Cat ‘attacked’ my conure

[happycat]

My sister was taking my conure out with a cat on her (if I had known I would have stopped her) and my cat apparently hit him with her paw. I was looking away and did not see.
- no blood, missing feathers, or visible damage of any kind. I got him wet and pieced apart his feathers on every part of his body to make sure.
-he did not scream when it happened. Just moved away
- cat was not vicious or angry. It was a “play” smack, unsure if claws were out kr in

Is it alright if I do not take him to the vet because the attack was so minor or is it imperitive that I do? I will watch for symptoms of course.

 

[Flboy]

A hard call, if your baby was scratched, he may die! Watch for any sleepiness!

 

[Scott]

I would be deeply concerned for any scratches that are not noticeable. While cat saliva is among the most dangerous of substances (from a bite) their nails also harbor harmful bacteria. Please consider a visit with a certified avian vet; the doc may wish to prescribe antibiotics as precaution. Will depend on a thorough physical examination.

 

[bug_n_flock]

It is a tough call, but your call ultimately. If I were you and I did take him in, I would bring the sister so she sees how serious it is, and I would make her pay all or part of the bill if she is an age that that would make sense for her to do(even with allowance money or by doing chores for you!)

You were very very lucky, and if in your shoes, I would want to make sure my sister knew NOT to try anything so risky again!

 

[GaleriaGila]

I like all the input above.
Yeah, I'd go the vet route... any physical contact with a cat is so scary!
Good for you for being so concerned: I think you're absolutely right to be.
Please keep us updated.

 

[happycat]

It is a tough call, but your call ultimately. If I were you and I did take him in, I would bring the sister so she sees how serious it is, and I would make her pay all or part of the bill if she is an age that that would make sense for her to do(even with allowance money or by doing chores for you!)

You were very very lucky, and if in your shoes, I would want to make sure my sister knew NOT to try anything so risky again!

I called the vet, and they said as long as their is no visual or behavior evidence that she hurt him, I should be fine to monitor him for symptoms. I'm extremely grateful that nothing worse happened to him.

The fact that this happened at all is very upsetting to me though, because I have told her countless times not to let him too close to the cats. (and shes 23)
I like to let her take him out when I'm at school because I want him to get out for as long as possible,(and he loves her) but I had to tell her she isn't allowed to take him out without my supervision any more. (a while back she let him fly around the kitchen while I was boiling a pot of water so this was really the last straw! :34: ) The worst part is, her and my mother blame me for "not watching him" while she had him. The sister says this is not her fault because she was sleepy and I shouldn't have let her have him while she was sleepy. (she didnt even tell me she was and was fully awake when I handed him to her )

 

[happycat]

I'm also grateful he was my conure, and not my cockatiel or kakariki, because my cats don't see him as "prey" because of the way he acts. My conure is always fine in the same room as the cats, as long as they are far apart enough that physical contact is not possible.
I'll be sure to be even more cautious from now on. Hes my baby

 

[bug_n_flock]

OMGOSH I was thinking she was like 6-16, not an adult! O.O

Revised "if it was me": NOBODY TOUCHES MY BIRDS WHILE I AM NOT AROUND. PERIOD. Or at all. I get that your bird is friends with your family, but if they are not taking responsibility for themselves and are taking liberties with your birds..... grrrrrrrrrrr

My brother was a jerk about my birds when we were younger, even going so far as to threaten to smear yogurt on my bedroom walls in the hopes of poisoning them(???) but as an adult he would *never* threaten or do something like that! I am sorry you have this going on. OK, grumpy Bug over. Hopefully all works out for you, but I would even consider moving my birds to "daytime" cages in my bedroom while I wasn't home if that's what it took to keep my sister from putting my birds in harm's way.

 

[texsize]

If it was me I might go so far as to put a lock on cage when I was not going to be home.

It sounds like a very dynamic situation.

 

[Sunnyclover]

I only trust 3 people with my birds...my husband, my babysitter and God....

 

[happycat]

I only trust 3 people with my birds...my husband, my babysitter and God....

new favorite quote

 

[JonyWest]

It often happens that cats instinctively attack birds or hamsters.

 

[noodles123]

My dad is obsessed with Noodles and has still risked her life on more than one occasion (out of inattention in general-- almost rolling onto her once when he accidentally fell asleep (and he's big and tall), burning a jar opener on the oven coils during a visit, secretly using bleach because he doesn't get it.....the list goes on...As much as I love him, I would never ever trust them to be truly alone together without someone else more up-tight/attentive- he knows better but he's like an absent minded professor....and that happens even though he loves her and knows I would be destroyed if anything happened.

I'd be VERY VERY VERY careful with cats. I would not ever have cats and a bird at the same time for this reason (I know you already have them and love them too- but just saying). They carry very dangerous bacteria that can kill a parrot limited contact.

If anything happened to my bird, I'd have a very hard time forgiving a person who caused it. I am keeping it PG for the sake of the forum lol!

If your sister doesn't care about the bird (or cares, but doesn't prioritize the severity of the risk), maybe ask her how she feels about you never speaking again if anything were to happen to your baby LOL-- Sounds harsh, but that's just crazy that she even allowed that to happen at her age. It's a fact that it would be very hard to forgive an incident (especially after this VERY close call). If she doesn't understand the risk to the bird, maybe she will comprehend the risk to your relationship.

 

[Cardinal]

Predatory mammalian pets and parrots cannot be in the same household on a permanent or even temporary basis. Ferrets, Cats and Rats are usual suspects and so are most dogs. But some exceptional bird friendly dogs do exist. But probably they are 1 in a 1000.

 

[smwboxer]

Predatory mammalian pets and parrots cannot be in the same household on a permanent or even temporary basis. Ferrets, Cats and Rats are usual suspects and so are most dogs. But some exceptional bird friendly dogs do exist. But probably they are 1 in a 1000.

That’s a bit extreme. I have 3 Amazons, 2 cockatiels, 3 parrotlets, several finches, 4 dogs and, a cat. All living together in peace for years now.