| We hope you enjoy your visit. We are the BEST Conure Forum on the web! All Conures, all the time! So come & join our flock! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access all the member forums. We also have forums on other birds and pets for our members that have more than just conures. There are forums on Lost & Found, Rescues, Breeders and more. In the lobby you will be able view the live chat, jokes, polls and webcams. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Introducing a conure to a 10wk old kitty? | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Oct 20 2009, 04:34 AM (110 Views) | |
| conure_love | Oct 20 2009, 04:34 AM Post #1 |
Senior Member
|
Hello, Alright, so my family got a kitten yesterday. Right now she is safely tucked away in the bathroom for a week getting used to everything (the darn thing is hissing at us like mad and beat up my mom, lol) For those of you that have cats and birds, how did you go about introducing them? She's really young, so I know there's hope for a success, I've just never had to do this before. Thank you! 
|
 |
 
|
| BUUZBEE | Oct 20 2009, 05:11 AM Post #2 |
Administrator
|
awww... that surprising shes hissing so much. kitties are normally so loving. do you know her history? did she come from strays? we have always had cats, 3 at a time at the most. our cages have always been on stands, so the only way the cat can get to them would be to jump on the cage, and when they are new to the house, we always have spray bottles at hand. the cats are never allowed in the living room when the birds are out when they are still new to the house... nowadays, the cats are out when the birds are on their play gyms atop their cages. well, i should say the conures can be out with the cats, the smaller birds are never out at the same time... too much fluttering flight, that seems to get the cats attention! |
|
|
|
| conure_love | Oct 20 2009, 05:21 AM Post #3 |
|
Senior Member
|
Thanks! I'm just hoping this goes as smoothly as possible. Cody is in my room, and the only time the kitten will be allowed in there is when I am, so I'm not so much worried about the cage as when he's out. I'm not sure why she's so hissy. We got her from an elderly couple, so I'm not sure exactly how much socialization she had prior to coming here. We're just taking things slowly with her, hoping she comes around. That's why I'm not attempting any intros, bird or dog, until she's at least comfortable with us. But since have time to gather information, I figured I'd get on it. Of course, if they don't get along, that's doable as well. Just going to have to keep them separate. But as far as initial introduction, how would that go? Show the cat Cody when he's in his cage? Put the kitten in a carrier? Edited by conure_love, Oct 20 2009, 05:22 AM.
|
|
|
|
| DeadIrishD | Oct 20 2009, 05:00 PM Post #4 |
Member
|
I wish that I could help, however I'd never 100% introduce any cats, to a bird due to cats having a substance, that is lethal to birds, from what I hear... I'm sure those whom read this might be able to better clear this up.... |
|
|
|
| Carla | Oct 20 2009, 05:02 PM Post #5 |
|
Senior Member
|
Hi, I have three cats that I had before I got my conure. We didn't make a big deal about the bird when the cats were around and to tell you the truth they weren't that interested. I think it helped that they are all indoor cats and have never been out looking for prey. I just got another kitten (a rescued stray) a few months ago and was really concerned about him (Gillies) and my bird Rio. Whenever the cat comes into the den and notices Rio we just "shoo" him away from Rio's play gym. Also my dog Bruno is like a little policeman, he picked up on us "shooing" Gillies away around Rio and now he just intervenes. Gillies has now learned to come into the den and just walk by the play gym. Obviously Rio is never out of his cage alone or in the den alone. Actually all the other animals in the house are afraid of Rio. I wouldn't introduce Cody to the kitty while Cody is in the cage because then the kitty will possibly think that when Cody is out of the cage he would be fair game. I would hold the kitty, at a safe distance, when Cody is out of the cage, introduce them without a big fuss and kind of take it from there. Hopefully Cody and the kitty will get used to seeing each other as just another member of the household. Just be vigilant and patient and your new kitty will get used to Cody. |
|
|
|
| Carla | Oct 20 2009, 05:14 PM Post #6 |
|
Senior Member
|
Is this the lethal substance you are referring to? I just looked this up and now you have me worried. My cats are never near my bird but they do soemtimes hang out in the same room. CATS Cats commonly have Pasteurella bacteria as part of their natural flora. While this bacteria is ubiquitous in cats and does them no harm, it is DEADLY to birds. Even if you cat just bats your bird or gets saliva on your bird, you could end up with a dead bird. Also, if you bird has a persistent problem with itching and other skin issues and you have a cat, this could be a cause and your vet should be asked to screen for this bacteria. If your bird is ever in a confrontation with a cat, take him to the vet immediately even if there are NO apparent wounds. The bird could still have been exposed to this bacteria. You should get your bird to a vet the same day if you think it has come in physical contact with a cat's saliva, feces, or food. This bacteria means even friendly relationships between cats and birds are not safe. Period. |
|
|
|
| conure_love | Oct 20 2009, 05:56 PM Post #7 |
|
Senior Member
|
Oh, I know about Pasteurella. I know from my chinchilla forums and people introducing cats to them. Rabbits carry it too. But it's only transferable through scratches or bites (well, saliva really), so just never let them close enough for something to happen, and ALWAYS wash your hands before handling your other animals. I immediately followed these rules because I knew of Pasteurella, but a lot of people don't. Thanks for the advice! I may just try the cage the first time just to make sure it's controlled. The kitten's new, so I'm not sure how she'll react.
Edited by conure_love, Oct 20 2009, 05:57 PM.
|
|
|
|
| conure58 | Oct 20 2009, 07:13 PM Post #8 |
Administrator
|
WOW!! Something I've never heard of (Pasteurella???).. Since I've never had any cats or other animals with my birds, this is new to me. My birds have never encountered any other animals (except for me.. Do I count??). Guess I'm harmless, since they've been around for so long.. I doubt I'll be getting any cats anyway, but this is good to know.. |
|
|
| Carla | Oct 20 2009, 07:28 PM Post #9 |
|
Senior Member
|
by the way your chinchillas are sooooooooo adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
|
|
|
|
| conure_love | Oct 20 2009, 08:53 PM Post #10 |
|
Senior Member
|
Mark: Yup, it's pretty nasty stuff. But, as long as precautions are taken, there should be little worry. But, that alone, along with the chances of harassment/injury to your small animals, is the reason that you should never even leave cats alone in the same room as your cages. If they do so much as just lick your small animal, they're at risk. But don't worry, I'm well prepared. And when I do introduce them, I am not looking for them to have a friendly relationship. I just want it to be so that just in case Cody gets spooked and flies to the couch/floor, he won't be attacked. If he gets used to him like Misty did (and Misty HATED birds, even attacked a wild one once. She doesn't mind Cody at ALL after lots and lots of training), I won't be so worried. I would never let them interact, it's just not safe. And thank you Carla! I've got so many precious babies. 
Edited by conure_love, Oct 20 2009, 09:02 PM.
|
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Conure Talk · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| Track Topic · E-mail Topic |
 6:27 AM Nov 24
|
Hosted for free by ZetaBoards
