Do you keep your birds and other pets together?
When nature created a diversity of organisms, it made its own rules for predators and prey. Although these two elements of nature could coexist in only one type of environment, they possess some specific traits with which they could survive against each other.
For example, predators depend on prey for food, and prey also have adequate opportunities to protect themselves.
Problems arise only when the most intelligent elements of nature, human beings, pose disturbances in the functioning of natural processes.
One of the similar situations arises when you choose to keep several pets together, of which, beautiful birds like parrots are bought to live with dogs and cats.
You may have used all the pet care tips to turn your furry four-legged companions into friendly natures, but the mere sight of prey could turn them ferocious. And this is to the point where they could end up killing and eating their sweet pet bird.
You may have seen your cats hunting birds in the trees in the garden and your dogs chasing them in the meadow to catch them. In such a situation, could you ever imagine that two pets of exactly opposite nature could co-exist with each other? Let’s take a broader look at the point of view above.
Birds and other pets at home:
People can choose from various types of parrots, pigeons, mynah, owls, nightingales and larks, etc. to keep them at home in cages. Most of these are extremely colorful and pleasing to the eye. Everything goes perfectly until you decide to have one more pet in the form of a dog or cat, or the other way around by having a four-legged pet first.
Although it is by no means an offense to keep birds, dogs, and cats together, it is always better to be safe and sound with predators and prey coexisting in one place: your home sweet home.
Predatory actions of your four-legged pets:
It is very obvious and you may have watched countless animated movies in your youth. The most famous was the Looney Tunes Cartoon, where the cunning Sylvester attacked the small but brave Tweety. Although he could never achieve his intentions, the reality could be completely different.
In the first instance, all your pet (most likely cats) would find is the juicy meat of the bird that could satisfy their tummy. But how do you notice such conditions in your pets?
Well, you might see conditions like your pet’s body absolutely motionless and their eyes glued to the bird’s cage. The mouth could be closed tightly or the animal’s tongue licked with delight. It would have absolutely upright ears and the tail would also be stiff, upright. When your dog or cat becomes overly focused on your bird, it’s a red flag to pay attention to.
Predatory actions could happen almost in the blink of an eye, but the previous steps are immensely measured and calculated. These are the warning signs for you to prepare yourself and shut up your pet to avoid the attack.
Even if you have your dog securely tied up, he could try to get loose by pulling on the leash or continually barking. Cats, of course, are rarely kept on a leash and are therefore more likely to attack your pet birds.
If you also find any of these conditions in your home, offer to soothe your pets with instructions and pats. Pets can also be offered treats as a reward to know that being in a friendly gesture is more rewarding than trying to attack the weak partner.
If you can’t control the fight between your furry and winged pets, you probably need the advice of an animal behavior specialist. The person could offer you the exact guidance on your conditions, on how to turn your fight into a more friendly gesture.
Precautions while your furry and winged pets coexist:
While you want to instill such an idea, you need to be careful about some specific points which are as follows:
· Keep pets in touch: If you think that the best method to prevent your pet from being attacked by your cat or dog is to separate them completely, you could be dead wrong. While the birds you own love to socialize, dogs and cats can also develop a sense of rapport when they see the other pet on a daily basis. However, you need to practice this by keeping some distance effectively. The birds should be kept in a suitable sturdy cage, which could be hung in a safe place. Make sure it is big enough and strong enough to withstand the attacks of the most powerful pet.
· Ensuring bird safety: The cage your bird is kept in should be kept in a place that makes it difficult for the other pet to attack. Be sure to hang it securely so it doesn’t fall over when hit.
It’s not always obvious that dogs and cats would attack your pet birds just by looking at them. However, proper security measures should always be ensured. Most birds that are left in a cage or open with other friendly pets could be injured in their play due to the sharp claws and teeth of four-legged pets. Be sure to avoid such conditions as they could be unpleasant.
· Do not leave pets unattended together: If you tend to forget the laws of nature and come to the conclusion that your opposite-natured pets have developed enough of a bond to ban any danger, you could drastically regret your decision. Birds playing outdoors with dogs and cats can become annoying at any time and this is not due to any specific reason. If cats or dogs find reason enough to do so, they will always tend to attack your pet birds, no matter how friendly they may have been before.
· pet toys: If you have furry pets at home, before bringing a bird to your company, you could offer your dogs and cats some soft toys in the shape of birds and see how they react to them. It is not surprising that pets become aggressive to use their nails and claws on toys. So, it is the responsibility of the pet owner to calm down an aggressive pet and make him more friendly with his toys. If your dog or cat tends to grab the toy bird in their mouth, you can stop them from doing so by offering them treats. In this way, the new entrant in your house will have less chance of being greeted with a nasty attack.
Upside down:
It is really very obvious to think, but when you have a small breed of dog or cat and the bird is comparable in size, any timid nature of your furry pet could cause your winged companion to attack it.
Birds also have sharp nails and beaks, with which they could do a lot of damage. This could also be possible when you bring a new furry pet hatchling into contact with your existing bird in the house.
In such a case, you will be required to keep your timid pet safe and secure. Offer them a protected environment where birds could never try to enter.
Although the pets might become friendly in the future, you will be asked to ensure that the introduction process goes smoothly, without any anger from either side.
When your pets get hurt:
As we mentioned before, accidents can happen in any case and the same goes for your pets. Friendly or not, they might tend to insult each other with the natural weapons they possess.
In this too, the chances of your birds getting hurt are always higher. If this happens, follow an immediate veterinary referral. Cat and dog tooth bites or claw attacks can be fatal to the bird and therefore require immediate medical attention.
Veterinarians would fully diagnose them for toxic consequences and offer treatments in the form of bandages and medications. You will need to keep track of the vet’s schedules and offer medications on time for your pet’s speedy recovery.
In contrasting cases, birds might deliver a nasty bite to furry pets with their beaks and tend to insult their eyes with their sharp fingernails. This situation also requires immediate medical attention and could cause many disorders in the body of pets.
Here too, the vets would offer the proper treatment, but with the help of the keeper to ensure his healthy recovery with proper measures.
Keeping winged pets (birds) and furry pets (dogs or cats) together can always be a matter of luck with its outcome. You may or may not expect them to behave aggressively towards each other, but it is always imperative to pay attention to safety measures and precautions with such a notion.