Conference misery::feline_v1

Our 19 yr old (and deaf) kitty used to 
torment my sister's parakeet. He would 
sit for the longest time trying to figure out how he could land on the top of 
the bookcase where the bird cage was from the spiral staircase that was nearby.
(Tiger was pretty wobbly on his pins at this point, so a 3.5 foot horizontal
leap required tremendous precision)  The only solution that we found was to put
the cage in a place that was totally unreachable.  The only problem is that 
'unreachable' must be determined on an individual basis.  Maybe hanging the 
birdcage from the ceiling someplace where there is no handy place for the kitty
to launch an attack from?  If the cage is securely attached to something that 
won't fall over, then maybe the bird won't have to worry about hard landings.

I believe there are other notes in this conference that deal with the same 
issue (try dir/title=bird), so you might find more helpful pointers there.

    We have had my parakeet for 9 years and at the moment there is
    6 furfaces in the house.  All furfaces are indoor/outdoor kitties
    who always bring me little dead presents...so they all are hunters,
    but only two of them show any interest in my bird.
    
    What we did was hang the bird cage on the ceiling, taped the cage
    to the hanger,(so it may rock but shouldn't fall),ensure there 
    is nothing in range that the cats can leap on to get up to it and
    we shut off the room when we're not home.
     
    Is this bird-proof....no!  My Poco (she-devil) has learned to climb 
    the woodwork to peer in the cage.  When she goes to whack the cage
    with her paw..she usually loses balances and falls off.  We also
    keep a squirt bottle handy and zap her whenever she's near the cage.
    
    I strongly recommmend that you take all precautions...and do not
    trust the kitty alone with the bird.                                
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, Barkley, Agnes, Chloe, Dewey and Daisy (the
                                                         boss bird)
                                                               
    
      

    
    Thanks for your advice.  I think the main trouble is that we trusted
    our last cat so much with the bird that we automatically believed that
    Daisy would find him just as uninteresting....
    
    We have tried hitting a newspaper on the floor/surface very close to
    where she is sitting, whenever she looks at the bird.  This seems to
    frighten her, but doesn't deter her the next time...
    
    The bird is becoming a nervous wreck...At twelve years old, he deserves
    a more placid homelife, but the only answer seems to be keeping a
    twenty four hour watch on him...
    
    Lorraine + Daisy
    
    
    

    
    A squirt bottle is much more effective than the newspaper.  It will 
    allow you to "hit your target" at a greater distance and help keep
    the kitten from associating the unpleasant action with you.  I know
    just what you are going through as our latest addition "adores" the
    birds while the big cats ignore them.  Be consistent with the squirt
    bottle when you are home and if you can't be there to supervise move
    the bird to a room that you can close off from the cat.  Of course
    you could always get a second kitten....it might help keep the first
    occupied and away from the bird! ;')
    
    MaryAnne (who's trying to convince hubby that Effiecat needs a
    playmate)

    Hi Lorraine
    
    We have two cats (9 months and 17 months) and they are both VERY 
    interested in our 4 year old Cockatiel.  Ziggy (the 9 month old) just
    sits there with his eyes bugging out of his head.  If the bird flies
    overhead, he'll jump up at him but has never caught him. Zula has
    knocked over the cage twice in the past 14 months.  He definitely looks
    like he wants to make a snack out of Mosi.  When Mosi flies overhead,
    Zula always jumps up at him.  He has grabbed him and brought him down
    to the ground but didn't hurt him.  I think Mosi likes to tease the two
    cats.  I have a perch hanging from the ceiling (about 7 feet from the
    floor).  I think he flies over the cats heads just to tease them. 
    
    The last cat would always jump up at the bird, but once the bird would
    come near him, the cat would run away.  
    
    Maybe a birdfeeder outside of a window would keep your kitten occupied.
    
    Pam

    Whether cats see birds as prey depends on early imprinting.
    I think your best bet is to keep the budgie in a room off limits to
    the cat.
    

    Hi Lorraine,
    
    Unfortunately, we didn't have much luck with keeping Tabitha away from
    out parrotkeet, Charlie.  We ended up giving the Charlie to my aunt.  
    I did put a note in here.  It's note #748. There are quite a few 
    good suggestions in it.
    
    Holly
    

    We have four Cockatiels now (used to be six):')  The cats don't pay too
    much attention to them.  Stinky, when he wants my attention will go
    over to the cage and sit there staring until I yell at him.
    
    Any way, we have a cat proof cage.  It is actually an aviary type cage
    for finches ( this means the bars are only a quarter inch apart, too
    small for paws to fit thru).  The bars should be larger for the tiels,
    but it is about four feet long by one foot deep and high.  They have
    many perches and ladders to keep there feet healthy.  It also sits on a
    base unit with wheels that has sliding doors in the front for storage. 
    It is made by Animal Environments and is well worth the cost.  You
    might consider ordering a finch type cage (not necessarily as big as
    ours) to keep the little budgie in.  Just make sure it can not be
    tipped over or moved.  I had two budgies eaten by a roomates cat
    several years ago and it was not fun.  If you have more questions or
    need info on where to get this stuff just give me a call Dtn:244-6384.
    Karen, Bibi, Georgio, Lucy, Nikki

    You might also try looking in the birds as pets conference, 
    CLOSET::PET_BIRDS.
    
    Deb

    How's this for a variation of a theme:  My birds are as big as my
    cats, and a very much as dangerous.  
    
    My parrot collection includes two macaws, with the power and 
    fortitude to snap off a kitten leg with their beaks.  They do
    their best to intimidate the cats, who seem more like they want
    to play with the birds, than eat them.
    
    As strong as my birds are, I keep them in a seperate room off l
    limits to my two cats for a very good reason.  Cats have a 
    chemical in their mouths and claws to which birds are greatly
    allergic.  A casual, playful swipe with a nail can be fatal for even 
    the largest of birds.
    
    If you care about your bird, keep it in a room off limits to
    cats.