Here’s an interesting concept from designer Geoffrey Cooper. It’s the Cat Dome, a habitat for your kitty and your fish to hang out together. Yes, cats do enjoy watching fish move around in a tank, so the interactive element is an original concept, but, I’m wondering, would this make the poor fish live in a constant state of panic? Maybe certain types of fish wouldn’t mind — I’m not a fish expert — but it seems a little cruel. What do you think?
Thanks to Goma’s mom Sachie for the find.
March 9th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Definitely cruel.
your pal,
Beadle
March 9th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I own cats and fish..and both my cats chase the fish from one side of the tank to the other. Luckily for the fish they have a large aquarium. TOO cruel for the fish to be confined to such a samll space.
Chris S.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Call me old fashioned, but I think that’s purrobably too close for comfurt fur the poor fishy. A traditional tank provides cats with a good view, but fish can still swim to the other side or hide behind a plant or ornament to feel more secure. An ordinary tank is more fish-friendly than the Cat Dome while being almost as entertaining for cats.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Yeah… I don’t know much about fish either, but I agree with Curly. If I were a fish, I’d like to have a place to hide when a cat shows up. Cat friendly, but not animal friendly design.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I bought two goldfish for my cats to watch & save them from boredom while I was at work. My cats loved it and the fish themselves could care less. I think though the Cat Dome is a little too small and doesn’t really give any security having nothing for the fish to hide behind. On another note it looks like it’d be a bear to clean. Tanks themselves are hard enough to keep tidy and this one doesn’t look to have even a filter. Soon enough it’d be swamp water. While I think it’s a neat idea, I’m not sure how practical or kind it’d be.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
What a disgustingly cruel product! I’m shocked that they recommend this for goldfish given that they need quite a large tank with an adequate filtration system. Even a more suitable species such as a Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish) would need regular care to maintain suitable water conditions.
Clearly this is marketed with the owners not the kitties and definitely not the fishies best interests in mind.
We have lots of fish tanks and our cat doesn’t give a hoot about viewing the underneath of the fish. She wants lounge next to them so they can parade in front of her without her needing to crane her royal neck.
I can see many fish dying in that dome from neglect and exposure while the cats would find more amusement playing with a ping pong ball and sleeping on your new black top.
Whats next on the list of living cat toys? A canary hung by its foot from a scratching post? A mouse made to swim laps in a water bowl?
March 9th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
I think the cat is the least of the fish’s worries here. That habitat is much too small. It’s a nice sentiment, though. I’d love to see a tank stand with a kitty viewing platform built in.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Cruel. This would be great if it was a fake fish… now THAT’S a great idea for an invention!!
March 9th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
absolutely cruel for the fish. it doesn’t look like the water has proper/enough aeration… and it would live in a state of constant stress. it has little hope for plants in there or any natural, easy to maintain environmental additions such as rocks and such….. there is nothing positive about this though I can appreciate modern design. Maybe they just put a rolling ball in there or something, not a live animal.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:56 am
I totally dislike.
the fish has the right to live in a proper place. luisa from Argentina.
March 10th, 2010 at 7:08 am
I believe that the “Cat Dome” is a glaring example of animal cruelty and to the designer, and manufacturer, I say, take it off the market.
March 10th, 2010 at 8:23 am
I agree with earlier posters – the cat isn’t the problem, the tank is inadequate…especially for goldfish.
I’ve kept goldies for years and they require twice the filtration reccomended for a given tank size. They are however quite happy in a tank that has no decoration in it – the healthiest I’ve kept my fish was in a tank containing properly filtered water, goldfish and nothing more.
I’ve also noticed that the facination with fish quickly faded with my cats, it was only when they were doing something out of their usual that attracted feline attention – or when they were in the bucket while I was cleaning their tank.
It’s an interesting concept, but poorly realized.
March 10th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
interesting idea. there is potential. but not for a fish that requires 2-3 gallons of water per inch of body and can grow to 12 inches. i like it but i would put something else in the bowl not a fish.
March 10th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Although this seems like an interesting concept, it’s much like a fancy bowl and fish definitely DON’T belong in bowls.
March 10th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Terrible idea for the fish. Its an interesting concept, but not everything we conceive should be brought to fruition. The company that sells this should be shut down. A living animal is not a toy.
March 11th, 2010 at 6:47 am
this product is an example of animal cruelty stemming from the notion that animals are for human amusement, and by extension, that fish are aesthetic objects. the dome should be taken off the market. keeping fish is already a touchy subject, but this does not even allow one to do so responsibly – the container is too small, it lacks aeration, and it lacks any place for the fish to hide. i hope the designers of this product listen to the criticism offered on this website, by the very people they are trying to market it to, and respond appropriately and with apologies.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
No No NO!!!! Please! My cat can do with out this.
March 20th, 2010 at 8:02 am
Coitado do peixe… queria ver se fosse um cão no lugar… (aí seria: coitado gato…)
March 26th, 2010 at 7:36 am
i think it is cruel but a very nice invention too….it would be cool if it were one of those fake fish but designed to look real that was guided by a magnet
March 26th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I think a regular aquarium would be much better. The cat could still see the fish, and the fish would have items to swim through and places to hide in if they wanted to.
Our fish tank when I was a kid was very popular with our cat. The fish didn’t seem to notice her, but it was a bigger environment than this cat dome thing, and with “furnishings” inside for the fish, plants, etc.
March 31st, 2010 at 6:14 am
Just…horibble
May 13th, 2010 at 11:22 am
This will work for a Beta Splendis.
I think its a great idea but only for the right kind of animal(fish)!