I have seven cats, most of whom should be getting close to forming their chrysalis.
One cat all of a sudden appears to be quite active, climbing quickly all over the parsley, then crawling onto one of the sticks leaning against the side of their cage, and now it has moved all the way to to the top and keeps moving about as if looking for a way to escape. Is this what they do when they're ready to go into the last stage before emerging as a butterfly?
I've never helped to raise them so don't know what to expect.
Mary
Urgent request for help - Quick Question
Yes. Normally, many cats, when ready to pupate, will wander off and look for a place to pupate elsewhere. So in a cage, it still has that instinct to get out and look around.
Thank you, Linda, for helping put my mind at ease. He continues to be very active. I hope he settles down soon as he must be using up a lot of energy; but I guess they instinctively know what is best.
Mary
Lots of my swallowtails prefer to pupate on the lid of my tanks. I guess they like to dangle, plus I line the top with cheesecloth so they can stick their little feet in easily and silk like crazy. The wandering thing is totally normal. They'll wander over other cats, the plant, the cage, other chrysalises. Sometimes I have to put them in a separate cage so they'll stop pestering everyone.
Melanie
Yes they are active, move their heads from side to side laying out a film of the silk; then they attach their rear to the cage then spin a harness and stay in that comma position for about a day. Then they will shed their stripes and for the chrysalis. So relax and let them do their thing. The hardest part is waiting for them to emerge (usually 12 days for me).