Posted by Timothy Henderson on May 04, 2004 at 09:55:39:

In Reply to: Can pet birds exist in an apartment with cats? posted by Tanya on May 03, 2004 at 14:32:26:

: I so enjoy visiting my many friends who own pet birds. I would like to get a bird as a pet for myself, but I am concerned because of my cats. Can a bird be kept with cats?

Yes. You must be ready to give the matter some thought and preparation. The simplest solution is to place the bird's cage where the cat can not get to it. Cages for small birds are not very heavy and can be mounted on a wall or hung by chains from the ceiling. For the first few days the cats will silently sit, calculating every angle of approach to what they consider an exotic meal. Once they decide that all avenues are fruitless, the bird will be ignored.

A cage for a very large parrot, like a macaw or a cockatoo, will most likely be too heavy to take off the ground. Most cats ignore a bird too large to eat. If they do come near the cage, the giant parrots will frequently nip the cat, training the feline to stay away. You must use your judgment in determining the nature of your cat. I know of three cats that are housed in a basement. A mated pair of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are in the same area, contained in a sixteen foot long flight cage. Though the cats enjoyed climbing on the aviary when it was first built, since the introduction of the cockatoos, the cats stay off the wire. I am sure that the cockatoos have instructed the cats to keep away! The cats make sure that no rodents set up residence in the area.

Cats can be trained by the persons that care for them to stay away from flights that contain small birds that can't defend themselves. Whenever the cat approaches the aviary, yell at it. Keep a straw broom handy. If the great hunter jumps on the wire, smack the cat with the fiber part of the broom. This will startle but not hurt the cat. Soon the feline will decide that the sport is not worth the trouble.

The same method can be used for smaller cages. It is more difficult to train a cat that a small cage is off limits , for the bird is more tempting in a cage. Unfortunately, though cats can be taught to stay away from cages and flights, it is very hard to teach a cat to not molest a small bird. If a finch, canary, or parakeet is loose, all of the cats instincts tell it to catch and kill the bird. Small birds should never be allowed to fly free around a cat. Even the large parrots should only be allowed out with a cat under careful supervision.

In several bird stores, I have seen cats that were kept with birds since the cats were very young kittens. These cats completely ignored all birds, even small baby parrots that were being hand fed. The bird professionals that own these stores have high praise for the cats value in keeping the shops rodent free.

There is no reason that you can't enjoy the companionship of both cats and birds.

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Comments:
: : I so enjoy visiting my many friends who own pet birds.  I would like to get a bird as a pet for myself, but I am concerned because of my cats.  Can a bird be kept with cats?

: Yes.  You must be ready to give the matter some thought and preparation.  The simplest solution is to place the bird's cage where the cat can not get to it.  Cages for small birds are not very heavy and can be mounted on a wall or hung by chains from the ceiling.  For the first few days the cats will silently sit, calculating every angle of approach to what they consider an exotic meal.  Once they decide that all avenues are fruitless, the bird will be ignored.

: A cage for a very large parrot, like a macaw or a cockatoo, will most likely be too heavy to take off the ground.  Most cats ignore a bird too large to eat.  If they do come near the cage, the giant parrots will frequently nip the cat, training the feline to stay away.  You must use your judgment in determining the nature of your cat.  I know of three cats that are housed in a basement.  A mated pair of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are in the same area, contained in a sixteen foot long flight cage.  Though the cats enjoyed climbing on the aviary when it was first built, since the introduction of the cockatoos, the cats stay off the wire.  I am sure that the cockatoos have instructed the cats to keep away!  The cats make sure that no rodents set up residence in the area.
:   
: Cats can be trained by the persons that care for them to stay away from flights that contain small birds that can't defend themselves.  Whenever the cat approaches the aviary, yell at it.  Keep a straw broom handy.  If the great hunter jumps on the wire, smack the cat with the fiber part of the broom.  This will startle but not hurt the cat.  Soon the feline will decide that the sport is not worth the trouble.  

: The same method can be used for smaller cages.  It is more difficult to train a cat that a small cage is off limits , for the bird is more tempting in a cage.   Unfortunately, though cats can be taught to stay away from cages and flights, it is very hard to teach a cat to not molest a small bird.  If a finch, canary, or parakeet is loose, all of the cats instincts tell it to catch and kill the bird.  Small birds should never be allowed to fly free around a cat.  Even the large parrots should only be allowed out with a cat under careful supervision.
:   
: In several bird stores, I have seen cats that were kept with birds since the cats were very young kittens.  These cats completely ignored all birds, even small baby parrots that were being hand fed.  The bird professionals that own these stores have high praise for the cats value in keeping the shops rodent free.

: There is no reason that you can't enjoy the companionship of both cats and birds.



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