If your cat is anything like mine, it loves to chase birds.  If you have a cat, but would also like a bird, the first thing you should remember is that as cats hunt bird in the wild, domestic cats also like to engage in this activity because it is their nature to do so.

However hard you try, you will never eradicate this basic instinct, so there will always be an element of risk when cats and birds cohabitate even if you try your best to reduce the possibility of anything untoward occurring.

I am sure we have all seen, or know of, the cartoon Tweetie-Pie, and know that Tweetie-Pie will always live to tell the tale and thwart Sylvester, but in real life, it does not always work out like that, so you have to take steps to protect your bird from your cat.

To your cat, your bird will be a tasty snack, so it will use any means possible to obtain this snack.  In order to prevent your cat viewing your bird as a snack, you must ensure that your bird cage is placed out of its reach and kept locked at all times.

Ensure the cage is out of the cat’s reach

Both birds and cats like to be where the family spends most of its time, so when thinking about the placement of the bird’s cage to protect your bird from your cat, this is an important thing to remember.

Your bird’s cage should be placed high enough that your cat cannot place its paw through the bars.  It should be placed well away from any furniture the cat may be able to climb onto to obtain access to the cage.  If the birdcage is suspended from the ceiling, your cat will try to obtain access to it, and depending on its abilities, it could well do so, so you must be very careful, and attempt to ascertain how high your cat can jump.  My cat, Bess, when she was younger, could jump right to the top of my patio doors, which was quite a distance!!

If your cat obtains access to the bird’s cage, it could easily knock it over, which could cause catastrophic injuries to your bird.  You should also ensure that the cage is not kept unlocked, because the bird may be able to escape.

You could play it completely safe by placing the two in separate rooms so that you are not constantly worrying that the cat may gain access to the birdcage whilst you are not around, and to close the door to this room to stop your cat from accessing it.

One major drawback of taking the action of separating your pets, however, is that your bird may become anxious because it will be left alone for long periods, making it feel secluded and lonely.  On the other hand, placing your cat away from the family would make it feel just the same way.

You should always try to have both pets in the same room whenever a family member is present so that your bird and your cat can become used to the other being around.

 

Buy a cage big enough for your bird to move around

You should also think about your bird’s well-being, so it is advisable to buy a cage that is big enough for it to move around so that if your cat were to attack for any reason, your bird can move away from your cat and not feel so frightened and vulnerable.

It is also prudent to place a nesting box in the cage so that the bird can move into this area if it feels upset or anxious about the cat’s presence.  Your bird will no doubt be under a great deal of stress because of the situation it is in, so you must do all you can to alleviate some of that stress.

 

Discipline your cat if it advances on the bird

If you see your cat advancing towards the birdcage, you should say ‘no’ in a determined and forceful tone, so that the cat will gradually realise that this action is not going to be tolerated, and will learn to leave the birdcage alone.

You could also trying hitting the ground near to the cat so that it is scared just enough to realise that attacking the bird is not a good move, and will not try doing it again.

Your cat’s saliva is extremely dangerous to your bird because it contains bacteria that your bird cannot defend itself against.  Even if your cat were to playfully claw your bird, this could prove to be fatal.

You should be very careful if you try disciplining your cat, however, because should your cat become scared of you, your relationship with your cat could become permanently tarnished.

As much as you should discipline your cat to stay away from your bird, you should also ensure that you praise your cat if it does stay away.

 

Introduce your cat to the bird

You should not keep the bird in its cage because it may become depressed, so you have to ensure that the bird is properly introduced to your cat.

It is best to show your bird to your cat whilst you are holding the bird so that your cat’s curiosity is satisfied and your cat will slowly learn to accept the bird’s presence as something normal and natural.  You should offer your cat treats to keep its attention off the bird and on you.

You could also have a firm hold of your cat when introducing it to the bird so that it cannot jump up and attack it.

If chasing your bird looks like a new game to your cat, it will inevitably wish to do so to satisfy its curiosity about the new addition to the household.

It is best, however, that you place your cat into a different room and close the door when the bird is out of its cage and flying around the room because your cat will see it as a target.  Your cat, however careful you are, could enter the bird’s room, and if your bird is out of its cage, your cat could see it as prey, and attack.  You should, however, never leave your bird and your cat in the same room unattended as this will only lead to tragedy.

 

How to introduce your bird to your cat

If, however, you already have a bird, and wish to introduce a cat, you should immediately attempt to train it to leave the bird alone or not to enter a certain room.  These first few days are vital if you wish your pets to get on together.  You could also, under close supervision, allow your cat to smell the bird so that it can become better acquainted with it.

 

Distract your cat if necessary

If your cat becomes bored, its desire to have something to occupy its time becomes more acute, and the bird’s cage is the most obvious target for your cat’s attention.

If your cat keeps showing interest in the bird’s cage, you could attempt to distract it by playing with it and giving it toys so that it expends enough energy so it no longer has the desire to investigate the bird’s cage.

 

Birds can bite your cat

It is important to remember that whilst a cat could severely injure a bird, your bird could also severely injure your cat if he was to bite it.  Bites from birds could cause humans to make trip to the hospital, so you must be very careful because if he was to bite your cat, it could have a tragic outcome.

 

Conclusion

If you have a cat and wish to obtain a bird, the most important thing to remember is that the birdcage must be kept out of your cat’s reach, whilst also being big enough for your bird to feel comfortable and unafraid that it will become the next meal for your cat.

Introducing the cat to the bird is also important because it could mean that they get used to each other being around.

It is imperative that you position both pets in the same room as the family if possible because either of them could feel secluded and lonely if kept alone, which will have an impact on their overall health and well-being.

By keeping them in the same room, you are also able to keep an eye on both of them, so hopefully will not have to deal with a tragedy.