My cat is VERY interested in my new bird

MyEkkieArnie

New member
Dec 6, 2014
12
0
Regional Australia
Parrots
Arnie (male Solomon Islands Eclectus Parrot, born 10/09/14)
HI there,

I did a search before posting this but couldn't find any relevant threads. We got our new Ekkie on the weekend. We have a pet cat and two (mainly outside) dogs. In the Ekkie book we got it said that most cats aren't interested in birds as big as an Ekkie. However, our cat is VERY interested in our bird. :eek: We are making sure that she is locked in the other end of the house when no one is around to supervise Arnie (even when he is in his cage) and most definitely making sure she is locked in the other end of the house when he is out. Just wondering if anyone else has a cat and can offer some insight as to how the relationship panned out long term. Will she eventually lose interest in him? She doesn't seem to phased by his size, despite the fact that she isn't a very big cat. Just wondering how worried I should be. :52:

Thanks in advance. :)
 

Dopey

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Apr 18, 2014
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Maryland
My cats show interest in a new bird or new bird cage for a day or two and then it usually stops. I say usually because every once in a while I have a cat (never all three at the same time) that will look a little differently at the bird while they are out playing on the play stand. What I mean by that is they may stop and look at the bird on the play stand while walking by but that's all they do. They even have to check the toys out before I put them in the cages. Sheesh!!
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Well, cat scratches can be deadly to parrots. So, there is cause to be worried...

My only experience with cats and birds has been the opposite. My birds tormenting my sister's cats... THEY ran away and the birds chased them.

Generally speaking, most cats that overstep their bounds get nipped once or twice, and that's the end of it. They want no more to do with it. But not always...
 

Amanda_Bennett

New member
Sep 27, 2014
1,272
2
Gresham, OR
Parrots
Zilla 29 Y.O. Orange Wing Amazon
I have 2 cats and when I first got Zilla they wanted to know what she was and why she was in "their" house. Why was she on "their" Mommy? What is she tossing out of the cage, is it a yummy treat?

Now Zilla can be on my shoulder and a cat in my lap and they are both sleeping! The cats barely even look at her unless she is screaming, then they glare at her and me and run to the bedroom to get away from the loud noise.

The cats and Zilla have an agreement now, if they try to sniff her she tries to bite their noses, so they don't try to sniff her.

If it helps I got Zilla on Sept. 24th of this year, so only a couple months ago.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
We have a relatively new cat with a fairly high prey drive. We also have a bird room though, so that helps.

The cat is allowed to watch the birds, but never to try to get them.
He can sit in our laps while we have a bird on the shoulder, but the minute he sticks his nose or paw out in their direction, he gets a thump on whatever part of him was trying to get the bird. It took about three thumps :p We have found he is interested in even the birds as big as our Pionus, but once he learned that investigating them just got him thumped, he lost interest.

He is never allowed in the bird room unsupervised, but he was allowed to get the curiosity out of his system. I wouldnt be too worried, just be relaxed and keep a close eye.
 

strudel

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Sep 30, 2013
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My cat who stays around inside ran away from my cocky. She has nothing to fear from my cat.
 
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M

MyEkkieArnie

New member
Dec 6, 2014
12
0
Regional Australia
Parrots
Arnie (male Solomon Islands Eclectus Parrot, born 10/09/14)
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Thank you for all the replies. So far it has all gone smoothly. I think she is a bit scared of him, which is a good thing I guess. She is used to being the boss os the animals. She is about 3kg and is boss over my 2 dogs (20kg and 35kg). I think it will take her some time to decide where Arnie falls in the pecking order.
 

goalerjones

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2011
1,390
30
Parrots
Hahn's macaw, RIP George, Jenday Conure
Depending upon the response that comes from your bird, it can be harmful to feel hunted all the time. A birds normally accelerated heart rate can increase under that kind of sustained stress and be harmful to the bird. Even leading to premature death from heightened stress levels.

For me, it falls under the same category as owning a rat or a snake.
 

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