How to stop a parrot going through a catflap?

[hucker]

Short of buying an expensive chip controlled catflap, and having the cats lose the collars all the time or having them all implanted with one, how do I have a catflap which the cats can go through but my parrots can't?

 

[Lacewing]

If the bird in question is not on the floor, which I consider potentially dangerous, you would not have an issue. Are your cats and birds on the floor together?

 

[hucker]

They usually are on my shoulder, the back of my chair, or in their aviary (or perched on it's open door). The problem arises when one of them wanders around on the floor exploring, I'm worried it might go through the cat flap when I'm not looking. There's no problem with the cats and parrots being together, there are no signs at all of any violence, they get on well together. I'm just worried the parrot sees the cats freely going outside and wants to explore.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Oooooooooooooooooohhhh!
Well, the idea of cats and and a parrot being loose together, and possibly coming and going unsupervised scares the heck out of me. The tiniest playful snag of a claw would be septic for the bird... and there are periods of time the bird is alone and might push through the flap?
I'll just wish you luck, truly.

 

[Allee]

Hello hucker, welcome to the forums!

I'm afraid you aren't going to find answers to your specific question concerning a parrot proof cat door. Interaction between predator and prey is highly discouraged for obvious reasons. Many of us have birds and other animals, most of us never allow our birds out of their cages with cats or dogs in the room. Statistics prove accidents happen often, for parrots the results or almost always tragic, not worth taking even the smallest chance.

 

[hucker]

I don't leave the parrots out when I'm not here (mainly because they can chew things like electrical cords, or something expensive!) Mostly the cats wander around on the floor and the parrots perch higher up on things. But one of them (an African Grey) does like to explore on the floor and plays with the cats in a very friendly way - I watch them carefully. Trouble is he could wander off to the room with the catflap and get through before I noticed. I have spotted him going in there and looking through the glass door the flap is in.

 

[trimblegirls]

But one of them (an African Grey) does like to explore on the floor and plays with the cats in a very friendly way - I watch them carefully.

I don't think there is a solution to your potential problem. Are you aware that just a playful scratch from a cat is lethal to parrots? There's something in their claws that is poisonous to parrots. You protect your parrots from chewing on electrical cords but are ok with supervised play with poison? I'm really not one to crazy cautious but letting a cat and bird play together seems foolish at best. I have cats and dogs with parrots. I never let them interact at all. It only takes 1/2 of a second for things to go terribly wrong.

Good Luck.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just to report that I have read very recently that a pet parrot escaped by copying the family cat. When the cat went out through the cat flap so did the parrot.

Think it has to be the expensive one don't you? Not as expensive as another parrot though.

 

[hucker]

Yes I will be buying a chip controlled flap. I've lost a parrot before which managed to open the aviary catch and fly though an open window. Another bird followed him, then stopped and looked worried. She let me pick her up and take her back inside, I was lucky I was there at the time. The escaped boy though would not return. Me and 2 neighbours chased him around the local woods for weeks, but the trees are 100 feet tall and there's no way we could climb one and catch him before he just flew to the next. I have since installed a parrot proof catch!

 

[Lacewing]

I agree with others. You cannot take the natural instinct of a predator cat out of the cat. You may see it as friendly play but if you continue to let your grey roam the floor with your cats your bird is doomed. As guardians of our companion birds it is our responsibility to keep them healthy, happy and SAFE. The cat door flap is a minor issue.

 

[SailBoat]

Well, you could consider place a sign above the flap: Cats Only!

Catflap Openings are one of the dumbest inventions I have ever seen Mankind install on their homes! Not until the introduction of electronics has this concept made any sense what so ever! Whether the devise is on or in the Cat, they fail and commonly fail to allow entrance /exit.

So Why are they dumb: The number of wild things that can fit though a Catflap exceeds what you would want to allow into your home! Yes, they have all kinds of 'safeguards,' but the number of times that I have been called to extract a four legged something tells be that they can and do fail!

Also, when you live with an outside cat, you live with the outside and that means they carry back into your home whatever crawled onto them during their last travels!

If you want a Cat, seal the Catflap! At least you have some control over their comings and goings!

 

[hucker]

He doesn't actually interact with the cats anymore, they ignore each other. Although sometimes he takes some of the cat food! And believe me I watch them very carefully! I used to have large and small parrots so I know that arguments start even between different species of bird.

 

[hucker]

No I won't seal the flap, I like them to have freedom. Yes they do bring in fleas sometimes, but I have an electric flea killer. Nothing except two neighbours' cats have come through the flap. I'm near the edge of a small town in the UK, there aren't wild things to come in here.

 

[plumsmum2005]

No I won't seal the flap, I like them to have freedom. Yes they do bring in fleas sometimes, but I have an electric flea killer. Nothing except two neighbours' cats have come through the flap. I'm near the edge of a small town in the UK, there aren't wild things to come in here.

Please believe me there are! I too live in a small town and there is wildlife out there especially at night.

Please try and keep the cat food away from your bird, please?

 

[hucker]

Not in Scotland, there's nothing here that's come in in the 4 years I've had a cat flap. Never seen anything outside either. All I have in the wild here are birds, mice (which the cats kill), and deer (2 miles away and wouldn't fit through the flap!)

I did worry a lot about him eating meat, but when I Googled it, it seems it's ok for parrots to eat a bit of meat. He only takes a little mouthful about once a week. If you know it's poisonous, please provide a link and I'll stop him.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Not in Scotland, there's nothing here that's come in in the 4 years I've had a cat flap. Never seen anything outside either. All I have in the wild here are birds, mice (which the cats kill), and deer (2 miles away and wouldn't fit through the flap!)

I did worry a lot about him eating meat, but when I Googled it, it seems it's ok for parrots to eat a bit of meat. He only takes a little mouthful about once a week. If you know it's poisonous, please provide a link and I'll stop him.

That's the ones I had in mind lol. A friend used to leave their back door open when they were home and surprise, surprise, the next thing is there is a mouse behind the fire.

Cat food is formulated for cats, to give them the best nutrition which is not the same as the requirements of parrots! Cats are by nature carnivores with different nutritional requirements to a parrot. FYI http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_feedingcat.cfm

If your bird likes a little meat then a small amount of well cooked chicken is a much better option. It doesn't necessarily have to be poisonous to harm a parrot, but feeding the wrong foods can be the culprit of many health problems for them which then are usually time consuming and costly as in vet care for us and goodness only knows how it makes them feel to be unwell? Unfortunately it isn't a case of sling them some tablets and bingo all is good again. It is hard enough to ensure they are fed well with the right things and stay healthy without looking for trouble IMO.

 

[hucker]

Mice get in even if the door's shut - they squeeze through air vents etc. I know people with mice in their house who haven't had a door or window open. Anyway, the cats take care of those, and spiders!

Well I'm not sure what to think. Some people say the protein and fat content of cat meat is too high, but then so is meat for humans. It also says in Wikipedia that in the wild African Greys will eat slugs and snails. I'd definitely not like him eating loads of it (or loads of meat for humans), but a little bit should be fine. By the way I'm a vegetarian, so he doesn't get any other meat as I don't have any around. If he starts eating loads of it I'll shoo him away.

 

[SailBoat]

So, the reality of all this is: The catflap technology, when it fails will allow outside stuff in and inside stuff out! That is the risk that you therefore accept and are responsible therein. So, short of premaritally sealing the catflap your Parrot 'could' leave thought it!

You are clearly steadfast in the choices you are making and input from those here will not change any part of your choices.

May this all work well for you and your's!

Regards,

 

[hucker]

I currently have a catflap with no electronics on it, so an electronic one is 1000 times safer than that! I can't seal it up, that would be cruel to the cats, who have roamed freely for years. I just thought there might be another solution than buying a tagged system and having to annoy the cats with chips or collars, but I guess not.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Mice get in even if the door's shut - they squeeze through air vents etc. I know people with mice in their house who haven't had a door or window open. Anyway, the cats take care of those, and spiders!

Well I'm not sure what to think. Some people say the protein and fat content of cat meat is too high, but then so is meat for humans. It also says in Wikipedia that in the wild African Greys will eat slugs and snails. I'd definitely not like him eating loads of it (or loads of meat for humans), but a little bit should be fine. By the way I'm a vegetarian, so he doesn't get any other meat as I don't have any around. If he starts eating loads of it I'll shoo him away.

Well for the benefit of the many on this forum reading of this issue, parrots in the wild do eat things that we do not give them such as poisonous fruits BUT they are can and are able to find clay licks that neutralise those toxins in the poisonous fruit. Owners are not able to replicate their parrots lives in terms of energy used looking for food, most of the day comprises flying and searching for, or eating foods. If a parrot in the wild ate a little cat food this would cause it a lot less harm than it will being in our homes. No meat is better than the wrong meat, especially if all the other foodstuffs are of excellent quality and prepared well.

Maybe if the cat flap was sealed up the cat food could be put outside for them, win, win! WDYT?