My cat ate my hermit crab....... I had the crab for four years and the cat for four weeks. What do I do?

Question

I am SO pissed at the cat. I wanna lock him in a closet for two days but that is illeagle. How do I handle the situation?

Ya'll are way to quick to judge. How would you know that I didn't spend time with the two together? How the **** do you know whether the crab was in it's cage or not? Only people WITH common sense answer please.

Answer 1

its not the cats fault! any cats natural instinct is to hunt. do not make this personal, yr cat still loves you and looks to you for all its basic needs. my hermit crab was taken by a crow, but i still like crows. go to the pet shop and buy yrself a new hermit crab as a extra christmas present..Merry Christmas

Answer 2

Your cat was just being a cat. Crab is fish as far as a cat is concerned and though you are upset, the cat cannot know different. Honestly, the cat is behaving normally for a cat. I really hate to say this but since you know you had both a cat and a crab and you know the nature of cats, why would you allow the cat to be anywhere near the crab? It is like asking for a bomb to not go off while pressing on the detonator switch.

Having said that I understand too that you are upset and miss the crab. I think if you believe the cat is a hinderance to your happiness you should find it a new home. If however, you are calmer now and understand that being cruel to the cat will not solve the problem of him being a cat and having been left to his own aires with the crab.

I believe that if you are going to get a new crab, you must devise a better and more secure set up so that the cat cannot access the crab. Your cat is perfectly normal and punishing him will not change him. It will only make him afraid of you. It is a cruel and useless act to do such a thing to him.

Take some deep breaths and go for a few walks and come home and treat your cat with some affection. Remember, you could isolate him, beat him whatever, all you would get is an abused cat and a lot of guilt ... oh yes, and he would still be a cat.

Answer 3

There is really nothing you can do. Nothing you do to the cat will bring your crab back. Just don't be cruel to the cat. To be honest it was your fault, you needed to spend time with the cat and the crab together until the cat learned that he was supposed to be the crabs friend. Cats are able to learn things like that. I'm sure you have already yelled/spanked/hit the cat enough.(hopefully not the last 2) If you really hate the cat to the point of not wanting it anymore, take the time to either find a good home for it, or turn it over to the Humane Society.

Answer 4

He's a cat dude, just another animal. As far as he was consered that crab was just as fair game as a bird he sees outside the window. Don't hold a grudge against him, he probably doesn't even remeber the thing.
Get another crab- keep it away from the kitty.

Also, if it helps, my dog once killed my cat. It was by accident. The two loved to play together, but one day he got a little too enthusatic and slung her around like a rag doll. I cried, I felt like I wanted to kill that dog...but then I remebered....its just a dog. I still have him today, along with two other cats which I am very protective over, but I never mistreat the dog because of the past.

Answer 5

This is natural for the cat. Just remember that and give your kitty love. He doesnt understand he wasnt supposed to eat the crab or why you may be punishing him now. He is probably just as confused as you are right now and you should go give him a big hug.

Get yourself another crab, keep the lid on, and try and teach the cat "Dont eat family" It works well around our house!

Answer 6

COMMON SENSE HERE:

I know this is very difficult. But when you have two different pets with two different natures, this will happen. Imagine, having a bird in a cage. If the cage, for some reason, broke, the bird will fly out. What will the cat do? The cat will do its best to kill it. I'm really sorry what had happened. But the cat did what was according to its nature. This may not sound like solace, but sorry.

Answer 7

Take a scientific look at the whole situation... by eating the crab, the cat has become one with the crab. Love the cat like you did the crab... there there see? all better...

Answer 8

Did your cat confess?
Did you inform the cat of it's Miranda rights?

Are you sure the crab didn't run away because you got another pet?

I don't know man, this is serious. You might be criminally liable for either introducing the cat or for not protecting the crab.

Answer 9

Just accept it as a powerful learning lesson to your future hermies!!!. Next time you will have a more secure cage perhaps in a room seperate from the cat when your're not home like the bathroom and shut the door.And all your future hermies will live in peaceful and secure bliss in memory of your beloved one that got killed.I know it hurts to loose a pet over a tragedy but I have learned several lessons in these tragedies and my pets havent had a mishap in 4 years almost.
my costly mistakes
a> put bird cage out in sun in backyard, labrador sat closely like he was guarding her, went in house and no sooner did i hear a crash and seen my cockatiel in his mouth luckily she was okay, but now I hang the cages when outdoors and the dogs protect from cats
b> a bird my husband let out drowned in the toilet (no birds left out)unsupervised
> theres a lot more i'd rather not get into, but rest assured you will look back at this event with peace in your heart knowing full well you are acting in accordance with your new knowledge your cat taught you and you will be happy with future hermies!!!

i mean really HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY IMAGINE YOUR CAT DOING THIS IN YOUR WILDEST NIGHTMARES ,; no one could so don't feel bad or guilty your hermie wouldn't want you to. ok?

Answer 10

get another crab but keep it out of the cats reach.