Family's new $2,500 fish tank lets their curious cat watch their exotic fish from underwater [Video] - Daily Mail

Purr-fect view! Pampered puss Jasper gets a $2,500 custom aquarium so he can watch the fish from underwater

  • Mother-of-four splashes out on custom $2,500 fish tank for her curious cat
  • Melissa Krieger's new tank lets Jasper the Siamese cat get a look under water
  • Jasper and his sister Willow get up close to the exotic fish every day 

By MailOnline Reporter

Published: | Updated:

This curious cat is 'living the dream' after his owner splashed out $2,500 (£1,800) transforming a fish tank into the perfect underwater viewing chamber for him.

Melissa Krieger, 53, forked out the money so her Siamese cat Jasper can enjoy being up close to the exotic fish - which he now sits watching and claws at every day.

The mother-of-four, from Cincinnati, Ohio, came up with the idea when her fish supplier Jason Hering was cleaning the tank last year and the pair devised a plan to build a 'mini SeaWorld' so the intrigued feline could feel like he's underwater too.  

Adorable viral footage shows three-year-old Jasper sitting upright on a cushion beneath the purpose-built acrylic tank with his head poking up into a cube-shaped viewing chamber.

Siamese cat, above, would spend hours sitting watching the fish in their tank at home in Cincinnati, Ohio

Siamese cat, above, would spend hours sitting watching the fish in their tank at home in Cincinnati, Ohio

Now the curious cat, above, has his own personal viewing hatch where he can sit and get a closer look at the tank's inhabitants, including parrotfish and angelfish

Now the curious cat, above, has his own personal viewing hatch where he can sit and get a closer look at the tank's inhabitants, including parrotfish and angelfish

The mesmerized moggy looks up and around the tank at the array of colorful fish and he even paws at the hatch to try to touch them like a child at an aquarium.

Mother-of-four Melissa shared her video on January 25, on Facebook and has since racked up more than 10million views.

Melissa spent $2,500 [£1,800] on the 125-gallon tank after Jasper spent hours on the dining room table gazing through her older saltwater enclosure. 

She said Jasper, and the family's other Siamese cat Willow, were a bit anxious at giving the hatch a try at first, but last month Jasper braved the unknown and they now visit it every day. 

'It's great to see him so happy because you've got to stimulate their brains. It's definitely been worth the money,' Melissa said.

Melissa Krieger spent $2,500 [£1,800] creating a new tank for Siamese cat Jasper

Melissa Krieger spent $2,500 [£1,800] creating a new tank for Siamese cat Jasper 

Jasper, 3, above, spends at least 10 minutes every day clawing at the fish

Jasper, 3, above, spends at least 10 minutes every day clawing at the fish

'You spend that much on a TV and this is like a TV for cats. As soon as we feed the fish, he comes running. He's living the dream.

'Jason was laughing at Jasper watching the tank and I thought it'd be funny to make something like at the children's aquariums where you stick your head up - that was the inspiration.

'Jason loved it and asked me to work on some drawings. Right before Christmas they replaced the old tank with the new one, but Jasper didn't really use it. At first he wasn't impressed.

'I think the idea of the water being around him was different, so it took around a month and then he was brave and tried it. He's a little more curious than our other cats.

'His eyes just got huge when he looked up and saw the parrotfish and they were staring back at him. That's what made him want to go inside it more.'  

Fish enthusiast Melissa lives with two dogs, four cats, her husband Brian Krieger, 54, and their children Adam, 22, Hayden, 16, and Abigail and Hannah, 20.

Fish lover Melissa Krieger, pictured above, created the new-look tank for her curious feline

Fish lover Melissa Krieger, pictured above, created the new-look tank for her curious feline

Melissa Krieger's daughter Hannah, above, looks inside the expensive custom tank

Melissa Krieger's daughter Hannah, above, looks inside the expensive custom tank 

Her 4ft x 2.5ft wide saltwater tank includes parrotfish, angelfish, cory catfish and a spotted plecostomus, along with other tropical fish from Jason's business Aquatics and Exotics.

Jason, who cleans Melissa's multiple tanks every fortnight, spent 16 hours molding the tank's transparent acrylic panes and building its wooden base before fitting it in December.

He said: 'Jasper was apprehensive at first, but it's great to see they love it. I have to shoo him away when I'm there cleaning the tank now.'

A post of Melissa's video has been liked almost half a million times on Facebook and users flooded the post with comments to show their love for the quirky invention.

Before: Jasper the curious Siamese cat used to spend hours looking at the fish tank from afar

Before: Jasper the curious Siamese cat used to spend hours looking at the fish tank from afar

After: Now the intrigued feline can get up close and personal with some of the family's fish

After: Now the intrigued feline can get up close and personal with some of the family's fish

The post reads: 'Very true: the internet loves cat videos. Jasper and the tank video has gone viral, I guess. I posted it to two groups I visit and it took off.

'This person posted it and it has 10.7million views and counting. I opened TikTok for the first time so I could see my cat and tank there. This is CRAZY!'

Tommy McAvoy said: 'That cat is living the dream!'

While Lizzie Beth added: 'This is the most amazing aquarium modification, EVER!!!!'

And Vicki Pedeferri commented: 'Great idea! Keep your feline entertained all day.'

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