Does a cage protect from cats?

I just walked in Kirby's room to find Mabel (our feral cat) in his room! Its happened far too many times. I checked him all over for wounds and found none, he is acting normal. I have three questions however:
Does a cage protect from cats? The bars are pretty thick. The only thing that worries me is that Kirby is silly sometimes and flings himself to the side to see whats going on.
How to keep cats away from him?
Could there possibly be any wounds that I couldn't see?

What is the bar spacing on the cage? My budgie cage is 1/4 of a inch and way to small for the cats to bother them. They seem to know this and taunt the cats from inside their cage. My macaw cage has much wider spacing and my cats could easily reach in and paw at him. But he is a big bad macaw and the cats are scared of him.

Mattroma said:

What is the bar spacing on the cage? My budgie cage is 1/4 of a inch and way to small for the cats to bother them. They seem to know this and taunt the cats from inside their cage. My macaw cage has much wider spacing and my cats could easily reach in and paw at him. But he is a big bad macaw and the cats are scared of him.

Click to expand...

20.5 in L x 16.25 in W x 34 in H are the dimensions.

The dimensions doesn't mention what the bar spacing is....


Does a cage protect birds from cats? Yes and no. I lost my very first budgie to a cat. Cat had jumped up/against the cage, knocking the cage over and causing it to come apart. I wasn't there when it happened (the alternative was to die via bug spray! at which point, I would have lost two birds instead of one), so I can only hope my budgie died a quick death and did not suffer for long.


Yes, a cage can protect birds from cats, but at the same time, they might not. The best way to prevent something like that from happening is to "double cage" the bird... i.e. put their cage into a larger cage, with the bars at least 1" apart, if not further, with small bar spacing. The larger cage should be big enough or heavy enough that it can't be tipped over by a cat, or better yet, attached to the wall/ground/ceiling so it can't move at all.


Birds may be curious enough to investigate a cats paws or tail and could still end up getting scratched from the outside of the cage.

The best way to protect your bird from a cat that might do harm is shut the door and don't let the cat in the room they're in!!! I have 3 cats, all rescued from outside! One grew up outside so I dunno how much I trust her with a bird. The only one I trust them with is my macaws, they're all terrified of them.

If the cat can knock over the cage then the cage is worthless at protecting the bird inside. The only way to truly protect your pet bird from a predator is to keep the predator away from the bird. Close the door to the room when you are not at home. And even if you are home make sure the doors of the cage cannot be opened by bird or cat, dog, kid etc.

Puncture wounds are difficult to see unless the bird is carefully examined. Hope your bird is okay!

One thing to consider besides the physical damage is the psychological effects of stress. Your bird, if threatened can die from stress. They can also experience a shortened lifespan as the result of continuous exposure to stressful situations.

The bar spacing doesn't have to be that wide for a cat to kill a bird, or inflict serious damage. If the cat manages to hook one claw in so much of a feather, it will yank the bird and start ripping it thru the bars, chewing off wings or a head or anything it can. Hookbills are natural fighters, so it will turn to bite, and lose its head in the process. A cat can fairly easily work the body of a bird out of a small bar spacing, killing the bird in the process.

No, a cage will not keep your sweet fid away from the cats deadly weapons (claws) My friend had a little parakeet that was in a locked room but one day they left the door open accidentally and the cat got to him and ya... the cage was no match for the claws.... then my other friend had a parakeet and her cat jumped up on the dresser the cage was on and pushed it off onto the floor! Well the cat never got to him but the poor parakeet broke both of his legs and needed to be cept on a box for the rest of his not so long life. So please just put you bird in locked room away from the cat. My sister lost he bird from my cat as well

!/2 inch bar spacing, no less. yes your bird still could be hurt. I deal with coons and possums. 1/2 X 3 is what i use, and a mean dog.