Birds and Cats?

I've been toying with the idea of getting a cockatiel...but, I worry that its not possible with our cats. I know some people here do have both and I wanted to know how you kept a "happy house".

Thanks! :)

I have 2 cats, and just got a cockatiel yesterday. :) They leave the bird pretty much alone. They'll look at him a little, but then just walk away. :) If your cats have a very high prey drive, I wouldn't suggest getting one. Let us know how it goes. :)

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Originally posted by GoldenRetrLuver
I have 2 cats, and just got a cockatiel yesterday. :) They leave the bird pretty much alone. They'll look at him a little, but then just walk away. :) If your cats have a very high prey drive, I wouldn't suggest getting one. Let us know how it goes. :)

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you got a cockatiel?! lucky!! :)

I've wanted a bird since I was 8 or 9, especially a budgie or cockatiel. But we've always had cats. Malley & oreo are always stading near the gerbil cage, like "I want to eat you" and they would probably go for a bird. sally probably wouldnt mind though. It probably depends on the cat, like goldenretrluver said. :)

(please excuse my poor spelling, I had a bit of an accident today and can only type with one hand)

Ack....I wanted it to be a surprise...oh well..lol. :p

Yes, I have a cockatiel. :) His name is Piper and he is 5 months old. :) I should have pics up in a couple days. :)

We have a cat and a parakeet and it works for several reasons.

1) Samantha is an older cat who doesn't jump higher than her favorite chair and she has never been a cat that goes after birds. She has lived with fish before and never went after them.

2) When we do clean the bird cage or let T-bird out to exercise it is behind a closed door or when Samantha is in the basement and not in the same room as T-bird.

3) When we first got T-bird two years ago we kept an eye on Samantha when she was in the same room as T-bird's cage and she has never gone after her. Now we can have them sleep in the same room together.(The bird cage is covered at night with a towel since T-bird sleeps from dark until dawn)

Here is a photo of Samantha sitting under T-bird's cage staring at her.:)
http://users.adelphia.net/~mandzsawyer/images/sbird.jpg

Other Pet Talkers who also have cats and birds are Logan, Tina and Cookiebaker, maybe they will have some advice too.

For the most part my cats seem to know..."this bird is a pet" so they don't bother much with him. But if they do try....a water gun does the trick. They now think bird means water and they don't like water. :D

Same way I trained them to not use the house plants and a kittty box. :eek:

I have a parakeet and a cockatiel. lol The cat doesnt even notest them, or he just doesnt care. And he has a HUGE prey drive for catching birds, since he brings dead wildones home once in a while :rolleyes: