Snake .... and cat?

A friend of mine asked me if I may take care of his cat while he's away on a business trip and I agreed. I have had her for a day now. She's about 7 years old and is a calm and friendly kitty, and she's very curious about my scaly little friend that likes to slither around in his tank. The cat rubs against the enclosure and purrs, so I'm hoping that means she already accepts the snake? Or perhaps instead this means maybe she's happy she found lunch?
Should I take Cornelius (my BP) out and try to have him bond with the cat? Or is that too idealistic? I'm going to babysit this cat for a month so if it's possible I would love for them to bond.

Scent marking is not always a good thing and most cats are more likely to hunt snakes than to cuddle them. Also you snake doesn't need to bond with the cat and it's not even staying with you for very long so if it was me I wouldn't do it.

I wouldn't put the cat and the snake together. Too much can happen too fast and the snake could end up hurt. I have 3 cats. They all like to rub the snake tanks and watch them. However I know if one of the snakes was out the cat would see it as a moving live "toy" and would probably bat at it more than try to cuddle it. For safety sake of both animals I wouldn't try it.

True, my snake doesn't have to bond with the cat - but I would also like it if I decide to hold my snake that the cat won't want to eat him. Plus, I don't think I could go a month with not taking Cornelius out of his tank.

I have seen others do it, but doesn't mean you should. Especially since it is not YOUR cat, so you really don't know its full personality - in my opinion.

Also, snakes aren't social. There is a lot of debate out there as to if they even "like"... well... anything. Never mind anyone. So I am thinking it wouldn't bond with anything/anyone either, including a cat.

Might just be best (or safest) if you were to bond with the cat ;)

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Originally Posted by Seemingly_Harmless

True, my snake doesn't have to bond with the cat - but I would also like it if I decide to hold my snake that the cat won't want to eat him. Plus, I don't think I could go a month with not taking Cornelius out of his tank.

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You can still hold the snake. I hold mine quite frequently. I just don't let the cats get close enough when the snakes are out to be able to attack them.

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Originally Posted by NH93

I have seen others do it, but doesn't mean you should. Especially since it is not YOUR cat, so you really don't know its full personality - in my opinion.

Also, snakes aren't social. There is a lot of debate out there as to if they even "like"... well... anything. Never mind anyone. So I am thinking it wouldn't bond with anything/anyone either, including a cat.

Might just be best (or safest) if you were to bond with the cat ;)

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I guess that seems more of the right thing to do. I could just bond with the cat and NOT let her near Cornelius. I'm actually trying to bond with her now. She's not very playful, and doesn't move around much, but she at least is a great lap warmer!

Oh, also, earlier the cat and my snake were having what seemed like a umm.. "staring contest". They were both just looking at each other. Is that good, bad, or neutral? Sorry if this seems kind of stupid. I don't know much about cats except that they eat, sleep, and dig in kitty litter!

I would keep the snake and cat as far apart as possible at all times.

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Originally Posted by CrystalRose

You can still hold the snake. I hold mine quite frequently. I just don't let the cats get close enough when the snakes are out to be able to attack them.

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Ahh. Okay.

Ok, I opened this thread and read it...then closed it again shaking my cranium. Then I just had to come back to it because I can't hold it in...

Dude, seriously? What on the face of this big blue planet makes you think that your Ball Python and your friend's cat should engage in some kind of Platonian bonding session? I have to be honest and tell you the fact that you even gave this thought serious consideration makes me wonder if you should own a snake, or be watching a cat.

If you kept a tweety bird, would you let your friend's cat bond with that?

http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/o...65/CatBird.jpg

Well.. I've seen people have snakes and cats get along ...
Honestly I was more curious about other people's opinions really than actually considering doing it though.
What I was thinking is maybe there's some kind of secret to having a pet like a cat get along with a snake and someone would have the answer.. I guess that's pretty messed up, huh?

Snakes don't even care that much for bonding with their own species unless it's mating season, much less a cat. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to handle the BP when the cat is around; I do it all the time, I just make sure my furry pets are in another room and close the door.

As for the rubbing and staring; both are probably signs that the cat is interested in chewing on the snake. But neither matter so long as there's no way for the cat to get in the tank, and the snake has a place to hide and feel safe.

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Originally Posted by Seemingly_Harmless

What I was thinking is maybe there's some kind of secret to having a pet like a cat get along with a snake

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The snakes aren't hungry, and the cats haven't realized they can play with the snake :D

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Originally Posted by Seemingly_Harmless

I was thinking is maybe there's some kind of secret to having a pet like a cat get along with a snake and someone would have the answer..

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One time on Sabrina The Teenaged Witch, Sabrina recited an incantation that made her cat, Salem, get along with everyone! Now where did I put that book of spells? I know it's around here somewhere...Books of Souls, not that one...Book of the Dead, nope...Oh, here it is. You just have to wave your wand (you do have a wand, right?), click your heels together three times, and say Bibbity, Bobbity, Boo.

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Originally Posted by Slim

One time on Sabrina The Teenaged Witch, Sabrina recited an incantation that made her cat, Salem, get along with everyone! Now where did I put that book of spells? I know it's around here somewhere...Books of Souls, not that one...Book of the Dead, nope...Oh, here it is. You just have to wave your wand (you do have a wand, right?), click your heels together three times, and say Bibbity, Bobbity, Boo.

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lolol if only.

I've had cats all my life. They eat snakes. My cat I have now knows not to get too close to my pet snakes. Yes I will admit I've thumped her on the back of the head a couple times to get her to back off. Cats don't think like you do. They don't associate a pet snake with a wild on they're allowed to kill. They smell snake and think "oh a new toy" or if it's a fat cat "oh lunch". My cat will lay beside me while I hold my snakes but she knows not to have any goes at them because I will thump her on the back of the head. She's 6 yrs and has been around my girl since she was 2. Seeing as this is not your cat I wouldn't let her around your snake. My cat knows if it has my scent on it its mine not hers. 7 yr old cats can still move fast as lightning., and it only takes 1 second for you her or your snake to get hurt. The staring contest I wouldn't worry about because your snake iis safe inside his enclosure.