Tips for Cat Owners on How to Keep a Pet Bird

First let me just say that cats are by nature a predatory animal, it is in their nature to hunt and kill birds and other things. They are opportunistic feeders this means that if they see it they will eat it. Cats are taught to chase things almost from birth. They will chase their mother's tail, or just about anything that moves. Cat do not always kill to eat, they can be successful mouse killers but never eat a single mouse. At five weeks old a kitten is a full fledged killer, taught by their mothers. They are born with the instinct to hunt an chase. So you only have two choices keep the bird and the cat separate or train the cat not to kill the bird. The easiest thing would be to keep the cat and the bird separate, but that is not always the answer. That being said I will provide so tips that I have found effective in keeping your pet bird with your cat.

*cat proof the bird cage with a lock that is bird, cat and dog proof (one they can't figure out how to open) If you have a cat you know how smart they are!

*keep the bird cage away from anything a cat can climb on, in order to get at the bird cage.

*keep a spray bottle filled with water near you and every time your cat goes near the cage spray her/him with the water bottle, as you know cats hate water.

*fill an empty, metal coffee can with marbles and every time your cat goes near the cage shake the can vigorously, scaring the cat away from the cage. When the cat moves away form the cage (after a minute because you don't want the cat to associate the treat and praise with going near the bird) give the cat a treat and some praise

The best advice that I can give is to remain persistent in your training. It is possible to train your cat to leave your bird alone with the techniques that I have provided above. Keep in mind however, that sometimes things do happen after all it is in the nature of the cat to pursue the bird. Also if socialization occurs early in the life of the kitten it is possible for it to form a friendship with a prey animal. Even if they are raised together never leave them unattended. Your cat can get overly excited and kill it's friend without remorse.

Velzipmur aka Shelly Wyatt