Kitten, 6-9 months old, and an African Grey

aeinhardt

New member
Nov 15, 2019
3
0
Parrots
African Grey - unnamed
It's a tricky situation.


The African Grey, Shizuka, had been living with me first. One day, I saw a box with 4 kittens in the house. My mother and siblings say their mother abandoned them. Whether that is true or not I don't know, but they smelled like humans by now.


Anyway, one of the already looked deathly ill, wouldn't eat or anything, the rest were fine at first, cleared by a vet, but 3 of them died. In the afternoon they were fine, the evening they just enter that death phase, where they don't move or eat like they're tired. We took turns feeding them and being with them.


With only 1 remaining, I felt like I couldn't leave her. So, she was practically with me most of the time. Even slept in my room.


Anyway, today she's all grown up, healthy, and difficult to handle. Never wants to stop playing. The problem is that I'm always afraid she would harm or kill Shizuka.


It was just an unexpected development, I never wanted a cat and a parrot, risky. I can't send either of them away though, not that I can. No shelters or anything where I am. Plus, I looked after kitty when she was sick, I played with her, it would hurt just sending her away. Same thing for Shizuka. I refuse to leave either.



I guess I'll have to bear with it for a while, the difficulty in looking after both without upsetting or hurting either. I guess flocks are complicated sometimes.
 

bug_n_flock

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
Be VERY careful. I had a cat break into a seemingly secure and cat proof cage to kill and eat the head of a beloved pet budgie a little over a year ago. NEVER trust cats with birds, even in cages. I HIGHLY reccommend you keep them in totally separate rooms as far as is physically possible in your home. Learn from my mistake.



Remember: a threat never feels "real" until it is way, way too real.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Life with a parrot and cat can be enjoyable for all with a proper mindset and dogged (no pun intended bringing a third animal to the discussion) adherence to safety measures.

This is sort of like dieting.... the only reliable method is lifetime change. You'll have to sequester them in simple but reliable manner so it becomes second nature with a strict protocol. Separate rooms when the Grey is out of the cage. You'll have to assess whether the cat will approach and pester the Grey while in the cage. Just a few droplets of cat saliva or swipe of the claw can produce deadly infection.
 

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