home with cats? I would not allow the cats to be on the cage and I would never interact with the chameleon in the presence of the cats.



Possible Future Features:
`Female, veiled, Captive Bred, Sub-adult (little bigger than the wideth of my girl hand)

`35 Gallon glass enclosure (I will enlarge to a screen encloser when she gets bigger. I am thinking about 3ftX3ftX5ft)

`Crickets, meal worms, and wax worms (1 per inch of body per day)

`Gut loading prey with fresh fruit and veggies, oatmeal for the worms

`I haven't researched supplements yet. I will provide some sort of calcium dust.

`hydration - TBA A water fall, or some sort of man made waterfall, but I want it to be asthetic as well as functional

`UVA/UVB Light strip (bulb replaced yearly). Red Heat Lamp 75 watts. I plan to set the enclosure up and monitor for a couple nights to make sure that the day and night temps are in proper range.

`Lower Humitity in winter and higher in summer, by misting

`Only outside for limited time during the summer. I want to keep her safe.
 
You're right to do your homework before you bring it home. :)

I had a cat when I got my first chameleon. The cat didnt notice the lizard, but the lizard noticed the cat. It was a stresser, and though not a huge one I still think significant. So I moved Simon's (the chameleon) cage into a bedroom that the cat was then not allowed into. This pissed the cat off, but it made for a (I think) happier and healthier reptile.

FORGET the waterfall. Do a search on this forum for plenty of opinion, 99.9% negative. Drippers and misting is the way to provide water.

Use a regular household tungsten incandescent light bulb for heat, not a red bulb.

May need to change your UVB tubes more often than yearly, depending on the brand.

mealworms and waxworms are not good for your chameleon. Gutloaded crickets, roaches, silkworms, hornworms are better choices.
 
Hmm, I didn't want to put her in the spare bedroom because her interaction with anything other than the room would be limited. I feel like she would be bored, or something along those lines. Plus, I would like to see her. She's not super colorful, but the green is so brillant.
 
She would PREFER not to see anyone or anything other than her food. She would not be bored. they are solitary creatures. If you want a pet that is interactive, this isnt it. Put a comfy chair into the other room and you can watch her for hours. :)
 
I currently have 7 chameleons right now in various cages, I also have 2 cats in my home, They never bother or pay any attention to them. and when I hold the chams. the cats come up to them like it's nothing...all my cages are on stands, so they cannot reach, even so I dont think they would bother them if they were any lower.
 
I have read a couple books and a few care sites online. What do you not like about my possible set up?

I would be getting the ExoTerra bulbs, which are rated for one year, but I don't mind changing them every 6-8 months. I full admit to not having researched the water issue fully. I havn't really found a solution I like - yet. Why not a heat bulb?
 
Thanks for your help. I am going to look at the website. I understand the solitary animal bit, but I still am not keen on putting her in the spare room. I feel that it is pointless to put her in there, because I won't be able to enjoy her. If I get her I want to put her in the livingroom. Not nearly as trafficed as you think. The only people in my house are my husband and myself. The cage would go on the far side of the room. The wall is set back about 4 or 5 feet from the hall, which is used about 6 times a day for passing through, if that much. Plus it's near the thermostate, so it's the most controled heat in the house.
 
Chrisseh said:
I have read a couple books and a few care sites online. What do you not like about my possible set up?

I would be getting the ExoTerra bulbs, which are rated for one year, but I don't mind changing them every 6-8 months. I full admit to not having researched the water issue fully. I havn't really found a solution I like - yet. Why not a heat bulb?
Click to expand...

They assosiate basking in sunbeams with their warming up, so you want a yellow/white bulb for the heat, rather than red.

The exoterra ReptiGlo tube lights wont last a year. Lots of good info in this thread: https://www.chameleonforums.com/repti-sun-5-0-a-13239/

Drippers and/or misting is the only water solution
 
Chameleons need a cooler nighttime temp to sleep. Ambient daytime temps should range in the 70-75 area with a spot in the cage for basking. A clip lamp with a regular household bulb is just the thing. I use a 40 or 60w bulb. Basking temps should stay around 85 or 10 deg higher then the ambient temp so if they get hot they can go down in the cage and hide out under some cool leaves.

No on the waterfall and no substrate in case you were planning on it. Both are harmful to a chameleon.
 
I hate sounding like a nubbie, but I am. What does everyone use for water? One of the things I read said to set an ice cube on the top of the enclosure. When it melts the chameleon is able to get large droplets of water. It sounds like a good idea, but that most likely means that it isn't. . . he he. I don't have anything against spraying down the leaves a couple times a day. I just don't want her to be parched.
 
Misting and a dripper are used. Mist 3 times a day for 3-5 minutes making sure the leaves on the plants are dripping. Chams lick the leaves and stems for moisture, they don't drink out of bowls. Think of their natural habitat - high up in the trees. They get their moisture from the rain, mist and dew sticking to the leaves.

A dripper helps get water to them anytime they want it. Some chams even drink right from the drip on the top of the screen. They learn where the water comes from.
 
For misting the best cheap option is a $10-$20 pesticide sprayer found at HD or Lowes. I'm already tired of the pump mister and am gonna buy a misting system next paycheck, still can't make up my mind mistking or herpmist....:)

What plants are you planning on using? A glass enclosure really isn't a good idea in the states even temporary. Since she's been in glass this whole time in the store I'd get her in a screen enclosure asap. She doesn't really need that big of a cage if smaller like 3'x2'x2' means she is in a screened enclosure sooner that would be best. Make sure you fully research how to take care of an egg laying female properly. You need to be willing to move her away from the cats if you observe her constantly watching them or being stressed by them in any way. Like Sandra said they truly are solitary creatures; they might tolerate you but they'll never "like" you. Good luck with her they are a lot of work, will eat up most of your free time but are sure worth it.
 
The problem with melting icecubes is that the water is cold. they prefer room temp water. Dehydration isnt something you want to risk, so providing water in the manner that they find most appealing is important. As is gutloading your insects well with veg and fruit, as well hydrated prey helps the chameleon stay hydrated too :)
Again, like I said, a dripper and/or misting is the way to go.
 
Most of the books available in pet stores are old.
Veiled chameleons have only been in the states for about 17 years and not that long in the pet trade.
We are still learning how to care for them so, in my opinion,
reading anything over a few years old is a waste of time.

As far as the chameleon enjoying the activity in the store, having a favorite pastime of climbing up employees faces, wanting/"loving" to be held, etc.
All projected onto the animal by people and all completely false.
Chameleons want to be left alone, especially by other chameleons and definitely by people.

Stop trying to anthropomorphize the animal and read this:

http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/

The hobby is the husbandry and the appreciation of the animals.
They are not pets.

btw: cats in the house have not been a problem here as long as the chameleons are high enough up to feel safe.
The cats are not interested as the chameleons don't move much or quickly.

-Brad
 
Last edited:
Chrisseh, A guy on here tought me good way to make a dripper...

Alls you need is a tub like thing (A yogurt container works) and some tubes that you would use for Fish tank pumps (The thing that makes bubbles) :p and you will need a "T" that goes along with the tube..

You simply make a Tight hole in the yogurt container, and stick the 'T' In, Than attach a Tub to it, doesnt really matter what leng.. And you can use the 'T' To measure how much water comes out... If you use a bigger tub, the more pressure, and the mope water you can use, it would be better. :)

You can use the 'Twist thing' (Nob) on the 'T' To tighten or loosen it, (Make it drip faster or slower)

I am currently using two of these, they drip once every 2 seconds, and i fill them usually at 8:00am and 6:00pm :)

Im sorry I do not know who i learned this from, i am not trying to take credit for whoever made this, and taught me, i am simply trying to help

Any Questions Feel Free To Ask, I am New to This too! :p

- Levi
 
You can Get The Tubes And the 'T' At your store most likely... :) And any tub would most likely work... ive only used yogurt and margerine bins..
 
I agree with just about everything people before me have stated here, and am thinking a Bearded Dragon may be a better pet for you as they are interactive and far less stressed. That chameleons at the Pet store wants out of that cage because it is too small, too dry, too reflective, and there are too many people staring at her, NOT because she is friendly or loves people. This same situation prompted me to add this page to my website:
http://www.julirschameleons.com/thepetstoreproblem.htm
 
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