Keeping cats away from the cage...

[FanniePack]

... is there a good way to do it?

It should be noted that, although I consider myself a pet professional and have owned and cared for all sorts of pets and animals, cats have never been one of them. I have found myself with two kitties. They were left by a dumpster in a plastic tub with a couple air holes. Sad story!! They are sweet, affectionate, about a year old, unneutered males. I have allowed them to join my critter army, if temporarily, while I get them shot, neutered, and to some extent, house trained. I have no issue with the kitties except I want them to leave my birds alone (and not pee on anything). So far, peeing is under control...

I don't think asking them to ignore the birds is too much, but would like to know the best way to go about encouraging this... non-behavior. I have a pressure operated spray bottle that I use to mist my reptiles, so I'm quite ready to blast them. But I don't know how far to let them go. I don't mind if they want to watch the birds, I guess. Just don't give them little heart attacks, right? Should I even let them watch the birds?

Plus, my inexperience with felines leaves me treating them like I treat my dogs (who are very well-behaved dogs!), with positive and negative reinforcement applied in the same way... does this work for cats? Am I even communicating with them at all when I tell them "NO KITTY." or "Good kitty!" or give them a swat on the butt or a pat on the head?

I'm sure there is someone out there who has brought untrained kitties into a home with birds... Do you have any tips for me?

The kitties have their own kitty friendly room, away from the birds, but it is a small apartment and I would like for this home to be shared.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Sally]

Unfortunately, cats can't be trained as well as dogs--they are much more independent! I have my birds in two rooms that are off-limits for the cats, but I have also had cages spill over into my dining room, which can't be closed off. My cats have been threatened with death if they go near the cages, and for the most part, they pretend to ignore the birds. I think I have scared them enough to make a bit of an impression.

However, I do not trust them for an instant, and I know I am taking a chance by allowing them in the same room. I have three formerly feral cats that are not allowed in my house, and when any of them manages to sneak in the door, they go straight for cages, and I know they would do harm.

If possible, I wouldn't even allow them to watch the birds--watching is a prelude to hunting! My Minnie sleeps every day in a chair that is right by the double flight cage in my dining room, and she doesn't even seem to look their way (she's probably just pretending!).

[L in Ontario]

I agree with Sally and basically I keep our cat out and away from the birdroom. At night the cat has to go into the basement so she doesn't torment the birds just by being at the door and looking in to the birdroom. She gets the run of the house (except the birdroom) all day.

[B CAMP]

I agree with both,I think its only a matter of time before the cats hurt or kill the birds on purpose or wanting to play, it will cause a lot of stress on the birds also.They need to be separated at all times

[Finch Fry]

put a dog in the bird room.. it will keep the cat away.

[Sally]

put a dog in the bird room.. it will keep the cat away.

You may have hit on the solution, Chris! My dogs are aware of everything that goes on in the house, and the minute the birds in the dining room start to fuss, Scooter is in there in a flash to see what is going on. He wouldn't hesitate to get after the cats, either. Maybe that is why my cats are leaving this cage alone!

[Meagan83]

My cats have been threatened with death if they go near the cages, and for the most part, they pretend to ignore the birds. I think I have scared them enough to make a bit of an impression.

That sounds about right, lol.
I have 4 cats ! Cats are smart, mine learned that they should not bother the birds and would, for the most part, behave in my presence. But I am positve this was not the case while I was at work. There are a few solutions. You can buy an expensive arcrylic cage...
I had pre-cut plexi glass fit to hang by hooks on the bottom half of my cage. This actually did a great job keeping my birds from harm, but the cats would still jump alot and frighten them. I have tried many techniques and in the end, have finally designated a guest room as the "bird room". I just don't believe it's worth the stress for the little finches to feel that vulnberable. Cats will be cats....

[cindy]

I owned 2 cats a while ago that would lay down next to me and sleep while I sat on the couch holding baby lovebirds. The lovebirds would play in a little bin and the cats could care less. I also had finches they never bothered them, I lived in a a small 2 room studio so it was close quarters. My lovebirds would play on the top of the cage, get down and follow me. The cats knew they were mine and it almost seemed like they respected it.

My Maine Coon cat would lay on the floor on her back and the lovebird would jump in her fur and nuzzle his head in her. She was not fond of this and would run away with the bird chasing her. Now that was a sight

Mind you this is the exception, my cats and dogs respected my birds and dwarf rabbits when I am present but I would not trust them alone with the birds were out.

I no longer own cats, my daughter is allergic but my dogs are curious and I would not trust them if the finches got out. My lovebird is fine with my little dog, they have a love thing going on. My oldest dog is way to interested if Louey flies down and walks across the floor. I am always right there is the lovebird is out.

Personally speaking cats can torment the heck out of little creatures like birds, if the birds are real flighty and nervous I would not let the cats to close without supervison. Put the kittens in their own space when you are not home. Better to be safe than sorry.

By the way, thank you for rescuing them, they are lucky to have you.

[Ursula]

I agree with everybody, birds and cats have to be separated.

My daughter learned the hard way when she was a kid. The bird cage with 2 canaries was in her room, hung on a wall. Just for once she left the door to her room open while we were having dinner. The cat couldn't get into the cage but managed to snag one of the canaries and almost severed one of the wings. Sadly the bird didn't survive that injury.

That doesn't mean that you couldn't have cats at all, but you have to be watchful and when you're not in the room with the birds, the cats have to be out too.

The training method with the water spray bottle is VERY effective though! Our cat was 3 when we got her and not trained at all. She would scratch the wallpaper to shreds and jump on the counter to steal meat and ham. It took a while, but after a few months I just had to leave the spray bottle on the counter for her not to jump on it. And eventually she never jumped on the kitchen counter or a table anymore at all. (At least not in our presence. ) She knew that they were off limit areas. Solution for the scratching: Get a nice scratching post and catnip (for the post) and cat-off-spray (for the furniture) and they'll eventually learn to leave the furniture and walls alone...

[Rayray]

I agree with everybody, birds and cats have to be separated.

years ago i had a hanging cage with a little parrot in it ... 3 cats in the age of 17-18-20 .... so basicly they knew eachother good and there whole lifetime .. the cats were always a bit interested in the bird but it was hanging a bit to far and high ... one day we came home from shopping and saw the oldest cat hanging on the cage and one of his nails was in the neck of the parrot ( plenty blood ) and it died in my hands in like 1 min ... the outcome is that you can never trust a cat with a bird even they don't check it out for years .

Ray

[Meagan83]

... the outcome is that you can never trust a cat with a bird even they don't check it out for years .

Ray

Agreed. I adore my cats, but they are only animals. They cannot help instinct.

[mike]

put a dog in the bird room.. it will keep the cat away.

One of my cats would probably eat the dog then have the birds for dessert.

[FanniePack]

That is a good consensus. My cage is large and not tippable, plus the bar spacing on the cage makes paws impossible inside the cage... maybe a single toe, but not much past that.

The tabby cat, Danno, seems unusually eager to please, and he is already easy to coax away from the cage. (He would much rather just be petted.) The black cat, Jack, seems a little wilier. I am impressed with effective the spray bottle is! Man, that inspiration is instantaneous!

Thanks for all the tips. It sounds like I will always have a kitty room... they will have to satisfy themselves to come fiddling around with me when I get home in the evening. They are pretty pleasant, though, and they're doing a good job winning me over.