I have 2 budgies and I want to get a cat... A problem or not?

I have had 2 budgies for about 4 years. And even though I love them dearly, I find that I need more affection than they can give. So I am planning on getting a Burmese kitten. Does anyone know of cases where the cat does not try and "chomp" the budgies and basically see's them as fellow friends?

I used to work with a lady who had a menagerie. She had four dogs, five cats, and probably twenty assorted birds. She did keep the birds in cages but the only problem she had was with a Jack Russell that was agressive with the other three dogs.

I currently have two canaries that I am trying to place. I know my cat has evil plans for willie and nillie.

I have 6 cockatiels 4 budgies and 3 cats. You just have to let ur kitty know they are off limits. My cats just use them as eye candy, when they try to get close, all I have to do is call the cat's name and they step back and watch. Just dont leave ur birdies unsupervised with ur cats.

Radicequeen- Im not sure what you meant by place, but if you need a home for the birdies I can help!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the answers, I
It will be quite a task to try and stop budges and kitty not interacting with each other, as I currently live in a 1 bedroomed flat and the property that I live on has 2 dogs... So, I have to keep kitty inside and budgies will have to be inside too! Hee Hee, it should be interesting. The best idea would be for me to wait until I move into a bigger place and without dogs, as it is, the one dog licks his chops when he looks at my budgies and I have to scold him...
Have a great day!!!
from Sunny South Africa

I had many budgies in my life as well as a cockatiel that I had most recently for 17 years, but I waited until I no longer had birds before getting a cat.

Cats have a specific bacteria in their claws that can be fatal to a budgie even if the wound isn't, so even a tiny little accidental scratch can easily kill a delicate little birdie.

I loved my feathered friends much too much to risk their lives by adding a bird's natural sworn enemy to my household, as I knew I could never be there 24-7, and so I waited until their lives had been happily lived out before getting a furbaby.

I'm very glad I waited - no guilt at all, no regrets at all, and I've had a bunch of wonderful birdies in my life that remain in my heart.

Do whatever feels best for you, but please keep in mind that the birdies will always be at risk - if you buy them and never allow them to fly around, they will not be living happy lives, and if you buy them and they are allowed to fly but must always dodge cats, well, while that may be cute in cartoons, it puts the bird in a lot of stress in real life, and in my opinion, small birds shouldn't be in homes with cats. Parrots with big beaks and painful bites, well, I think cats learn real fast that they aren't to be messed with, and therefore can more easily cohabitate.

Just one person's opinion based upon experience...I think birds should be allowed to fly without fear for their little lives. I do NOT think they should be room decoration.

Originally Posted by GingersMom

I had many budgies in my life as well as a cockatiel that I had most recently for 17 years, but I waited until I no longer had birds before getting a cat.

Cats have a specific bacteria in their claws that can be fatal to a budgie even if the wound isn't, so even a tiny little accidental scratch can easily kill a delicate little birdie.

I loved my feathered friends much too much to risk their lives by adding a bird's natural sworn enemy to my household, as I knew I could never be there 24-7, and so I waited until their lives had been happily lived out before getting a furbaby.

I'm very glad I waited - no guilt at all, no regrets at all, and I've had a bunch of wonderful birdies in my life that remain in my heart.

Do whatever feels best for you, but please keep in mind that the birdies will always be at risk - if you buy them and never allow them to fly around, they will not be living happy lives, and if you buy them and they are allowed to fly but must always dodge cats, well, while that may be cute in cartoons, it puts the bird in a lot of stress in real life, and in my opinion, small birds shouldn't be in homes with cats. Parrots with big beaks and painful bites, well, I think cats learn real fast that they aren't to be messed with, and therefore can more easily cohabitate.

Just one person's opinion based upon experience...I think birds should be allowed to fly without fear for their little lives. I do NOT think they should be room decoration.

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You are so right! My ex-hubby and I had cockatiels and I wanted a cat very badly. He finally built an outdoor aviary with built in cages, safe plants, toys and swings, and a flying area. Then I was able to get Oliver (Tripod came years later). He was WELL worth waiting for, but I knew our birds flying around in the house would be too great a temptation for a cat.

I do know people who have made it work, but the birds tend to spend much more time in their cages that way.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

I do know people who have made it work, but the birds tend to spend much more time in their cages that way.

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Yes, I agree. I think it would essentially be the same if bird owners got a cat but then kept the cat in a cage all day long without allowing it any exercise. The birds would be pretty safe but the kitty would be miserable.

I seriously think it goes both ways, and people shouldn't be so selfish (not accusing, just saying) that they don't allow their animals, be they feathered or furred, the ability to exercise and be their own little precious selves without having to live in fear or be imprisoned in a little cage all their lives.

An outdoor aviary is great when you live in the right type of climate, that way everyone has the right amount of freedom and security. But in an apartment situation, I just don't see that as possible.

yep, cats carry that deady bacteria in ther saliva as well. all of my birds are very happy, they get exercise every day and lots of TLC as well as my cats.

You just have to know how to control ur pets. MY DH is a bird person and Im a cat person, it deffinately wouldnt be fair to deprive him form having birds or depriving me of having cats. The cats have come to a point where they dont care to look when we bring a bird inside to play, I would never leave them alone together OF COURSE, but I wouldnt say you cant have both.

4 of my tiels arerescued and are wild so I cant play with them much, but they are allowed to leave theri cage andperch ontop and play with the toys if they please. My other 2 babies I take EVERYWHERE with me they are loose 80% of the time. The only reason I put them back in the cage is so they will eat and sleep, and have a little alone time with the other birds.

I dont think that what I am doing if selfish at all, I take lots of care of my pets. Here in texas the climate in the daytime is perfect for birds, and at night time I bring them in and they have a heat emmiter so they stay toas
ty all night.
So based upon experienced of being a bird and cat owner, I think you should be able to keep ur budgies, just take good care of them and give them lots of TLC.oh and they dont live off of ONLY seeds, it's like eating butter all day, they need to eat vegies, protein etc etc. I also don't beleive a bird should be room decoration, but There are also a million dangers of letting ur bird fly loose in the house.
Also on emore thing, before you get budgies, you need to eliminate all teflon or non stick cooking pans and all. The heated teflon lets out a toxic fumes for birds, and try not to use chemicals around ur birdy OR ur kitty.

Have fun and enjoy ur new companions!

I have a bird and a cat.

We bought the bird a few months after Tabitha, and she didn't mind.
She occasionaly watches him, but she doesnt seem to want to eat him.
It shouldn't be a problem having budgies and a cat, unless of course the budgies roam free around the house...not advisable with a cat!!

I have a quaker parrot and my cats and her play all the time and I never had cats till they were givin to me and I just put my bird on the floor and let kitties know that she is off limits. But they all seem to get along fine well sometimes. baby my bird will pick on the cats.LOL

Hello Everyone,

Thanks again for all the replies, this is the first time I've ever chatted on a forum and I keep forgetting to go and check the responses.

I'll give you guys more info on the situation. My first pet was a budgie called Indiana Jones (Indie for short). I had her for a year and a half on her own and she became a human budgie. No lies, I could walk around the house with her on my shoulder and she was so attached to me that she never wanted to be in her cage, then I started to feel guilty that she didn't have anyone to "talk" to when I was at work all day. So I got her a mate, JoJo. Unfortunately, she did NOT like JoJo at all! She said "unhand me you rouge!" every time he tried to snuggle up to her. Because she was so dependent on me, I battled to get JoJo to do the things that she did, like flying around my flat or sitting on the bed with me, he just wasn't interested in me, basically only interested in her. Unfortunately about a year after I got JoJo, Indie died at a very young age. After that, to my surprise, JoJo started to interact with me almost like Indie had. Then I felt guilty again that JoJo was lonely. So I got him a friend, it was supposed to a girl, but guess what? Another boy, MoJo. And now I have the problem that both of the honey's don't like to come out of the cage, I have tried to coax them out, but if they don't normally. If they do, they sit on the draw-bridge perch and they normally get a fright and fly into something, which means that I put them back in the cage immediately because I obviously don't want them to hurt themselves. So I agree with the post about waiting until they pass over and then getting a cat. But if one of them does pass over before the other, I will probably want to get them a companion again, and then I'm right back where I started.
Oh Dear!

Thats really cool! But you must have cats that listen to you! I wanted to get a Burmese, because not only are they gorgeous, but I've heard that they are easier to train than most cats... hope the internet sites aren't lying to me!
(",)

Hi Crofty27,

Thanks for the background info - I can relate to and understand your situation - as I'd said, I've had MANY budgies over the years, sometimes one at a time, sometimes two or three at a time. Some I've had were wonderful pets, but introduce another birdie and they drop you like a hot potato, LOL!

If they are choosing to remain in their cage, then I might consider keeping their cage way up high, suspended from the ceiling would be best, then it would be safer to add a cat to the household. This way also, if you want to let the birds out for a fly, you can close the cat out of the room to give them some exercise time without fear of being stalked.

Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure it will be right for you, and it sounds like you'll be a good meowmy!

My mom has budgies and has three cats and she said the key is to have the budgies first and to get the cat as a kitten and raise the cat with the birds and from day one have the birds table or such as off limits and to put the birds up high and such as that. And she said the kittens should be at the oldest 12 weeks when introducing them and birds. And have been inside cats that never wanted to go for birds.

I have a Burmese (and three other kitties) and two conures, two cockatiels, and six budgies.

I make sure I am in a closed-off room or the cats are locked away somewhere before I get the tiels or budgies out. The conures are less flighty and less easily spooked, so I sometimes have them out when the cats are around. All my birds have unclipped wings so in case something does happen, they can fly somewhere where the cats can't get them.

Even with these rules, Godiva, my Burmese, got to one of my budgies over a year ago. I didn't close the cage all the way one night... Burmese are great hunters... she killed poor little Easter in one pounce and bite. Now, I make doubly sure that all cages are closed every night and that the bird room is closed off to cats every night (because if they decide to watch the birds and climb on the cages, they often get scared and have "night frights").

It can be done, but there is always a risk. If you are diligent enough to take proper precautions at all times, no matter how uninterested your cat may seem, you should be fine. Just don't get lazy in following your "rules."

My Burmese is very docile and "pliable" as my husband says... she'll stay wherever you put her. She is very doglike... she follows me from room to room and in true cat fashion, wakes me up for breakfast. I haven't tried to teach her tricks like a dog... she's too independent for that, although I do think she'd be more receptive to it than my other cats.

You must show us pics when you get your new kitten... I love Burmese and there aren't very many on here that have one. I think I am the only one right now (that actively posts).

Oh, I forgot to mention, my cats usually know when they have been watching the cages too long or whatever because I say, "No, Godiva. Get down NOW." They look at me, and usually get down. Sometimes I do have to go pick them up. I also have a water bottle. Once they know what you want, they USUALLY obey... but not always. I wouldn't count on a cat being as trained as a dog in this area... despite Godiva's dog-like personality, I don't think it's possible for cats to be trained at the same reliable level as a dog. A cat will do what it wants to do after a certain point... and the lure of a treat or harsh voice sometimes isn't enough to subdue the instinct.

No matter what others say, I would NEVER allow my cat to investigate one of my birds outside of the cage. That hunter instinct can take over at any time... a small active bird, like a budgie, activates those instincts very well. We never would have thought Godiva would have been the one to get to them, because she didn't show a lot of interest beforehand and she seemed scared of the conures (because they will give a cat a swift bite on the paw when they are on top of the cage, or on the nose if a cat approaches me while I have one of my conures out).

It's not even instinct I worry about, the cats don't even have to bite or claw the birds to kill them.

Pasteurella bacteria in the saliva can be fatal to birds simply through ingesting it.
It the birds groom the cats, they are at risk, if the cats lick the bird and the bird grooms itself, they are at risk.

There should be no contact whatsoever, it's just not safe for the birds.

My birds (Quaker and Hahn's macaw) are out of their cages 9 hours a day, and they are flighted.
My cats know that the birds are off limits and the birds will tattle on the cats if the cats get closer than 12 inches from them.

Hey Godiva

Thanks for the fab advise! I maybe wrong, but when I was looking for pics on the net for Burmese kitties, I copied a pic of a Burmese called Godiva on the about.com website. Is that your kittie? If it is, she is beautiful and I have put her pic on my Samsung phone. I wanted to put the pic on to show you, but I don't know how to do it... I can't wait to get my kittie, but it won't be for a while, because I'm in debt at the moment and my goal is to pay off my debt and keep it payed off, and my reward will be getting my kittie! I will definately post pics when I reach my goal. In the meantime, I just keep looking at all my pics of burmese on my phone and my pc at work. Also please don't think I'm rude for not replying earlier, I don't have internet at home, only at work, so that's why it takes me ages to reply. Thanks again Godiva! You're a star! from Crofty