Cat saliva

Soarer · Jun 23, 2011

I will be bringing my new Blue Headed Pionus parrot home in a few weeks. I have a cat and I am unsure about the saliva issue. I have read where it can be fatal if a bird is bitten by a cat. (saliva) If my cat is next to the cage and shakes its head, leaving a morsel of saliva on the cage bars, the bird then climbs the cage and touches the saliva with its beak, is this something to worry about? I know it wouldn't hurt to wipe the cage down a few times a day. I am a new bird owner.

Bright Star · Jun 24, 2011

I have 2 cats and a budgie. I made sure to plan Keats' living area so that neither cat can get to him while he's in his cage. I feel like some of those cage/cart stands are too low to be safe from the cats, so I don't know if they'd ever work for us.

I'd recommend that you really think about how you can set up your bird area to be safe from the cat. Mine were definitely interested in Keats at first, but have since settled down a lot. Still, I never take any chances!

stephend · Jun 24, 2011

I have read that they make floor mats that you can put under cages that will issue a mild electric shock to dogs and cats to keep them away from the cage. Not sure how I feel about their use.

Bright Star · Jul 1, 2011

stephend said:
I have read that they make floor mats that you can put under cages that will issue a mild electric shock to dogs and cats to keep them away from the cage. Not sure how I feel about their use.

Aluminum foil would work too, and wouldn't be quite so harsh

I've known people who used foil to prevent cats and dogs from hanging out in areas they'd prefer them not to.

I still think a safe height for the cage, with nothing nearby the cats can use to get near the bird, is the best option. Keats' cage is up on a bookshelf. I even set up 'obstacles' that crashed the first few times the kitties tried to get near. Now they never even try.

Lokums · Jul 2, 2011

Cat saliva CAN carry a bacteria that is especially toxic against birds. BUT, the bacteria dies when the saliva dries, unless it has been transmitted to another host (i.e. your bird). A cat owner has cat spit all over the house, they clean their fur, then they shed it. The wipe their scent glands all over everything, which are on their cheeks and deliver saliva at the same time. That kind of stuff isn't going to hurt your bird, but if the cat were to throw their saliva on the cage, then the bird were to lick it before it dries, then there is a chance of a pretty nasty infection. Of if the bird were to get bit by your cat. That would be bad, even if the bird wasn't really injured by the teeth.

The best prevention is diligence, awareness and regular cleaning IMO.

Mike

Adams · Jul 8, 2011

Its a wise approach that you are keeping separate your birds and kittens.if you do face a problem then why do you take risk to leave them together ?

Abner · Nov 1, 2011

Hi dear,
I have read that they make floor mats that you can put under cages that will issue a mild electric shock to dogs and cats to keep them away from the cage. Not sure how I feel about its use.

osnyder · Nov 1, 2011

While there is no doubt a theoretical risk to cat saliva being ingested by your bird and causing a problem, the much MUCH bigger risk and primary concern is for if the cat were to bite or scratch the bird-- even if the injury were very minor. In this case the bacteria from the cat could easily cause a deadly infection. So, make sure the cats aren't able to maul the bird, and all will be well. I personally do not feel that ingesting cat saliva is something we should be worried about-- for everyone's sanity.

noblemacaw · Nov 1, 2011

I have a ragdoll cat and Diego my Illiger's macaw use to tease the cat so that she would put her paw in the cage so that he could rush her and nip her. I use to fret constantly that the cat was gonna get the bird or the bird was gonna bite the cat so I was always discouraging the interaction.

One day while I was out I suspect the bird nipped the cat because now the cat will stay clear away from his cage.

I have caught her on top of his cage at night when it was covered. It was a lucky thing the cage was covered or Diego would of probably bit her up.

noblemacaw

goalerjones · Nov 6, 2011

there is also the persistant stress issue to consider. Having ur bird feeling "stalked" all the time can negatively affect his health also.

Cat saliva

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