Cats are naturally predators while birds are naturally prey so this can cause issues if these two kinds of pets need to live together. As is often depicted in cartoons, outdoor cats and even house cats will stalk and pounce on birds since these behaviors are very instinctual. But can these natural instincts be overcome by pet birds and house cats in order for them to coexist peacefully?
A cat and bird can coexist in a home but you will have to take certain measures to ensure that a cat cannot physically get to the bird at any point. A cat's natural instinct to pounce, capture, and "play" with the bird can manifest at any time, instantly putting your bird's life in danger. But of course, each cat and each bird are different. Some cats will not care about a pet bird at all while others will make it its life mission to get at a bird. You will need to assess the personalities of your pets and always remain on guard if you allow your bird and cat to interact.
Cats in the wild will hunt, stalk, and surprise their prey, which can consist of small mammals, reptiles, fish, and even birds. It is fun for a cat to jump and catch items, living or not, and birds are no exception. Cats see birds as being fun to play with or as food and do not differentiate between pet and wild ones.
Most birds, both in captivity or the wild, will fly away at the slightest startle, noise, or observation of a cat if they feel the least bit threatened. The bird may even let out a cry to alert other birds of the predator. Birds kept as pets are not usually large enough to hurt a cat if they try to defend themselves but even if a large bird, such as a macaw, is approached by a cat, it is instinctively fearful and will flee if possible before having to fight.
This may seem like an obvious answer but cats can hurt or potentially kill a bird very easily. It will hurt a bird with its sharp claws or can cause serious wounds and an infection from the bacteria in its mouth. Cats can also pull out important feathers needed for flight, balance, and warmth and cause serious mental trauma to a bird that has endured an attack or threat. Cats can even eat small birds.
Despite the fact that a cat is definitely more dangerous to a bird than a bird is to a cat, a bigger bird is still able to do some harm to an unsuspecting cat. Large parrots have strong beaks and claws that can cause damage to anything they decide to grab. They can grab and bite a cat, especially if the cat is scared and not trying to attack the bird. This is most often seen with shy or curious cats and frightened parrots that are acting out of self-defense.
Despite the fact that cats naturally want to catch and even eat pet birds, there are things you can do to help these species live together peacefully within your home.
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