a questoin about cats and birds

[eman]

is it save to have a cat and a bird living in the same house?

i read that cat saliva can kill birds..so i am just wondering if anyone here has cats and birds..and do u keep the birds in separate rooms?

if cat saliva has already dried, would it still hurt the bird. like if there was cat saliva on the cats's paws, and it dried and the cat touched the cage with its paws..would that hurt the bird in anyway?

what things do i have to watch for?


thanks

[Cassie]

Wow, I never heard about cat saliva being harmful to birds. My sister had a couple of cats and parakeets at the same time and they all got along well with no problems for years.

[halaroo]

I've never heard that before either. My parents have always had cats and birds. In fact their cockatiel used to follow their cat around and eat her food.

[Mary_NH]

I had a cat with parakeets no problem

[zarate]

I have a cockatiel and a parakeet in my home with my cat, and I've never had any problems. Other than the cockatiel going after the cat if he gets to close to her! Even my parakeet will sit on my cat....mind you none of my pets are normal, but everyone is healthy and happy.

[eman]

thanks all for replying..
i was very surprised when i read it. It talks about a bacteria in the cat's saliva. it is the same with dog saliva...
here is the website:
http://www.cockatielcottage.net/cats.html

is it true? or not..



eman

[halaroo]

I just researched other sites and they all talk about the Pasturella bateria being deadly to birds. I would assume that the biggest risk in getting it is through cat bites.

When I was attacked and bitten by Moe (through my leg muscles), I had to go on antibiotics to ensure that the bacteria didn't get into my bloodstream. I knew someone who almost had to have her finger amputated from a cat bite. I just didn't put it together that this was the same bacteria you were talking about though!

[eman]

so..is it harmfull to the birds if they were scratched or bitten only?

[halaroo]

I honestly can't answer that since I don't know for sure. But, my parents' cockatiel used to follow the cat everywhere and eat out of her food dish. He's still alive and kicking.

Growing up we'd always had either a dog or cat and budgies, with no problems.

[eman]

i found another site that says:
"For many years people thought that cat caught birds died of shock within 48 hours. It is only recently that rehabbers discovered that what they actually died of was pasteurella septicaemia. 90% of cats carry the pasteurella multocida bacteria in their saliva so the chances of infection are high and birds caught by cats will usually succumb to the septicaemia unless they are treated promptly with antibiotics.
Because birds preen their feathers a cat caught bird can develop an infection from the pasteurella bacteria without suffering puncture wounds. The saliva on its feathers can pass into its system when it preens and it can develop pasteurellosis.
The birds can die before symptoms of infection become noticeable, which is why rehabbers will treat birds that are even suspected of having been caught by a cat immediately with Clavamox (US) or Synulox (UK)"

it is from: http://www.pigeon-aid.pigeon.net/bites.htm

so i guess even if there wasnt any bite or scratch, the bird can get it if it got on its feathers. but they say 90% of cats have that bacteria in their saliva...i wonder why the 10% dont have it...

[kathy5]

& 2 cats
wehn the kids & I want to play with the birds we put the cats In a bed room until the birds go back into there cage I have had no troubble with cats & birds

you are right about the saliva it is also harmfull from the mouth of a human too so not to many kisses
Kathy

[luna]

i have a bird and two cats and i dont have any problems... other than Mr. Jingles and Shadow ploting against me (i swear that bird hates me!)