Predators and parrots

henry0reilly · Apr 27, 2021

A year ago we took in 2 feral kittens to bottle feed. I thought we had a home for them and it fell through.

They live in a crate in the same room with the bird cages. Birds and cats are never loose at the same time.

The 'too will land on my chair near the kitten crate and puff herself up to look scary. If we see one of the cats on or near the bird cages they get squirted with water.

I'm really concerned that one of the birds might injure themselves when the cats are stalking them, and generally I don't think it's good for the birds' mental health to live in the same room with cats.

noodles123 · Apr 27, 2021

You concerns are extremely valid, as cats carry bacteria that is specifically deadly to birds (even in a mild surface wound). They also track it around, so cats touching the same stuff the bird touches should also be avoided. Most birds that die from cat issues are actually killed by infection from a small scratch or bite- not the actual injury. I'll tell you right now though, your cats will handle re-homing better than a cockatoo (if you have to choose)...hard as that is to say.
Cats and birds are ill-advised and while some do make it work, so many birds are killed by pet cats. Yours have an even more lethal edge, given their history and behavior (although even the most docile of house-cats pose a very very serious risk).

Littleredbeak · Apr 27, 2021

Have cats and birds. I don’t let them out at the same time. Amazon and chewy sell cat cages be they love going i their cage because that’s where they get fed. They are reallly good around my larger birds (amazon) and won’t even look at her. Smaller ones I have to be a little more careful about because the love birds love antagonizing them. It’s a lot of correcting behavior to desire behavior. It’s do able if your able to put the work in and stay vigilant. Best of luck with what ever you decide. Adoptapet.com and rescueme.org Are great resources if you decide to rehome

noodles123 · Apr 27, 2021

Littleredbeak said:
Have cats and birds. I don’t let them out at the same time. Amazon and chewy sell cat cages be they love going i their cage because that’s where they get fed. They are reallly good around my larger birds (amazon) and won’t even look at her. Smaller ones I have to be a little more careful about because the love birds love antagonizing them. It’s a lot of correcting behavior to desire behavior. It’s do able if your able to put the work in and stay vigilant. Best of luck with what ever you decide. Adoptapet.com and rescueme.org Are great resources if you decide to rehome

These were feral cats though, meaning they are more wild than not by nature. They were (presumably)hunting and killing for survival not too long ago. I know house cats have a high prey drive etc, but this seems even more dire to me.

henry0reilly · Apr 28, 2021

noodles123 said:
These were feral cats though . . .

Yes, but they barely had their eyes open and had to be bottle fed when we got them. The are now as domestic as any cats, I think. We only feed them in the crate so it's not too hard to get them to go "home"

SailBoat · Apr 28, 2021

Not understanding the split thinking. On one hand, you're providing clear thinking of the dangers involved and on the other hand, you are doing what you know is dangerous.

I know that Humans have both cats and Parrots in the same home. That is a choice they made. When it all goes wrong, it's the Parrot that losses.

IMHO, it's a danger that I choose not to add to our home. For the sake of your Parrot, may it work for you.

Littleredbeak · Apr 28, 2021

I’ve had feral cats before and they ended up being the laziest most affectionate cats I’ve ever had- had as kittens. Personally when you have them so young I think you can “train”/ socialize them with birds and the approybegavior. This is just my thinking/ opinion. I’m not in your situation so only you can make the best choice for you And your birds. That being said kittens are pretty easy to adopt out maybe someone close to you would love to have them to continue your relationship ?

itzjbean · Apr 28, 2021

Here's a post right from our SUER MODERATOR about other animals with birds. It's from this thread who also had concerns about their dog around their bird.

Terry57 said:
Many of us who have birds also have dogs and/or cats, and have figured out how to make it work for all species in the household. CoreyH, it sounds like you are making progress already. I think that it just may take some time for your dog to get used to Yoyito. My chihuahua was terrified of my finches at first, he shook any time he had to walk past their room. After a couple of months he completely ignored them, and would sit in my lap when I was in their room.

When you have multiple species, vigilance is key to prevent a tragedy.

Cats, dogs and birds can live under the same roof, in peace, whether you think so or not! Many of us here on the forums do it and have done it for years!

Telling people to give up their pet is NOT helpful advice. Pets are pets. Cats lives matter!

fiddlejen · Apr 28, 2021

henry0reilly said:
...I'm really concerned that one of the birds might injure themselves when the cats are stalking them, and generally I don't think it's good for the birds' mental health to live in the same room with cats.

From what you have said, it sounds like it will be very important for you to find a different Room for either the bird or the cats. Will you be able to do that? (WithOUT sticking someone in a closet, or anything terrible like that?)

henry0reilly · May 5, 2021

All indoor cats have different homes lined up.

bill_e · May 6, 2021

Yhe lack of domestication a faral kitten has to do with the linage of the parents. It takes many, many years and generations to domesticate those wild instincts out of an animal, not the months since they were born.

We've had many rescued feral cats and each was different. We had 3 kittens from a feral mother which ended up being just "ok" as pets but were avid mousers. We have one at the moment who displays his wildness not by being aggressive but by being skittish.

So we do have cats and behavioral wise they are all afraid of Nike but we watch them like a hawk (pun intended) when Nike is out. Luckily we have an old large house and most of the time the cats are nowhere to be found.

Cardinal · May 9, 2021

Predatory mammalian pets and birds under the same roof often spells disaster for the birds in the long run.

smwboxer · May 16, 2021

Totally depends on the cat. My one cat and four dogs have zero interest in the birds and the birds are the same way.

AmyMyBlueFront · May 19, 2021

You are playing Russian Roulette and Lotto at the same time and the birds will eventually loose.

Jim

henry0reilly · May 24, 2021

Re: LOTTO & Russian Roulette

AmyMyBlueFront said:
You are playing Russian Roulette and Lotto at the same time and the birds will eventually loose.

Jim

All indoor cats have new homes lined up. Only 2 young kittens remain as of this writing. Problem solved until my wife does it again.

Cardinal · May 25, 2021

Re: LOTTO & Russian Roulette

henry0reilly said:
AmyMyBlueFront said:

You are playing Russian Roulette and Lotto at the same time and the birds will eventually loose.

Jim

Click to expand...

All indoor cats have new homes lined up. Only 2 young kittens remain as of this writing. Problem solved until my wife does it again.

Very good to hear this and I hope the same problem does not re surface in the future

Your birds will be very glad flock

Predators and parrots

henry0reilly

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noodles123

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Littleredbeak

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noodles123

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henry0reilly

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fiddlejen

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Cardinal

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