Is there any techiques I can use to get a new cat to behave around my birds? ?

Question

I am the proud owner of a beautiful green cheeked conure and a blue quaker. I would love to get a dog in the future, and would really like a cat along with the dog... and now we come to the problem. There is a beautiful cat up for adoption at the vets- it has the best personality. I have taken her home for the weekend to trial her to see what she is going to be like with the birds. I live in a small, open plan house- and my birds are very spoiled and spend most of the day outside their cages. Kitty is very interested in the birds. My gcc has never seen a cat so he isnt reacting too badly- but apparently my quaker knows exactly what kitty is and is getting a bit nervous... which only makes her more interested. I am squirting her with water when she gets too close to the cage- is there anything else I can do to try to teach her not to get the birds over the weekend. I would love the opportunity to have a cat- and have read in a parrot behaviour book that it is easier to train cats not to eat your birds than it is to teach dogs!

Kit Cat · Accepted Answer

no not really, it is very hard, cats are natural hunters and have instincts that will always be there.  You can "train" a cat to tolerate and ignore a bird on some occasions, but never to the point where you should trust them as pals with you birds.  The main reason that cats and birds should never interact, even if the cat seems to adore the bird, is a microscopic one:  Pasteurella bacteria.  The bacteria is a normal part of the cats flora.  It does no harm to cats.  However, it is deadly to birds.  Even salivia from a cat transferred to a bird can cause them to become il and die.  If ever you bird has contact with a cat-even if this contact seems incidential- an immediate vet visit is in order.

mercury · Answer

I assume this cat is an adult? If that is the case, and especially if the cat has been allowed outdoors, it may already regard birds as prey.

If this is the case, then it is too risky to allow the birds out of the cage when the cat is around.

Cats' prey drive is very strong, and it would hard to ever be sure that your birds are safe.

You mention that your quaker clearly knows what the cat is & is reacting nervously. Are you aware that birds can literally die from nervous shock, just from being stared at by a predator (eg cat)?

It is great to see you are planning ahead, and figuring this out, before committing to ownership of the cat.

Best of luck with this!

Anonymous · Answer

first of all, the cat really just wants to find out more about the birds. the birds seem interested, too. i suggest keeping the bird in their cage until the cat leaves them alone. water spraying is a good idea, too.

Anonymous · Answer

Spray water bottle cats hate it

Anonymous · Answer

Consult a vet first before thinking about this because it might have side effects which might not like at all.

Is there any techiques I can use to get a new cat to behave around my birds? ?

5 Answers