Question for bird owners with cats

[Savor the Stick]

Originally Posted by shilala

D, I had hundreds of birds at one time. Lots of cats, too.
Not once did any of the cats ever harm a bird, but it's because I always took time to introduce the cats to the birds.
Cats are really smart, despite the way they act. Just bring the cat to the bird, introduce them, make them friendly, and spend time with the cat and bird together.
Oddly enough, my cats knew the difference between the birds they were allowed to kill and the birds they weren't allowed to kill. I had a black cat that spent all day sleeping with my golden pheasants, hanging in the netting like a hammock.
I watched another one of my cats hunting tweety birds one day. She was totally intense. She bolted at the tweety bird when a mother hen and her chicks walked by. The cat put on the brakes, watched the hen and all her babies pass, then resumed the chase.
How they can make the distinction, I'll never know, but they do.
Just take some time with both of them together, and let the cat smell the bird and lick it and rub on it and stuff.
Don't try it with a rabbit, though. Doesn't work.

I have done this with every bird/cat I have owned....it works. It changes the cats thought process--instead of potential food---to family member (pack member). My cats just loose interest in the bird in the hunting and eating way.