Parrot and cat in the same apartment

Love for animals is rarely limited to one bird in the house. If a pet appears, over time it turns out that someone from the family always wanted a dog, another saved the kitten, and you became attached to him so much that it is difficult to give your family member to someone else.

Therefore, the problem often arises – how to combine in advance incompatible creatures on one living space. Nobody canceled the laws of the food chain and the cat, no matter how domestic it is, remains a predator. In parrots, in captivity, the instinct of self-preservation is dulled, and curiosity and impudence bloom “luxuriantly.”

It is safe to say that cohabitation of a cat and a parrot is not right for both parties and not easy for the owner. Of course, there are examples when a cat and a bird live in perfect harmony, and such friendship is real, although very rare.

Since life situations are different, we will consider options in which a cat and a parrot will have a chance to become not just neighbors, but possibly friends.

Acquaintance of a parrot with a cat and risks

A significant role is played by the age of the cat and parrot and the sequence of settling your apartment with new family members. More chances of success if a bird comes first and a little later you bring a little kitten. The kid will grow up with a parrot and will not perceive it as prey. Cats are territorial animals – the one who appeared in the house after them is automatically lower in rank, so it will be very difficult to convince Murka that the bird in the house has the same rights as her.

Sometimes it is more successful to meet an already adult cat with a parrot. It is believed that kittens do not control their instincts well, they are more energetic and not yet obedient. Therefore, it is easier for an adult cat to explain that a parrot is not prey, but a member of the family.

The feathered one who appeared first in your house feels like a master and the cat who came later has to make concessions.

The parrot’s cage should be out of reach for the cat, some owners slowly bring the cat to it and show the pets to each other, others let the tame parrot out for a walk. When the kitten already calmly reacts to the bird, and she, in turn, does not feel fear of him, then you can introduce them closer.

There is no correct dating scheme, since in any case you must understand that there are risks:

1) Injury of a parrot with a cat’s claw (in cats, the bacterium Pasteurella multocida is present in the microflora of the body), that is, in the bite, and in saliva, and on the claws. Close contact with a cat is deadly to birds.

2) Fright of a parrot: a stressed bird can rush around the cage and injure itself, engage in self-plucking, signs of exhaustion may appear or a heart rupture will occur. It is not easy to live, feeling the watchful gaze of a predator on you.

3) A disease of a cat without seemingly visible reasons. The predator constantly has prey in front of his eyes, which is forbidden to be touched. This, in turn, entails prolonged nervous tension, agitation, stress, loss of appetite, decreased immunity and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

The territory of a cat and a parrot should be different. Always lock the room where the cage is located, and keep in mind that Murks successfully open ordinary latches, so this moment should be foreseen. The room where the cage with the parrot is located should be taboo for the cat.

Relationships between certain types of parrots with cats

It is very important what species your parrot belongs to: small, medium or large.

For a small parrot (wavy or lovebird), the neighborhood with a cat is very dangerous. There were cases that cats themselves opened the doors of cages or got a parrot through bars that were too wide. Even if a cat and a budgerigar have become friends, never leave them alone. Parrots are very curious and able to be persistent, they allow themselves to run around the cat, grab it by the mustache or fur. Murka is not even out of malice, he can simply push the little pester away and injure him. A budgerigar and a lovebird can hurt a kitty in the eye with their beak.

Medium parrots (corellas, Senegalese, ringed, lorikeets) and a cat in the same apartment often coexist well and a friendly relationship is established between them. In medium parrots, the beak is stronger than in small parrots, so the balance of power is slightly balanced. We know the danger for a parrot coming from a cat, but in the case of medium ones, here the cat can already be seriously injured from the bird’s beak.

With large parrots (macaws, grays, cockatoos, Amazons), cats also have an unstable relationship. There is always a risk, but there is still such a moment: by their nature, large parrots are very smart birds, it is not for nothing that their intelligence is compared with the thinking of a 4-year-old child. By locking such a parrot in a separate room in order to protect it from danger, you risk dooming it to fatal loneliness and suffering. Large parrots, unlike other species, endure isolation a little differently – uncontrollable aggression and the difficulty of restoring a trusting relationship between you and the bird can become an unbearable burden for the whole family.

Often large parrots and a cat live quite successfully side by side, they respect each other and try not to cross the invisible line in a relationship. As a rule, with a light conflict, the cat is the first to make concessions.

If a cat and a parrot live in a house, then it will not be difficult to settle them away from each other. When the cat and the parrot are in the same small apartment, it is important to think over not only the locks on the doors, but also to learn how to control the movements of the cat for all family members.

Still, it is up to you to decide whether it is possible to add a parrot to your cat or a parrot to offer friendship with a cat. Cohabitation of these individuals is possible only under constant and vigilant control. Cats have tremendous patience, they need it to survive in the wild, they are able to suppress their instincts, but relaxing for the owner for a few minutes can cost the life of a bird. Do not forget that parrots, like cats, live for more than 15 years, if you prepare to create all the conditions for such a neighborhood, and if you are able not to lose vigilance over the years, then everything is possible.

When you see that a parrot or a cat “goes out” – you need to take action. It is categorically impossible for such creatures to live together. You will not change the character of both a cat and a parrot, and if you come across an emotionally unstable pet, you will have to make a difficult decision which of them to find another home. For the sake of the well-being and health of our pets, sometimes you need to go against your feelings for them.

Give an equal amount of time to the parrot and the cat, jealousy of the owner can provoke hostility that was not manifested at first. They need to see that despite the new tenant, you haven’t stopped loving your pet.

Videos with parrots and cats are very popular on the Internet. They give hope that in your case, too, there is a high probability of this. Try to learn as much information as possible about the behavior, habits and upbringing of cats and parrots. The site www.usatiki.ru contains a lot of useful information about cats that will help you make the right decision.