If you’re a fan of Looney Tunes, you’ve probably seen Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat together. They were famous cartoon characters until recently, and they may have contributed to the widespread perception of a vengeful cat-and-bird relationship that we know and adore today.
But can cats and birds live together? It’s normal to speculate. While it appears that birds and cats may simply occupy separate rooms and avoid each other’s presence, the reality of cat and bird households can be quite different. You’ll want to know how cats and pet birds can coexist and what you can do to make the experience as calm as possible for everyone involved.
Can birds and cats live together?
Keeping a pet bird and a pet cat in the same house may appear to be a bad idea, but it’s the best circumstance for many animals to live with other furry or feathery pals. Many bird species continue to live in flocks in the wild, and doing so frequently gives them a sense of belonging and purpose. This explains why your chickens, lovebirds, and parrots prefer your company (or the company of another bird) to none at all, though it can be difficult to predict whether your bird will tolerate your feline buddy.
Felines possess strong predatory instincts.
One disadvantage of bringing home a bird when you already have a cat is that all cats have predatory inclinations. In certain situations, this may result in chasing tiny animals such as lizards and birds, but it can also be channeled into more productive actions such as scratching on a scratching post or pouncing on a cat toy. To protect your bird from becoming the target of play, make sure your cat has lots of other ways to play and exercise.
Feline germs may cause disease and infection.
Anyone with a cut or scratch understands how easy it is to catch an infection. We frequently don’t realize what happened until long after the initial damage, when we are eventually prompted to see a doctor because a wound refuses to heal. It can be really painful!
Cats have unique saliva in their mouths that contains bacteria, but getting this saliva into a wound (by bite) can lead to a slew of issues. Humans have even been hospitalized as a result of diseases caused by cat bites, so make sure your bird receives urgent medical attention if they ever come into contact with a cat that gets too close.
Bites from large birds can critically damage a cat
Cats are usually the predators that you’d expect. However, many huge bird species have the ability to injure a cat. Small cats and kittens are no match for massive birds such as eagles, hawks, and even big storks, but the good news is that pet owners are unlikely to see these creatures on a daily basis. Most pet birds will not grow large enough to cause harm to a cat other than ripping out a tuft of fur. If your feathery buddy is a larger, exotic species, they may not be suitable as a feline roommate. If you decide to introduce them, proceed with caution.
If you live in a more rural region or are concerned about your outdoor cat’s safety, you may always get an anti-predator spiky vest for your pet. The vest’s spines will prevent talons, jaws, and claws from ever touching your cherished pet!
How to keep a bird safe while living with a cat?
Whether the cat or bird is the family’s first pet, introducing a new pet of a different species can be difficult. It should go without saying that you cannot begin an introduction immediately, so allow them to stay in different rooms for at least a few days after your new pet arrives home.
Introduce your pets, with the cage between them.
Some cats and birds are never ready to meet, and that’s okay. One method to test this is to allow your cat into the room while your bird is in its cage. Allow your cat to watch from a distance and approach at their own pace, but be careful to keep near by in case they react more aggressively than planned. If your bird appears terrified at any time during this process, take a break and try again later.
Keep your bird in its cage when the cat is present.
As a general guideline, keep your bird in its cage while your cat roams the room. When you’re ready to let your feathery companion go, make sure your cat is safe in another room. If your cat remains calm and uninterested when right next to your bird’s cage, you may be able to consider an introduction with no bars between them, but keep in mind that there is always a risk with face-to-face contacts.
Purchase a high-quality birdcage
A birdhouse serves no purpose unless it protects your beloved bird from typical hazards such as a cat’s swiping paws. The cage you purchase should not have any openings large enough for a paw to fit through or a bird to squeeze through. It should be large enough to allow your bird to move around and flap its wings, but the exact dimensions depend on your bird’s species, size, and particular requirements.
Never leave them together without supervision.
It may seem apparent, but cats and birds should never be left alone together. If they are in the same room, stick with them. Even if you trust both of your pets, you never know when instinct and temptation will take over.
Although cats and birds are at different extremes of the food chain, many pets, including these unlikely buddies, may coexist peacefully. Please exercise caution and care while allowing these creatures to interact, and always do what is best for you and your pets. With a little mindfulness and patience, cats and birds can become buddies!