Cat Information

how do i stop my pet cat attacking my pet birds?

I know it's a really stupid question but I really need help with this please. I have pet finches in a cage...one of them is sitting on it's eggs that it laid 3 weeks ago. Today I bought a pet cat and she keeps jumping up at the bird cage. How do I stop her doing this please as I know it is possible I just don't know how. Many thanks xx

Public Comments

1. youll be lucky! its natural instinct!
2. you'll have to move the cage....you cant stop the cat - thats what cats do i'm afraid!!
3. uhhh.. its a cats natural reaction to want to go after birds. keep the birds in 1 room and keep the door shut.. never let kitty in there.
4. every time the cat goes into the the room with the birds shout at it and chase it out of the room after a while the cat will stop going into the room we did this with my cat as I have a cat allergy and I didn't want it in my room and it never comes in
5. Whilst I was growing up my family had dogs, cats and birds and the cats tended to taunt the dogs especially when they were perched on a wall. The birds seemed to be the cat’s favourite entertainment and they would quite happily sit and watch them for ages until they pounced on the birds cages. My advice makes sure the cage is out of the cats reach, which I know is difficult as cats climb. I love cats but they are extremely sly and cunning and hunting birds comes natural to them.
6. Quite an odd question. Personally I would simply try and keep the cat away from the birds. Are there any rooms in your house that the cat does not go? Put ther birds in here. Also, try buying something which may distract your cat, for example a scratch pole.
7. Cats kill an estimated four MILLION song birds per day just in the USA. Look up the word atavistic. Didn't you ever watch Sylvester and Tweety?....lol
8. What possesed you to go out and buy a cat when you knew you had birds at home? Isn't it just common sense that the cat eats the bird that eats the worm? But since you've got the cat now and it would be evil to take her back once shes settled into her new home, I suggest you move the cage to a place she can't reach or a spare room thats door can be kept shut at all times. You could also have a shot at teaching her that not being nice to the birdies is bad. When she jumps up at the cage, keep a squirty gun on hand and give her a short, sharp burst of water. I know it sounds evil but believe me it will work. Birds and Cats can get along fine but they have to have a good owner who will take time out to teach them how.
9. Don`t quite think you have the right mix of pets there. Dogs and cats will learn to live together, but some species are untrainable. My daughter had cats and a hamster( a wily little devil, that kept escaping) and she wondered why the cat ate it. She finally realised that had it been a wild vermin, she would have been praising the cat.
10. You can't stop a cat reacting to the presence of birds - so you need to put the bird(s) in another room - where the cat can't see/smell them. good luck
11. You must make a room for the Birdies only! I have had the same issue,Birdies and kitties do not ever mix!At all costs,you are the one who is in charge of keeping your birdies safe.Your cat is behaving in a normal manner,and will not stop.Your birds can become stressed out and ill the more she jumps on the cage,so for now you must remain vigilant-get yourself a spray bottle and mist her when she shows interest,before she jumps.But when you are out of the room,your kitty must come with you always.Trust me,I know!
12. everytime your cat pounces on the cage squirt it with a bit of water (obviously dont drench the cat), just a little squirt!! This method worked on my Border Terrier, Jack Russell X (yes i do know that he isn't a cat!) he used to try to kill my rabbit!! He doesn't chase my rabbit but any he sees on walks he loves to chase!!! Good luck!!
13. A cat is going to be a cat, no matter what you do. You might try training it, but it will ALWAY be a possible problem. If you're really concerned about the birds, since you just bought the cat I could consider taking it back. If you're determined to keep the cat, I would keep them separated and never EVER trust them alone together.
14. put the cat in the cage and let out the birds hee hee
15. As you said it youself, "It's a really stupid question." Have you never heard of the food-chain concept? My advice, don't put a bird in a prison when you're the one deserving such punishment. Cats make good stew! Cook it.
16. What possessed you to get a cat? Birds and Cats Dont mix ,one will have to Go!
17. i know this sound cruel but i also have finches and my cats do the same basically i use a toy water gun or house plant sprayer everytime i see them going near the cage to attack my birds .they run away as cats hate water!
18. I agree with bobobee and gothicru . I have kept small parakeets and cats together for years. My cats never try to hunt my pet birds because they have now realised they are family too. Once I took my cockatiels out of the cage as usual for their regular playtime. I had checked the room was cat-free before, as always, but I did not notice my cat, Papoose. He must have fallen asleep in the sunshine, behind the curtain. My birds flew then settled down on the mat for their favourite game with me - follow her feet. It was then I heard a sad meow. I found Papoose curled up so tense; it was almost as if he was saying "Get me out of here quick! I can not be good any longer!" He had made no attempt to hurt my birds. When my cats were kittens, I used the mister-spray method to teach them that the bird cage was not that much fun. I give my birds a shower regularly anyway, so it was easy. The kittens soon learned there were easier prey in the garden, and quite quickly accepted my pet birds as family members. But there are 2 big flaws with my answer. One is, cats will be far more attracted to small birds, such as finches, than to larger birds such as parakeets, even small lovebirds. Finches are more nervous and delicate, and even the sight of a cat approaching can cause them great distress. You really need to put the cage somewhere the cat cannot reach. Use the water spray aswell, but small fluttering birds are so tempting! You did not mention if your new cat is going to be allowed access to outdoors or not. If she is, this will help keep her instincts occupied elsewhere. Although it is hard for the week or two when before you let her go out (she needs to get used to her new home first, before being allowed to explore outdoors.) As she is the newcomer, training her now will be the only way to deal with this. Keep the cage where she cannot reach it, but sometimes, when you are there to supervise, allow her to approach and sniff. Have the mister at hand but try not to let her see you spray it at her; you do not want her associating anything unpleasant with you, only with the cage. Let her see you talking to the finches in the same voice you talk to her. Let her watch you love them. If she attempts to jump on the cage, squirt her. Not face on, but above her head. And not a lot. Just a fine mist is enough to make her back off. If she persists, spray more. Do it until she learns the cage equals wetness. Then have a break, and ignore your cat. A few hours later, get her involved in playing and games that keep her stimulated and occupied. DO NOT use a toy bird in the game! And talk to her all the time. If you play with her too soon after training, she will think it is a reward for jumping on the cage. So you have to distance the two. Once she has stopped jumping, you can reward her in any way you want. Never leave the cage where she can get to it unless you are there to supervise. It will take time, but I am confident you can work it out, with time and dedication.