B&G and a Cat?

Hello friends,
So since before we got Atlas (which was my husband's dream pet) we agreed that he could get his macaw and I could get my dream pet, a hairless cat (well, Donskoy cat to be exact on breeds). So the time has come for us to give a deposit on a Donskoy kitten (!!!!) which won't arrive until it is 12 weeks of age.

Now, after doing extensive research on the Donskoy breed, I have found that they are very social and docile cats. And since we are getting him as a kitten, it will allow them to grow and bond together...right?

At least that's what I'm hoping. Does anyone have experiences with a cat and macaw? If so, please share!!

P.S For those wondering, here is a picture of baby Gatsby!

Cats and parrots don't mix... Cats are carnivores and parrots are prey...

Since you have a large parrot and a hairless cat, the parrot could do extensive damage to the cat... Check out threads on the damage large parrots have done on their humans, that they're bonded with...

My cats are terrified of my Macaw so they stay clear away from his cage. Both of our cats are rescues from outside strays. I would be more afraid of my small birds with the cats over the big birds as they're both afraid of the big birds. I keep my cats away from the birds regardless though as their saliva is highly toxic to birds, all it takes is one bite!

For the brief period that we were still living with my mother-in-law when we first got Atlas, my brother-in-law's cat Heidi would just avoid him at all cost. And she's a big adult cat. I don't have any small birds but I will keep them away from each other, as I didn't know cat saliva was toxic to birds! I think this is the only real issue I see here. I'm pretty sure even in Gatsby's adulthood, Atlas will still be much larger than him so I don't think Atlas will be messed with. And I don't plan leaving them alone with each other (even if Atlas is in his cage) in the same room.

I have 2 cats that we saved and two Macaws and they stay clear of each other. They semi socialize through the bars at times. I keep my macaws in the playstand with the cats around with no problems.. I am not so sure Id leave them unsupervised obviously but there was a time my Macaws used to break out of their cages and luckil no calamities occured but you never know.

Accidents, especially fatal ones, happen so fast. The price you pay for momentary lapses in diligence can cost your cat or bird their life. Cats claws contain some of the most vile fungus and bacteria and can kill a grown man. A large birds beak can break a broomstick in half, imagine that on the neck of your cat! Also, macaws are opportunistic omnivores. Which means they are prey, but also will eat other animals so they know how to hunt and do damage.

Macaw (Arini) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links

As you are getting your cat as a baby, you should be fine. I have three Persians and have never had a problem either with my macaw or the Quaker we had for eight years. My cats and bird even travel together in a RV. My cats aren't interested in the bird and she doesn't bother them. She will take a nip at their tails if they wave them in her face and of course we avoid letting any situation get out of hand. Many people live comfortably with cats and birds together. Just use your head and get them used to each other right away. Keeping them apart will just make them curious and possibly afraid of each other. Kittens learn to hunt from their mothers and as you are getting yours as a baby it should consider your bird just another family member. I worry more about dogs. Macaws are too big for most cats to consider. That said don't let your cat outside to learn to hunt ever.

I had all three of my macaws before my wife got two cats as kittens. They have grown up together and the cats know well to stay far away from the macaws. These three pictures carry the warning "do not try this at home" but show that not all macaws and cats are mortal enemies

Cats and parrots can live happily together, if they learn to respect each other.

Most cats are indifferent or scared of parrots. Parrots do not smell or move like the little birds outside they like to chase, and most cats only need one nip to convince them it's better to go play elsewhere.

That said, my current cat is a slow learner (those tail feathers are just too tempting!) and I am always having to watch out for the 2 of them together...

Ok, confession time; I had an Amazon for 16 years, he hated our cats and would hunt them down. They were terrified of him. Several years ago when I was still livng at home with my parents he was snoozing on my shoulder when one of the cats came to sit on my knee. Kev climbed down and took a big chunk out of her ear! I never admitted to my parents what had happened, I claimed I came home and found the cat like that... The cat was ok, but had a funny shaped ear from then on


Baby Gatsby looks adorable! When do you get him?

Thanks for the stories and experiences! Alwese, your pictures are adorable, and your case gives me hope. Thanks for sharing!

lucy, OMG!! Haha, what a naughty bird! Poor cat! Gatsby is only coming home on the 30th of January. He's going to be an indoor cat only because we live in a cold climate and he has no fur to keep him warm, so essentially he would freeze. And plus I don't want to risk losing him!

You will have a lot of fun with that kitten. Cats and birds raised together don't know they are predator and prey. I don't let Sunny get to anything the cats have licked or eaten on. Also I watch her when she decides a poor cat is somewhere she doesn't want it. [bed, etc.] She will chase them laughing hysterically and I don't want her to nip a tail and possibly get scratched back in defense. We don't worry too much. They really don't pay much attention to each other.

Cats will only attack prey, unless defending their self. Prey includes anything smaller then them, most of the time. My cat is fine with scarlet, because she is bigger then her. So I don't think a macaw would be a problem. But she's a little bit more interested in Ticka, who doesn't like being out of his cage anyway. And we keep her away from him.
I own 2 birds, a cat, an APBT, lizards, snakes, scorpions ect. And I have never ever had a problem with any of them attacking each other. Asking as you know how to keep your distance with each and who comes out at a certain time, who eats where, ect you should be fine.
The dog knows not to go near scarlet, coz she will bite his nose off. So I won't allow him to get to close, so he shows no interest in her and completely ignores her. He knows not to get to excited with the kitten, although cant say the same for her. She will get the claws out on his face and he will run off like a baby haha. Because I have trained him that if his being attacked by her, come get me, don't bite back. He wouldn't even growl at any of my other pets.
The kitten I won't have in the room when I have the birds out. Or when I have the lizards out. But she sleeps next to the lizard tank sometimes and watches them walk around, she doesn't try attack them through the glass which is good. But she is still learning. Haha.

My point is aslong as you and everyone in the house is willing to work together to keep certain animals separated if need be, and train them not to show too much interest in each other then I think you will be fine.

But remember cats are predators, everything could change in a split second, same thing could happen with my pets. For example, when I was about 15 I was sitting on the couch watching tv with my alexandrine, everyone in the house knew when the bird is out the cat stays outside. It worked for so long. Till one day my sister came home, didn't ask if she bird was out, and the cat came inside with her. Honest. simple mistake but it could have cost my birds life. The cat came ini the lounge, just as Alex decided she wanted to go on the ground. She flew, landed, an looked up to a cat running at her and screamed. She didn't know what to do. Thankfully something inside of me knew lol, I have never moved so fast in my life. I jumped right over the coffee table, and almost killed myself landing on the other side of the room and pounced on the cat. If I had Ben one second longer, or fallen over any worse then I did the cat would have gotten to the bird.
Thankfully Alex is still alive today, she is almost 7 years, and still coexisting with mums cat at her house. It's easier for mum now without 6 people living under one roof to let the cat in lol. Now he won't bother with the bird, I guess his getting older too.

Wow.. I just wrote a book, congrats to anyone who finished reading this. Haha