How to keep the new kitten from killing the bird?

Question

Today I brough home a kitten that was abandon at my work. It looks well taken care of, and my husband has wanted a cat, so I brought it home. However, I have a three-month old Quaker Parrot. I am use to leaving the cage open so he can come out when he pleases. The kitten has seen the bird and looked like he was on the hunt, even climbing up the ladder to the cage door.

I also have a chinchilla, and the Quaker and chin seem to get along well, but I am super scared my little green baby will either be confined to the cage for life or end up kitten chow.

How do I train the cat the leave the bird alone?

Answer 1

I have the same problem except my beagle wants our cockatiel.  What you need to do is keep the cat in a room or in a traveling box.  While the cat is put away then you can take the bird out and play with him for a little while.  Then when you're done put the bird in the cage and put away the ladder and everything and make the cage off limits to the cat.  Then you can let the cat out and just keep the bird in the cage until next time.  That way the cat can't get to the bird and the bird can't get to the cat.

Answer 2

Try to have them as long as possible together so that they get accoustumed each other, but this is a long process were you have to be very careful and pacient, because you must be seeing constantly if there is all right, try to have a kind of control in each of them. It's better if it is a kitten because is  the best time for you to teach things to him. I'd got the same experience and it works!

Good Luck !

Answer 3

but the bird in a cage and the cat in the bath room and the bird somewhere else

Answer 4

Keep the bird or the cat in a cage.

Answer 5

The parrot will defend itself just fine and the cat will leave it alone. As a matter of fact, my mccaw used hide on top of the fridge, call the cat "here kitty kitty" and then dive bomb it.

Answer 6

I would suggest leaving your bird in your bedroom, or a spare room thats completely enclosed if you want to let him out.

At least until your cat doesn't see him as food. :P

Even then you have to be careful. Something could still happen.

Answer 7

Why did you get a cat if you have those animals to take care of?

Get a spray bottle and spray her every time she comes near the bird/chinchilla..

Answer 8

Is your Quaker flighted?  I hope so...that way if the cat should happen to get close to him, which WILL happen eventually, he can get away.

My step-father's cockatoo would trap his german shepherd in the bathroom and the dog was afraid to move, but this isn't a cockatoo vs submissive dog.  This is quaker vs pure animal instinct.

The cat and the bird can NEVER be left alone in the same room without doors in between them, and you might even have trouble when you're gone....  The kitten can take a swat the bird when he's in his cage and gets too close to the bars.  

Bringing a cat into the home after the bird is already used to having free run is harder than bringing a bird into the home when a cat has free run.  If the bird comes second it's easy to train it to stay on top of his cage or only be out of his cage when he's on someone.  If your bird is used to being able to walk on the floor, sleep on the back of couch etc, find the kitten a new home.  Seriously.  You can't break a bird of those habits, he won't understand the cat wants to eat him.  

My cockatiel wanted so badly to get to know my cats that we've had more than one close call.  For his own safety, I had to give him up.  I had the cats for 9 years...long before the bird, who was used to doing as he pleased.  The cats never bothered with my birds before...I told them we don't eat family members and they respected that for the most part (plus they are LAZY, lol).  They would look at me when the bird got close and swallow hard, you could tell they wanted to pounce but were too scared of what I would do, lol, but this one cockatiel in particular was taunting them, and they wanted him BAD.  

A young kitten, full of energy and curiosity.

An inquisitive bird who's not big enough to win the fight or be a threat to the cat.

I think you need to make a choice.  Sorry.