Cats are hunters, and birds are their natural prey.
Bringing the natural enemies together as pets is never a good idea unless you are fully prepared for optimal care and extreme supervision.
Both will never be relaxed, but a constant stress vibe will also be there for you and them.
Birds will constantly be distressed by watching theor predator staring at them, while the cats will be driven insane by just watching the delicious Snack McNuggets and unable to attempt to get on them.
Is it possible for a cat to kill a bird in the cage?
It is actually possible as I myself experienced this unfortunately
Let me relate the incident
Months ago, I had a pair of budgies, and stray cats used to roam around my house.
Despite all doors and windows being closed at night, a cat walked in through the kitchen’s exhaust fan and managed to reach the hanging cage.
I woke up to the screaming of my budgies
The cat ran away when I got there but I seen a very nasty thing
I saw that the cat had eaten one of its wings.
The budgie was bathed in blood and screaming.
I bandaged her for a few days, and she got better thankfully, but she was still so shocked which meant she didn’t chirp for the whole month.
She was okay, but she is now unable to fly
It is heartbreaking to see her moving up and down, hanging with the cage bars, and not flying anymore.
That is why it’s very important to make sure your birds are safe and secure from all aspects
Can a Cat Scare a Bird To Death?
Birds are fragile little creatures, and you should never underestimate a cat’s hunting instincts, assuming its innocence and cuteness.
Cats can jump pretty darn high, and even despite all your safety measures, cats will indeed attempt to get at your birds when you’re away.
And whenever they get a chance, they will find some way as cats don’t ever give up!
Cats hiss to show that they’re not only angry but also determined to attack.
Birds and most other animals fear the snake’s hissing, and cats hiss to imitate the threat from the snake.
Merely the presence of a hostile cat is enough to drive them into a severe state of stress which transits into shock and is eventually followed by death.
It is related to a complex disease called Capture Myopathy.
This damage results from the overwhelmed nervous system, which releases harmful chemicals into their system, and birds’ instinctive fight or flight response fails.
So the obvious answer is yes!
Cats can scare birds to death even when they’re caged.
Will My Cats Kill My Bird?
Although having both birds and cats as pets is not a healthy practice for your household except for a few exceptional cases.
Where you see on YouTube or around you that cats and birds play together.
Even the tamed and peaceful-looking pet cats can prey on your birds when you’re not around.
Because they’re always interested in birds and unable to get those delicious birdies, cats get crazy and stressed.
You assume a cat as a cunning enemy with an inventive mind always planning and looking for an opportunity for a well-precise attack.
They can jump so high that even the cages hanging from the rafters of a vaulted ceiling are not safe.
If the cage bars are not close enough to be safe or are even slightly flexible, the cat can get its paw inside the cage and will surely injure the bird if not kill it.
If your bird is used to playing outside the cage, it’s even riskier.
You should never leave your bird unattended with cats around.
It’s better to be safe than sorry
Should I Punish My Cat For Killing Birds?
Both Cats and birds are innocent, cute, and playful.
But having them together could be a severe problem for the triangle (Cats, Birds & You).
Except for some rare exceptional cases, cats (even the tamed ones) are naturally hostile hunters.
You cannot change their natural predatory instincts.
You cannot punish them for what God has gifted them.
Before making this tough decision, you must consider keeping them both under one roof as pets.
Do you have enough time to supervise them all the time?
Do you have enough space at home to designate a room for birds where cats will never be allowed to enter?
Do you have a way to keep the cats completely isolated from your birds birdcage? I
f yes, you can go ahead at your own risk.
It’s still not recommended, though, for the peace of you all.
How can I protect my bird cage from my cat?
If you have made this prudent decision to have both cats and birds as your pets in one household, you have to prove your liability for the circumstances.
All you can do is protect your birds at your best, or you’ll be culpable in your own eyes.
You can’t stop cats when their prey drive is duly active.
Here are a few suggestions to keep your birds safe from (pets or stray) cats.
If you follow these steps, your birds will be safe and sound.
Safety Measures
- Designated room — Keep the birds out of their reach by designating a room for the birds (if possible) where cats will be strictly restricted from entering.
- Sturdy cage — Buy a sturdy cage with close bars that don’t bend so the cat can’t put its hand inside it.
- Net — Instead, use a little hole net to protect them better.
- Lock — Don’t forget to lock the cage when you’re not around.
- Hanging cage — Hang the cage off the floor with the rafters of a vaulted ceiling.
- No shelves — While hanging the cage, ensure there are no chairs, tables, or shelves nearby where the cat can stick its paw and climb up.
- Evening care — Birds have excellent eyesight but can’t see well in the dark, and the cats can see perfectly. So make sure not to leave the birds open in the evening.
- Supervision — Do not leave the birds unsupervised when they are out of the cage.
- Tame the cat — You can tame your pet cat by pulling it away from the cage multiple times whenever it is around. Doing this, they will understand that they are not allowed to go near the cage.
- Entertainment — Entertain the cats with their favorite treats in another room when birds are out of the cage.
- Going outside — When going out for a long time, take extra safety measures or take your cat with you if possible.
Wrapping Up
Overall we have concluded that we all love having playful cats and chirpy friends around the house.
Although it’s a tough decision to raise two natural enemies together in one place, there is no harm if your cat is not hostile or aggressive but still be careful.
If you don’t want to see your birds being chewed to pieces and avoid mishaps, ensure you are around when they’re together.
Otherwise, compelled by its predatory nature cat will figure out a way to get the job done, and the results won’t be pretty.
