Introducing bird to cats

[Tez]

I think I have an idea of how to best introduce my new lovebird to my cats (for them all to be out together, but I would greatly appreciate stories of how you all introduced your birds to existing cats!

Both cats are quite young. The oldest (a 2 year old (turns 3 in november) cornish rex), is the one who can potentially be a problem. He is a very secure cat and is afraid of pretty much nothing. He's been sat staring at the bird in the cage for long time both yesterday and this morning. The youngest one (an almost 1 year old siamese) will be easier since he can be very skittish and slightly nervous. He's shown some facination, and is curious about the bird, but in a more happy-go-lucky way. I can see the bird and this cat playing together in relative safetly.

The cats are locked in another part of the house part of the day so the bird can be out of the cage as much as he needs, but ofcourse I want them to be able to be out and about together eventually (ofcourse under supervision). I know it will be a lengty process, but I would still appreciate tips and stories of how others did this, and how it turned out, and also how long it took.

 

[Betrisher]

I reckon this is a very personal matter and you'll get differing opinions from all. There's no way I'd ever permit my birds to be out while the cats are at large! Both our younger cats (aged three years) are experienced bird hunters and look lovingly at my parrots through the cages. The old cat, who is nearly senile at seventeen, just sits and watches, but every now and again, I see the end of her tail twitch and know darned well she'd strike if she ever got the chance. It would only take one swipe of a cat's claw or one bite of her jaws to do irreparable damage. I know lots of people have cats and rodents or cats and birds that have been raised together - you see photos online all the time - but I'm not risking it. I love my Beaks too much to take the risk.

 

[Captsteve]

Be very careful. If you ever turn your back, it will not end well.

 

[jacksmom]

The bacteria in cat and dog saliva is toxic to birds...playing together even "safely" would never be safe. Even if the bird was only exposed to the saliva on the cat's fur from grooming.

 

[crimson]

I know there are exceptions to having a cat near a pet bird/parrot and they don't seem to care, but cats are cats, and will always view birds as prey

I wouldn't risk any of my birds with my 4 cats.

we have to put our 4 cats behind closed doors, before we bring our parrots out.
yes....it is a pain, but I would never forgive myself if anything happened, that could have been prevented.
btw, your cats are pretty

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I actually have a fear of cats with birds to the point i will not have a cat because i always have at least one bird. (Plus i have a canary and their flighty ways seem to really attract feline attention). I have enough worry having 3 tiny dogs with my birds because they all consider each other friends, and because of that they WANT to be with each other, but i know "stuff happens" sometimes, even accidentally. I generally try to keep them separated. Their 'friendship' is a supervised one!

 

[Captsteve]

The bacteria in cat and dog saliva is toxic to birds...playing together even "safely" would never be safe. Even if the bird was only exposed to the saliva on the cat's fur from grooming.

Yeah, Not so much! Might want to ask your vet instead of perpetuating internet myth..

I have studied animal medicine and there is nothing in a health dog or cat mouth that will hurt a healthy bird except for teeth.

 

[henpecked]

I think the "myth" started with cat/dog bites and the resulting infection.Topically i don't think it's an issue but as with any puncture wound, it's hard to clean and prone to infection.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yeah, Not so much! Might want to ask your vet instead of perpetuating internet myth..

I have studied animal medicine and there is nothing in a health dog or cat mouth that will hurt a healthy bird except for teeth.

Agreed. My American Bulldog is quite the slobber mouth. So much so that when he shakes his head everyone around him ends up "wearing" some. Yes, my birds have been "slimed" - unintentionally, of course, but it's never had any ill effects on them.

 

[jacksmom]

Geez, guys, sorry, should have said "if there is open skin anywhere on your bird"...should have known there were a bunch of self proclaimed veterinary experts to correct me. Go ahead, let your dogs and cats slobber all over your birds...isn't that cute. Definitely worth the risk of deadly infection.

Edit: I did ask my vet. . Lot of rude folks here.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Geez, guys, sorry, should have said "if there is open skin anywhere on your bird"...should have known there were a bunch of self proclaimed veterinary experts to correct me. Go ahead, let your dogs and cats slobber all over your birds...isn't that cute. Definitely worth the risk of deadly infection.

Edit: I did ask my vet. . Lot of rude folks here.

WHERE exactly was someone rude?

YOU are the one now coming off as rather sarcastic.

Go ahead and listen to your vet.

 

[Jayyj]

I have an elderly cat and allow her and the bird to be out together as long as they're closely supervised. Neither is particularly interested in the other - bird will do her angry falcon impression if cat moves a little too suddenly, and has expressed an interest in the grooming potential of the cat's fur (and yes, she's whisked away long before she',sclose enough to actually try it), and the cat largely considers the bird as an exasperating attention sponge best ignored.

I made a big deal early on of letting them check each other out, generally holding the cat in my arms a few feet away from the bird and talking to them both. I kept a close eye on the bird's stress levels but she didn't seem too fussed - and this is a bird who's visibly scared of everything from new perches to violin bows.

I understand the potential for tragedy and it depends totally on the individual animals. I also think however many cute Youtube clips there are of cats and birds playing nicely together as though best of friends it's not worth the risk to allow any direct interaction. But at the moment no1 pet is asleep on her back on a chair, and no2 is cheerfully occupied chewing my shirt, so I can't see any immediate likelihood of disaster.

 

[MikeyTN]

My vet and numerous vets I know all have said the same thing about cat like jacksmom. They didn't say anything about dogs as my dog licks the birds all the time. They do it through the cage bars making out, kinda hard to prevent that....lol....

BUT with cats, I 100% don't trust cats with birds, even my cats! But they are both are terrified of my big birds and they bother with them. They got loose in the bird room before and didn't do anything except eat my plants....But I see them watching the birds closely, especially the smaller ones, they will go after them in a flash....

 

[henpecked]

Just looking clarification, was i rude? I think i missed something.

 

[Jayyj]

My understanding of the saliva issue is that cats do have bacteria in their mouths that are dangerous to birds, but the bacteria needs to enter the bird's bloodstream: so if your bird is bitten or swatted with a claw that might have been in recent contact with the cat's mouth you have a serious issue on your hands. It's for that reason that my two will never be allowed anywhere near touching distance.

Obviously cats are ambush hunters, and a pouncing cat might be hard to beat to the punch if you're not prepared, so I totally understand others concerns about allowing the two together, and would never say "don't worry about it, I'm sure they'll get on fine". I'm lucky to have a cat that was pretty placid when young and is now a real old grandma.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Just looking clarification, was i rude? I think i missed something.

Capt, you don't have a rude bone in your body.

 

[crimson]

this topic seems to be open to interpretation, like a lot of things.
when someone wants to introduce a cat to a bird,or vice versa.... what comes to mind is err on the side of caution.

It's ones personal choice to have your animals around bird/parrots, all we want is for all birds to be kept safe.

 

[BillsBirds]

My input here is...about 25 years ago, I rescued a Cockatoo that had been attacked by a dog that it had lived very happily & peacefully with for over 10 years. The owners had movies (no video back then) and photos of them playing, sleeping & eating together. One day things just went wrong. And, about 11 years ago, my friend lost her Amazon to her cat. Also, both were friends for many years, with photos, etc, of them doing all kinds of things together. All it takes is the right (wrong) moment/situation, and the birds never come out well.

 

[chippy]

I wouldn't risk it...my dog had never shown any sign that she would kill a bird, but then, she had never been left alone with the birds being out. All it took was one time where my husband, not thinking, left them unsupervised for a brief time... and now Wilbur is buried under our tree out back.

 

[cockatielgirl]

I wouldn't risk it...my dog had never shown any sign that she would kill a bird, but then, she had never been left alone with the birds being out. All it took was one time where my husband, not thinking, left them unsupervised for a brief time... and now Wilbur is buried under our tree out back.

sorry to hear that... any loss of a feathered friend is bad no matter what the cause