green iguana care

Question
Hey there,
my uncle surprised me by getting me a baby green iguana for my birthday...but I have no idea how to care for it!
I'd just like to know the proper caging requirements, and it's diet.  I would also like to know how long it takes an iguana to reach full maturity?  I have a cat, too...and I'd also like to know if it is okay to house such animals together...I know iguanas get pretty big and am really more worried about my cat getting hurt than the iguana!
Thanks for your time,
Cheyenne  

Answer
Well, while the iguana is a little baby, you can get away with a 55 gallon high for a few months.  But eventually you will need a cage the size of a walk-in closet.  You will need a water pan big enough fo the iglet to swim in, and poop in, and it should be changed and disinfected after every poop. ( I use multiple pans so mine was never without a water pan.  No substrate on the floor, use newspaper, or paper towel, I use rubber car mats that can be sprayed down when dirty, or non adhesive shelf liner.  Iguanas are arboreal, so branches to climb high in the tank would be well received by your iglet.  A good UVB source like a 36" Reptisun 10.0 linear fluorescent tube, or a Mega-Ray from Reptiluv.com are best.  Do not use a coil or compct type as they cause damage to reptile eyes.
 For heat, a bright incandescent bulb in a dome fixture will do fine in a 55 gallon tank, but you may want to add a ceramic heat emitter if additional heat is required to get temperatures up to 92-96 F.
 Now food.  Iguanas are obligate herbivores.  No insects, meat, dairy of any kind.  They need good calcium rich greens and vegetables.  Two or three meals of well-minced collard greens, dandelions, turnip tops, mustard greens, mache, arugula, and veggies like grated winter squashes, sweet potato, green and wax beans.  Variety is key so they should have at least three of these staple greens an two staple vegetables grated anf you then can add finely chopped spring mix.
 After two weeks your iguana should be checked by a good reptile veterinarian.  I would also urge you to join Babyiguana@yahoogroups.com.  This e-mail group will happily assist you in raising your new baby into a happy, well adjusted iguana.