Thinking about a Parrot, Own Several Cats

[Nokota]

LOL-No, it's not, my dear. In my personal opinion, nothing that would endanger a life that is under our care is worth 'a try' just so we can make it easier on ourselves. Besides, cats are only half-domesticated and not like dogs but even dogs cannot be trusted 100% and 100% of the time. They are not people, they are animals and the prey drive is very strong in them.

Of course it's worth a try. Because unless you haven't been paying any attention to their other posts, Mercy is going ahead with getting the bird anyways. Trying to train the cats to not hunt them somehow can't possibly be a bad idea.

[Desire Mercy]

Well, it will certainly be a long time before I even have the two in the same room outside of a cage (if ever). I know better than to leave a bird loose with a cat in the room. I won't be enforcing total separation. From everything I've read, and from what I know of cats, keeping the bird "new and strange" will only increase curiosity, so I will let them mingle (with one or both caged).

I've already started squirting the cats if they start investigating the cage.

I have a very large cage (big enough for an African Grey) with small bar spacing. So, unless the bird decides to be silly and sit right against the bars near the cat, I don't see too much happening. I'm looking into getting a metal screen mesh to wrap the cage in when I can't be there just to avoid claws getting through in case of a worst case scenario.

I like the idea of creating a foam dummy bird. Thank you for that. I think I'll make one myself and start training the cats it's not a toy.

[Olivia Bird]

It's totally doable if you can separate spaces while meeting the needs of each pet. I have two cats (regular dsh), four dogs (2 chihuahua x, alaskan husky, border collie) and nine birds (2 eclectus, 6 budgies, 1 cockatiel). All pets are rescues. The birds have their own room that is double doored. The ekkies are frequently in other rooms of the house on a person or tree. If I am going to leave them unsupervised on their tree the door of that room is closed (and yes, bird proofed). As a rule all animals have access to part of a house that is 'just theirs' as well as get the exercise, attention and foraging they need. Our dogs are upstairs during the day and there is a gate keeping the down stairs as 'cats only' unless people are down there and supervising the show. The dogs are never a concern, they listen well and never have access to other pets unsupervised. The cats are lazy and predictable, it's easy to anticipate where they are hanging out at a given time and just close the door when needed. Not to mention If I happen to walk into a room with my female eclectus, or the male by association, the dogs and/or cats are gone! My ekkie girl inspired fear in the hearts of all quadrupeds!

Having so many doors and gates sounds like a lot of work but if you and the animals are used to it, it's super easy. They all know what to expect and when. I've had mixed predator/prey pet households my whole life. Never had a problem; just don't take risks and respect that all animals deserve freedom from stress. That means they need their own space aka. the freedom to feel no threat to their safety or resources. I also think the holistic stuff is important, all animals need exercise and foraging. You all know what foraging toys for birds are, but dogs and cats do well to get their food in kongs/toys/buster cubes as well. I think satisfying that seeking circuit is one reason nobody seems particularly interested in each other.

[Pajarita]

Yes, you are absolutely right in that it's entirely doable if you keep them separate. I also have dogs, cats, birds and a mouse and nobody has ever hurt anybody else but, like you, I only allow the dogs and cats to mingle. The mouse and birds are off-limits to the cats. The thing is that she was trying to 'train' her cats into leaving the birds alone and that, in my personal opinion, it's way too risky.

[Olivia Bird]

Agreed, I don't think it's ever safe to rely on training to maintain harmony in an owners absence.

[liz]

I have 5 dogs, 5 cats and 2 amazons on the loose in this house. They are all rescues and have bonded well. The only injury I have had here is when Rambo attacked a cockatiel and broke it's wing. The 'tiel landed behind him and reflex caused the attack. I don't let them loose anymore unless Rambo is confined in another room.

Even with the inter species friendship in my house I would never suggest this to anyone else. I still don't know how we got this way.

[Harpmaker]

The bird store that I got Corsair from had at least 3 cats in residence. They slept on top of the bird cages. I asked if they had problems with the cats harassing the birds. They replied that a cat that sticks a paw in a macaw cage won't do it twice.

I took that to mean that having cats in the house won't cause a bird to die of fear. That does NOT mean a bird is safe with a cat. It means that it's MY job to keep them separate.

One advantage to having cats and bird is that you have an acceptable excuse to use on the militant wing-clippers. So far all of them have agreed that my bird is safer OFF the floor.

Good luck!

[Pajarita]

Interaction between cats and birds have other problems aside from the cat hunting the bird. Cats have some real bad bacteria in their claws (cat scratch fever) and mouth so, even when they don't mean to hurt a bird, they can still do big harm to them.

[Aphios]

I have two cats and two conures. I also have a German Shepherd. My birds are flighted and so far though my cats have watched them they have not bothered them. And to the dog, the birds are just another addition to the family. My gcc sits on the dogs back, and when we gives him food or snacks she gets in on the action. It is up to you but I think you can have a conure even if you have cats, as long as for the most part they are supervised. I really enjoy mine and don't think there should be any problems between them and my cats.

Hope this helps!

[Pajarita]

Supervision doesn't work. Both cats and dogs are much faster than people so, by the time you see something happening, it's too late. I've done animal rescue full time for 6 years (dogs and cats with a rescue group and birds with my own rescue) and one thing you learn is that you are never in complete control of an animal and that the 'better safe than sorry' is the only way to go.