Can cats/dogs coexist with parrots?

[Betrisher]

Julie, we've had our bully, Miss Alice, for seventeen years and she's been the perfect dog. I can't praise bull terriers highly enough for loyalty, placidity and pure common sense (at least, judging by our Alice). The funny thing was, we didn't choose her - someone threw her over our back fence when she was a tiny puppy and her eyes weren't even open. It was Christmas Day, 1997 and we always say that Alice was the best Christmas present we ever got. Sadly, when Alice was young, our daughter was having serious medical issues and so Alice was never correctly socialised. All this meant, though, was that she had a tendency to go a bit ballistic when new people or animals came to the house. That toned down over the years, but I always felt guilty that she hadn't been taught better as a baby.

Aside from that, the only other problem with Alice is that she is pink-skinned and therefore subject to skin cancers. She has a huge squamous cell carcinoma on her eye, but the vet is reluctant to remove it because of her great age. I couldn't recommend Bull Terriers highly enough as a wonderful family pet. Aside from anything else, who could resist those gorgeous honest-looking faces?

 

[Mattroma]

My frenchie shows no interest in in any if my birds. The cats on the other hand stalk the budgies. I bought a larger and more sturdier floor cage for them. Now the budgies sit in there and taunt the cats.
My Mac is intimidating to cats and they tend to stay in the other room when he's out. When I decided to go with a Mac over a galah, part of the reasoning was the size. Figured a macaw would be less likely to be seen as a prey potential.
That being said I keep an close eye on my Mac and cats to help prevent any mishaps.

 

[RavensGryf]

Trish, thanks for posting that. Bull Terrier people just coming out of the woodwork. I know there's more...

17?!! Wow that's so incredibly old, let alone a medium large breed! Incredible - a puppy put over your fence on Christmas?! I think BT puppies are the cutest little things ever. If I recall, you also had the world's oldest Budgie :52:

Many years ago (before I caught the bird bug:30, I went to a Bull Terrier breeder to check out an older puppy (almost full grown) she had for sale. All I remember was OMG It was downright CRAZY. It was SO spastic that it was running full speed all over the house, running over the sofa full speed, I can't even describe HOW crazy this dog was. It had WAAAY too much coffee... I hear about some being "energetic" and some being calm, so I'm thinking maybe it's just part of individual temperament depending on the bloodlines.

My favorite color is the white body with a spot over the eye. What you said does concern me though, about skin cancer and conditions such as the deafness associated with white dogs. I also like the tri color. Bull Terriers in the US are a very expensive breed. I wonder if this is a breed that would be trustworthy around birds if I got a young adult rescue?

 

[veimar]

"BIRD BUG"! Thanks Ravens! Now I know what is the name of the bacteria I caught! LOL I have quite a few already - garden bug, house plant bug, and now a bird bug! Way to go. I wonder if a dog or cat bug is coming too. For some reason I didn't get a 'bug' from the rats - I love them, but probably never get any more.

 

[billhatf]

Y Our 2 conures have been raised with our maine coon ... they all snuggle together at nap time ... as long as im there to supervise

 

[Betrisher]

Julie, you're never going to believe this, but I also have an ancient cat. Our Buffy was a gift to my daughter on her sixth birthday. She (Buffy) was four at the time. Daughter is about to turn twenty.

I don't think I'd say Bull Terriers were a great breed to have around birds, I'm afraid. While Alice has been a saint around other animals, I have to be honest and say I rescued a tan and white Bully many years ago. She stayed at our house quite happily for a few months, but one night (it was the eve of my final Uni exam) she took it into her head to burst into the aviary and go for Dad's Galahs. She had killed two by the time I got hold of her and was hell-bent on getting the other two (Dominic and Aloysius). I honestly don't know how I held her while Dad got hold of the Galahs! Bullies are extremely strong, which is one thing (and that's why Toffee was able to burst through the aviary wire), but they're also extremely tenacious and will not let go once they take hold. In my experience, Bullies are not aggressive (not like other similar breeds that were bred to fight), but the tenacity can be a real problem.

I don't see why you shouldn't bring a Bully into your home as a puppy, though. Early socialisation and exposure to all kinds of other animals is the best way to have a harmonious family, I think. Unfortunately, Bull Terriers (and Staffies and Bull Arabs and Mastiffs) are common and cheap around where I live. They're called 'pig dogs' and used by certain types of people to hunt and kill feral pigs. I think this is an awful shame for a beautiful breed that was developed as a gentlemen's companion! Deep in my heart, I do believe Alice was the product of an unscrupulous breeder of such hunting dogs. They don't want the females, only the males. I reckon that's why our Alice was 'discarded' in the particularly heartless way we came by her.

I should add that Alice has no interest in the parrots at all, not even on the occasion when Dommie was first learning to fly and landed smack on top of her head. All she did was raise her eyebrow as if to say 'Mum! What is this on my head! Gettitoffgettitoffgettitoff!'

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks Trish, I guess it looks like in the future, I'll just have to be ever vigilant with different types of animals in the house. Looks like many people with birds and dogs/cats are faced with that challenge. I know there's the rare dog or cat who seems completely trustworthy, and as an owner you can pretty much know it if they are, but I'm not going into it automatically thinking it will be okay.

I know those Bullies are incredibly strong! I didn't know they are just common 'pig dogs' that are used in that way in Australia. How sad. They're not real rare here, but for some reason they're rarely seen in shelters, rarely found as a mixed breed, and always very expensive. Sort of like they're "exclusive". I'm not sure why.
Ah.. you certainly described a terrier alright! That was my fear... and a BIG terrier at that. My dad's Jack Russell 'small animal killing machine' is pound for pound as strong, tough, tenacious, and formidable as they come. I guess if a Bully is the breed I decide on, like I said above, I'll have to make sure they're always separated from my precious birds.

...and what is it with you having the world's oldest pets? The oldest cat I've seen was 21, but you win on the 18 yr old Budgie, and the 17 year old Bull Terrier!! :11:

 

[aether-drifter]

I don't have much dog experience, but I do have cats and birds. I would say don't chance it with small birds and predators, but things have worked out great with my cats and my galah (who is a small cockatoo/medium-sized parrot). At first they were interested in her and wanted to play, but she made no secret of the fact that she wanted nothing to do with them. After a few threat displays and lunges, bird chasing cat off of couch/table etc., they got the message and now keep their distance from her. I don't believe they ever wanted to hurt her -- they were just being cats. Now they barely take notice of her, and she doesn't care much about them either. If they get within a few inches, she'll hiss and chase them off, but otherwise they coexist beautifully and mind their own respective business.

My cats and my cockatiels are another story...every time the cats see the tiels, their predatory instincts kick in and they get that "gleam" in their eyes. I keep them completely separate 99% of the time. Occasionally, I will bring one tiel out into the living room (where the cats are allowed) but only when I am actively supervising and literally have my hand ON the bird.

 

[horsesculpter]

We have never had a problem, BUT it depends on the animals. I think most puppies and kittens can be all right if they are raised from a young age with birds. That way they view the bird as a family member, not prey. I would avoid dog breeds bred to hunt like many terriers, doxies, Etc. I have an elderly doberman and three cats that get along with the birds we have had. We are careful to avoid dangerous situations but don't lock the cats up when the bird is out. They ignore her. The oldest cat was not around birds growing up but she has no interest in hunting anything but pets and lap time. These are indoor cats and have never gone outside to learn to hunt. I don't think I would trust a cat that goes outside around birds, nor would I trust older cats or dogs that hadn't been around them.

 

[Betrisher]

I never realised our pets were particularly old! We just love them and they keep on keeping on. The first evidence we had of Alice's Terrier Tendencies was the day she dug a hole in the back yard. I digress to say the summer grass was knee-deep at the time (so hubby really only had himself to blame) and hubby was in his shed up the back of the yard, fixing a computer. He strode manfully back down the yard, carrying it with the monitor on top. Of course, not realising Alice's attempt to dig through to China had been going on, he wasn't looking where he was going and stepped straight into the hole. Up to his knees.

ROTFLMAO! That was one of my life's Treasured Moments. The expression on his face as he went down (and I do mean vertically downward) as well as that on Alice's as she hovered about were priceless to behold. No harm was done to anyone or anything, but there's still a big divot out there in the lawn where Alice's first foray into earth moving took place.

Just as an aside, we found out much later that Alice only ever digs/dug in freshly turned earth. She never dug a hole in pristine lawn or in mulched garden beds, just exposed earth: a true Terrier, as you say.

 

[MikeyTN]

We have two Huskies and a Chihuahua, plus 3 rescued cats from outside. None can be trusted around birds but ALL are afraid of the Macaws. If any bird is the size of a small Cockatoo, even the eclectus, the cats will run. Same with the chihuahua. But all 3 dogs respect the macaws. I allow Willie to nip at each dog when they first came home with us. They know not to mess with them. The cats runs for the hill when the macaws are out. Alexis out oldest dog, she protects both Willie and Lola. But Willie is her favorite as they grew up together. Awhile back Willie got scared and started flopping on the floor, although the dogs didn't hurt him, I still went on top of him to block the dogs.

Willie used to crawl onto the floor and chase after the dogs and they run from him as he goes after their paws. They run onto the couch to get away from the paw attacking bird. I was in shock at first as he somehow let himself out and started crawling on the floor without me knowing. I pad lock his doors shut since then. I bought this cage cause it have a double locking mechanism but that didn't matter as he figured out how to open it as he jam one lock and goes to the other one a pop the door right open. It takes him less then 5 sec to open the door.

 

[RavensGryf]

Mikey, I have to ask you about your Huskies! I had one as a kid and young adult, and though my parents had her as an outdoor dog, her hair was still everywhere! That double coat is SO thick and when it sheds it's out of control! In the future my husband would like a dog of his own, and has dreamed of a Husky for years (as I have had the dream of the Bull Terrier), and feel he won't let go of this dream. HOW BAD is the hair around your house may I ask?! With two huskies and I assume indoors, I'd be interested in knowing "what it's like" to deal with the hair clean up with two of an extra hairy breed! Any tips?

 

[MikeyTN]

LOTS of brushing and daily vacuuming!!!!!!!!!!!! You HAVE to buy the comb that helps to rid the undercoat when you brush. These are my 4th and 5th huskies. Probably the last time I'll have huskies, I love them but I have back issues. Although my girl is trained on a leash pretty good, the boy isn't. He was very ill as a pup so I never forced him to learn, it was my fault as I baby him a lot. He was always sick as he had giradia when we took him in, my worst nightmare.....So he have a tendency to drag and with my back issue, that don't help at all. You MUST train them while young to walk properly on a leash otherwise they will drag you as they're sled dogs and that's what they're being bred to do. He is the only one that drags out of the 5 huskies I've owned. They will NOT hesitate to kill so that's something you need to remember when they're around birds, even a 3 months old husky pup will kill. I had a sister pair, they killed a full grown wild rabbit at 3 months old. They got off on their leash and chase down a bunny and killed it. Huskies are very stubborn dogs, if they take something from you, you will likely not get it back as you have to chase them down and pry it out of their mouth. They're not known to be watch dogs as they will sometime assist and be friendly to the robber. Not my girls!!!! Rocco is the only boy but he's too friendly to strangers, BUT Alexis is teaching him otherwise, he watches her and learns from her. All 4 girls of mine were very good watch dogs and will protect the property. They're diggers, so if you have mole problem in your yard, well, you'll have no more moles except holes everywhere. They're escape artist! Best to have them microchipped!!!! They MUST have a fenced in yard to run, have it done extra tall like 5'+ Make sure to block underneath the fence cause they will dig themselves out, sometimes even craw out of the fence if you don't watch them as they can learn to climb. Don't ever under estimate huskies, IF they are cornered they will not hesitate to attack!!! I think I've pretty much covered the husky 101...lol

 

[Mattroma]

I second the pulling power of the huskies. I use to have my two pull me down the street on my rollerblades.

 

[getwozzy]

I third the pulling power of huskies. Lol. Mine caught my mom by surprise one day (not sure why she had both at the same time) but they yanked her off balance and she fell- she has back issues to this day from it

They have yet to actually dig out of a fence, but mishka is no match for metal fencing- if she wants out she'll grab the fencing with her jaw and twist and pull until it snaps and Apollo is a jumper/climber- fences around here must be at **least** 6 ft tall.

Michael- I'm laughing at your mole comment LOL they're excellent mole control, but they'll do the landscape at the same time hehehe

 

[Birdman666]

That is a definite "SOMETIMES."

Depends on the animals involved, and your skill at socializing them.

 

[RavensGryf]

Mikey - OMG... The female Husky I had as a kid must have been unusually "mild". You would know better than me if you're on your 5th one! You're right about not being a watchdog though.

Ugh, about the hair cleanup, that's what I thought. That's pretty bad. If my husband just has to have one, HE will have to be constantly brushing and vacuuming!!

 

[veimar]

OMG, guys, some of you have SOOO MANY pets - how do you manage to get them ALL your attention? Or they just interact with each other?
I have a very little bird (green cheek) so as I figured here there is still a BIG danger for him if I get a kitten or puppy, and I don't want to risk. Now I'm kinda leaning towards taking another bird… I want a cockatoo so badly, but I probably need to get a bit more experience (and save some money too!).

 

[RavensGryf]

Veimar, if you are thinking cockatoo down the road... IMHO, it's not only about gaining experience, but it's about being WILLING to have a two year old child for potentially many decades, that is not as accepting as many species about being independent. That's not to say they can't be taught independent playtime, but independent time will definitely be less even in a well adjusted cockatoo, than with some other species. Too owners will tell you. Also especially males after maturity I've heard can get pretty crazy or dangerous. I couldn't do a typical white Too PERSONALLY. I just couldn't. I think I'd be satisfied if I can just have Poicephalus parrots for the rest of my life if you can do the Too then great!

Actually dogs, as we're talking about can be pretty needy creatures as far as care goes, and that's something I'm thinking about too.

 

[veimar]

Ravens, yes I've read about that a lot too, but… many people are still keeping toos and are happy with them. It very much depends on particular bird personality. What attracts me in them is their intelligence and cuddliness. Caiques are my other favorite, but they are not so easy to find and too expensive. I just feel that both me and Parry would benefit from having another bird or two around, otherwise he is getting too spoiled. He is very interested in other birds when he sees them form the window or on video, so I think he would enjoy a buddy next to his cage.