Owners of Cat(s) & Parrot(s)

[Brittanyv326]

I know a few people here do own cats along with their fids. I am in a situation right now where I should take in a cat because she is going to die if she does not get out of the owners care she's in now (or lack of care that is). She's very sick and I love this cat and have known her for all of her 8 years. However, I do not want to risk the well being of Sadie and I want her to be out of her cage whenever we're home like she is now. So I just have some questions for those who own both cats & parrots.

How do they coexist? Do you have to separate them at all times when the bird is out? Were you successful in training the cat at all? (I am really good with training dogs, but cats ????) Do you feel that your parrot is 100% safe in your home even with cats running around too? Is there some secret to having a multi species zoo at home?

I'm really nervous about this, but I know there are some responsible bird owners here that have cats too, so there must be a safe way to do it. Your answer is not the final deciding factor on whether we take her in or not, so no pressure to go one way or the other. I gave the owners a week to take her to the vet & if they fail, I will take her either to my home or to a rescue group, which I really don't want to do because she hates other cats and will be forced to live with dozens. On top of that, she's been in our family for 8 years... so it's really hard. But something has got to be done, she has had open holes in her stomach for 2 years (draining of a deep seeded infection) and I've taken her to my vet twice and fronted the bill, but the "owners" never follow through with the medication or taking her back for a check up, or even keep tabs on her condition. Her condition has remained stable until now, she's gotten 4x worse and it is absolutely breaking my heart to see her suffering.

Thanks in advance for the answers.

[Michael]

Quite an unfortunate situation. But take a look at this in your consideration. It is not an owner's perspective but rather looking at some history/science behind the animals:

Why Cat/Dogs Pose Severe Threat to Household Parrots

Let me just add that I have heard first hand stories about parrots getting killed by cats or dogs. I know there will be replies from people who have cats/parrots but I just wanted to provide fair warning.

[pchela]

I have also heard stories about cats or dogs killing birds. I have a cat. I understand that at any time instincts can take over, no matter how docile she is normally and even though she is terrified of the birds. So, I am very careful. The birds and cat never get close enough to cause each other harm. If all of the birds are out while my attention is focused elsewhere, the cat goes in her favorite bedroom for a while. So, it can be done, if you are diligent about making sure they can't interact. Most of the stories I've read about birds being killed by cats or dogs is because the owner left them out alone together or wasn't paying attention, etc. It will make life a bit harder and once my cat is gone, I won't be getting another, but it can be done.

[Jenny]

I have 2 cats. They are learning how to behave w/Aaron, but I will never trust them alone w/him in a situation where they could get to him. As long as he's in his cage, they couldn't care less about him. Any other time though, I have to be very aware of where all 3 animals are at all times, & I scold the cats when I see any predatory signs before they have a chance to act. I recognize that life would be less restrictive & safer for the bird & easier for myself w/o a predatory animal in the house.

I'm glad that you are going to see that that poor kitty is permanently removed from it's current home. I can completely understand that it would break your heart.

[ptuga72]

We have a rescue cat as well. He came to us at 10 y/o (almost 14 now) and very skittish and fearful due to years of rough handling and neglect. We haven't any problems with him, but we are very lucky. He is getting old and prefers to lay in his bed all day, he is also absolutely terrified of the birds and is declawed. He can't run or jump well, has vision problems from being cross-eyed and his idea of a good time is just laying with me. But we do still take precautions. The bird room is a no-kitty zone, and I never allow any bird out unattended outside of the bird room. I also do not allow the birds on our bed which is where he spends a lot of time sleeping, even if he is off of the bed, I don't trust that the germs from the cat just go away once the cat vacates his napping spot. I love our Louie very much, but like Pchela said, I don't think we will get another after he passes.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

After observing and participating in these discussions for a while is that folks that genuinely like and understand cats and dogs make it work without a lot of stürm und drang. Those that don't really like cats and/or dogs to start with... think it is the scariest thing they can think of.

Yes, bad things can happen. And one of your birds could attack and kill another, too. I'm not sure the risk is all that much less than that of a well socialized household cat or dog doing so. For that matter, there are documented cases of larger birds killing cats (bled out after a well placed bite). I'm not a fan of the article Michael posted. IMO, it was written by someone who doesn't know cats and dogs very well and certainly doesn't like them. It paints them as little killing machines with no trainability, no individual variation in personality, etc. And cat salivia is not "Toxic". It DOES contain bacteria which is very likely to cause a serious infection from a bite (so does ours) so you MUST take your bird to the vet if it gets bitten -- by your cat or your toddler -- but they aren't little slavering monsters with poisonous mouths.

We have 3 cats and 2 birds. The birds are both clipped (oh, yes the horror!) so we don't have to worry about them flying to the cats and harassing them, but we do supervise the birds whenever they are out. When we are home, the cats have the run of the house. When we are not home, the door to the room the birds occupy is kept closed, as it is at night. Two of the cats have no interest in the birds at all. One was raised with birds, but the other was not. The third cat is rather fascinated with them, although she is more afraid of them than predatory at this point. We do watch closely whenever Nikki is in the same room with the birds and intervene is there is any likelihood of contact (usually because a bird has climbed down to investigate the cat. Scooter has actually chased her out of the room, not a desirable situation, but it does illustrate that doom is not inevitable should contact occur). Ariel and Pepe, I strongly suspect, would roll over and go back to sleep if the birds planted themselves right on top of them. Not that I'm going to test that, but they've been in pretty close proximity, and the prevailing response was a remarkable degree of ennui. MHO -- the risk is very low if you don't let them loose together and then ignore them. THAT would be asking for trouble.

If you want to set aside a cat free zone, there are ways to do that. You can train a cat, but unlike a dog, they are unlikely to obey the rules you have trained when you are not present. For keeping them away from certain areas, they make various devices that deliver an automatic deterrent, and these can be very effective with some cats. You could also partition your house and allow the cat free access to one part, the birds another, if your home setup allows for that. We also don't give the cats any toys that resemble birds -- nothing with feathers, for example.

I vote for giving the poor kitty a good home, personally, but that's entirely up to you! It does sound as if the health situation is dire. Has the vet ruled out that the chronic abscesses are due to underlying immune compromise? If the kitty is FeLV positive, for example, you may be looking at heartbreak.

[pchela]

-- but they aren't little slavering monsters with poisonous mouths.

I think I mentioned this in another thread already, but in case you missed it, I love your mind!

[Michael]

Normally we like to talk about bird proofing our homes and devising ways to make them safer for our companion parrots. Although there are ways to reduce risks between cats/parrots as entranced pointed out, you can note from responses of cat/parrot owners that they are aware of the risks and dangers. No one is saying that the cat will attack at every opportunity or that major improvement cannot be made with training. Rather, the issue is that they are naturally carnivorous animals with predatory instincts. These can to a large extent be curbed but never entirely. This is why previously posting owners noted the precautions they take. Is it really fair to be adding a factor that is out of our immediate control to put already owned birds at risk?

I don't see people advocating leaving avocados out, windows open, or leaving parrots loose in the home when unattended because they realize that these risks may have consequences even if unlikely. I do not see how adding new and known risks that are of no benefit to the parrot can be justified.

Brittany, I'm sure you're not the last person in the world that can provide a good home for the poor cat. In my humble opinion you are the best person to find a caring home for the unfortunate puss without bringing it into your home and putting your own bird at greater risk. Sadie is entering a tough age right now and needs a lot of care and continued training to avoid becoming a terribly aggressive Senegal. I may not have cats/dogs which could make me less knowledgeable about specifics of these animals to be sure, but perhaps it makes me less biased than people who are prejudiced by the love for their own cats/dogs? I'm not making this decision, ultimately it is up to you, but I try to provide my point of view for balance and because you asked.

[Jenny]

-- but they aren't little slavering monsters with poisonous mouths.

I think I mentioned this in another thread already, but in case you missed it, I love your mind!

this line from entranced made me laugh too. I could picture my two kitties, wickedly sharp teeth, glistening w/poison, green toxic drool dripping from their mouths. EEEVIL cats!!

But seriously, Brittany, I'd strongly suggest heeding the advice given in Michael's last post. It makes good sense.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I think I mentioned this in another thread already, but in case you missed it, I love your mind!

Aw shucks!