Keep cat on a harness (yes, even indoors) or in a carrier. Allow bird to see cat from inside cage. Keep sessions to 2-3 minutes. Reward cat with treats for ignoring bird.
Do not let cat paw at cage bars. One scratch can break a bird’s leg. old cats got a new bird grandparentsx 2024 xx work
Place the bird’s cage in its designated room. Keep the door closed. The old cats may sniff under the door or hear the chirps. That’s fine. Grandparents should feed the cats their favorite meals near the door (but not too close) to build a positive association with the bird’s sounds. Keep cat on a harness (yes, even indoors) or in a carrier
Here is the “xx work” part of your keyword: practical tasks to make cohabitation safe. Reward cat with treats for ignoring bird
For the last decade, the living room has belonged to two entities: my father’s recliner and the cats. We have two senior cats—Barnaby and Whiskers—who have spent the last ten years perfecting the art of doing absolutely nothing. They are set in their ways, they are loving but grumpy, and they own the place.
In the hierarchy of the house, they were top of the food chain. That is, until the new addition arrived.
2024 solution: Rehome the bird or cat. No shame—safety first. Some senior cats simply cannot coexist with birds.