Very goofy behaviors

[Seasonspeech19]

My bird might as well become a cat. My lovebird sunflower has some really interesting things he does. First, his favorite thing to do is come out into the living room. Then we have this vase he likes to hop in and out of. Then he'll go to the cat water, and proceed to take baths in it. He also likes to hop up and down the stairwell, about 4 steps or so.

His favorite thing to do is tease the cat. He'll come and peak out of the corner and make the cat come after him. He stands his ground and opens his beak at her, and she jets off and tries again.

He'll also spread his wings if you snap your fingers, or go really close to him and talk.


Anyone else ever see these behaviors?

[ittyandrita]

ah, i'm sorry to be a complete downer, but i lost a lovebird to a cat. please, please be extra careful. 99.99% of the time the cat ignored him, but it just took once...
sorry but whenever i hear about cats and birds i have to say something.

[Seasonspeech19]

She's never been a problem with birds...since she's grown up with them. She has no front claws. She ignores him a lot of time, but of course I always take that advice and never leave him unattended with her.

[Janie]

Cat saliva is deadly to lovebirds. I would not want my bird bathing in water that the cat is using for drinking water.

[Flapjack]

What you're describing really does sound cute, and I know you love your bird and your cat, and the cat would probably not do anything on purpose to hurt your bird.
If, for instance your bird landed on the cats face, and accidentally got a claw in his eye, could you really know with 100% certainty that he wouldn't react out of pain, before he realized it was his little friend?
What others have said is also true about the bacteria in saliva being deady to small birds.
I know you're careful- so it's not my place to lecture- sorry if it sounds like it.
I have the same problem with my lovebird not wanting to leave my 75 lb dog alone! I have to protect my dog from Jack much more than Jack from the dog :lol . But more often than not, I put the dog up when the birds are out.

[ittyandrita]

in response to sunflower's enjoyment of vases-
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/rjania/ritavase6.jpg
rita shares that passion!
my black mask, baxter also enjoys hopping, but i have no stairs so i'm not sure about that, but i imagine he would hop down the stairs if he could :)

[Z28Taxman]

in response to sunflower's enjoyment of vases-
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/rjania/ritavase6.jpg
rita shares that passion!
my black mask, baxter also enjoys hopping, but i have no stairs so i'm not sure about that, but i imagine he would hop down the stairs if he could :)

Rita looks so cute in there.

Even though Ditto is fully flighted he makes me carry him up the stairs when we go up there.

[cp.lovebird]

in response to sunflower's enjoyment of vases-
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/rjania/ritavase6.jpg
rita shares that passion!
my black mask, baxter also enjoys hopping, but i have no stairs so i'm not sure about that, but i imagine he would hop down the stairs if he could :)

I love this picture! How did she get out?

[Seasonspeech19]

Cat saliva is deadly to lovebirds. I would not want my bird bathing in water that the cat is using for drinking water.

We were told that...but our vets said that that's mainly for outdoor cats, because god knows what they go after outside, and that he may be alright. A lot of the time he goes in his own water.


Today he was enjoying biting the back of my neck and my hair...which he does a lot. Weird indeed.

[LauraO]

in response to sunflower's enjoyment of vases-
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/rjania/ritavase6.jpg
rita shares that passion!
my black mask, baxter also enjoys hopping, but i have no stairs so i'm not sure about that, but i imagine he would hop down the stairs if he could :)


That it a really cute pic of Rita!!!!!!!!

The first night we got our lovebird Birdy Boots we lost him in a big vase, but it was solid in color. We looked for him for hours and hours and couldn't figure out where he was. Finally, after giving up, I was near the vase and looked down and saw him just sitting as calm as can be:whistle: .

[Seasonspeech19]

Now that I think more about it, I keep wondering if Sunflower is a female. Especially the vase thing. It would really explain some of the behaviors, also why Leigah hates when he goes anywhere near.

[Flapjack]

One of Jack's favorite places is on top of a vase on my mantle. He's on it in my avatar pic. He likes to dunk his head in and out, while chirping, so he can hear the echo. It's really funny.

Michael- when I first saw the title of this thread, naturally I thought it was from you. Your Goofy's stories are quite amusing, too. :D

[amerianz]

Cat saliva is deadly to lovebirds. I would not want my bird bathing in water that the cat is using for drinking water.
hey, I wasn't sure how to reply to just this message, being as I am not responding to the thread itself. Ive seen this type of answer to questions about cats around alot, and whilst I am not saying its good to have your bird out with a cat in the same area, I would like to clear up one misconception.

Cat saliva is not actually poisonous to other animals. This is something you hear alot for birds or Marsupials (I live in Australia), however, the difference is that the cat saliva does not harm the animal. What can cause death is that cats can sometimes carry toxoplasmosis. This is fatal to smaller mammals such as lovebirds, and should always be taken into account.
However to prevent paranoia on this issue, most owned cats do NOT carry toxoplasmosis, as they normally are fed prepackaged meals, or quality meat. cats can be tested should there be any worry.

[Janie]

Thanks for that information. I should have said that cat saliva "can" be deadly to birds. :)

[Seasonspeech19]

hey, I wasn't sure how to reply to just this message, being as I am not responding to the thread itself. Ive seen this type of answer to questions about cats around alot, and whilst I am not saying its good to have your bird out with a cat in the same area, I would like to clear up one misconception.

Cat saliva is not actually poisonous to other animals. This is something you hear alot for birds or Marsupials (I live in Australia), however, the difference is that the cat saliva does not harm the animal. What can cause death is that cats can sometimes carry toxoplasmosis. This is fatal to smaller mammals such as lovebirds, and should always be taken into account.
However to prevent paranoia on this issue, most owned cats do NOT carry toxoplasmosis, as they normally are fed prepackaged meals, or quality meat. cats can be tested should there be any worry.



This is true as well. Also another danger lies in cats that are outdoors because they hunt rodents that carry parasites/diseases...etc


My cat is totally indoor/front declawed.

[Seasonspeech19]

More updates. It sucks being at college and away from my Sunflower. But apparently when I'm gone, Sunflower doesn't exhibit those behaviors that I described in the beginning like the wings and stuff. I noticed when I went home for spring break Sunflower didn't do it until a few hours after I came home. Then did it all the time like usual. Sunflower is an odd period indeed ;)

[Mydoona]

I think if you have a cat and a bird..your asking for trouble..they are naturally enemies and no matter how hard you deny it the cat will eventually eat the bird or kill it to play with it.
I would NEVER mix the two and think people who do are just plain stupid and irresponsible pet owners.

[michael]

hey, I wasn't sure how to reply to just this message, being as I am not responding to the thread itself. Ive seen this type of answer to questions about cats around alot, and whilst I am not saying its good to have your bird out with a cat in the same area, I would like to clear up one misconception.

Cat saliva is not actually poisonous to other animals. This is something you hear alot for birds or Marsupials (I live in Australia), however, the difference is that the cat saliva does not harm the animal. What can cause death is that cats can sometimes carry toxoplasmosis. This is fatal to smaller mammals such as lovebirds, and should always be taken into account.
However to prevent paranoia on this issue, most owned cats do NOT carry toxoplasmosis, as they normally are fed prepackaged meals, or quality meat. cats can be tested should there be any worry.

If I may, I would like to clear up this misconception. "Toxoplasmosis" is basically a "parasite" easily transmitted by contact with many other species of animals along with their feces as well. Really, this can be tracked into any home via the bottom of your shoe. Cats seem to carry or catch these parasites more easily than most other animals. Its no wonder poeple sometimes have to have their "indoor" pets dewormed. "Pasteurella" is bacteria thats otherwise always present within the saliva of most if not all animals whether their cats, dogs, ferrets or otherwise. The pasteurella bacteria present in the saliva of cats is so deadly that not only can its contact alone threaten the life of your bird, but a tiny scratch from either their teeth or claws can kill your companion bird within 24 hours.

Besides the risk of infection or disease, cats, dogs, or any other unlike species of pets really should be kept separate from your birds regardless of how reserved their disposition is. Parrots, especially lovebirds, can be very aggressive towards other animals far greater in size. Should this provoke a larger pet by instinct to defend itself, serious injury or death can result. Of all the animals most dangerous to birds are CATS. Not only will they quietly stalk their prey (your bird) but can and will attack without any warning. This, along with the ever present threat of pasteurella "bacteria" makes even an unsuccessful attack deadly and a playful one just as dangerous.

Think this is anything to worry about?

[Sweetpeaches]

thanks michael for your information..it is always appreciated. heck! i was even concerned leaving my lovebird near my caique. as no matter what other kind of animal it is, you're always taking a "risk" when letting them out together.
i know many people do it. but for me personally it isn't a risk i would want to take.

[Seasonspeech19]

The only way the saliva is poisonous is if the cat is eating animals out in the woods, like rats and other wild birds that carry disease. Besides, my cat runs away from the bird when she comes out. The bird basically owns the house.