Pranjal, you are such a wonderful, compassionate person. Thank you for taking in the animals you have!

I see a problem, though. Cats not brought up with birds as companions have a very strong prey drive towards the. That the parrot os on the larger size does not diminish the perceived threat nor the real threat to the bird. It is an accident waiting to happen.

And, as you have already probably read, parrots need to be let out of their large enclosures to wander in a safe, set-up pay area for them.

If your cats have never before interacted with a bird, they will not unlearn their prey drive.

Thanks for the response Elly. I'm really wondering if this would work and it seems even though the bird would be in a cage and supervised at all times with the cats around, you're right about it being an accident waiting to happen. And though the enclosure could be turned into a big play area for the bird (the cats don't use the enclosure), it's when the bird is inside that I'm worried about.

I wish Jasper were more like the others; he's the one I'm wary about LOL

I've been trying to get in touch with a friend in Dubai, she loves birds and her ring-necked parrot passed away after she moved from Oman to Dubai .. she might be interested in this one :)

DH wants so much to bring the AG home (impressed because it interacted more with him than with me LOL) but I'll have to get him to understand "Better safe than sorry".

Thanks again!
~Pranjal

My Husky Tatyana has eaten 2 wild birds, one in flight the other a baby in a nest. However she knows not to touch my Amazon, since I trained her to leave it. Now, I don't know how to train a cat to leave it, but a squirt bottle may go a long way from what I've read here. Maybe other people who have cats can make some suggestions. I do know someone who clicker-trained her 15 year old cat to do some tricks, and not go outside any more.

Here's why I'd say no.
The bird will be stressed enough being lost.
You've pointed out he likes males better than females, this is very common with parrots who take a shine to one gender over the other either way. You're the wrong gender LOL but it's true and it equals more stress on the bird just getting used to your husband let alone you the wrong gender person.

Chances are the Amazon is not used to cats and they know instinctively the danger and hear you are talking about introducing it slowly one at a time to 5 cats? More stress each and every time that may not even be abated after meeting the first cat.. Even if they're in another room that Amazon is going to know that cats are lurking somewhere in the house, they are smart, more stress.

Do the bird a favor and please don't take it to your house.

Stress in birds causes all sorts of physical and mental problems too numerous to go on about here. Just moving it to your house and moving it back somewhere else later is more stress. Every single time you changes its environment.

African Grey Parrots are very noisy and very messy and live for a very long time. Know what you are getting yourself into.

That said, my brother and SIL had one at the same time having two cats. They eventually rehomed the bird for the reasons above.

Thanks for the replies, everyone! My friend in Dubai said she would like to take the bird home but that might have to wait until the next week (Dubai is about 200km away from Abu Dhabi).

This evening, vet said the bird isn't scared of cats, is extremely sociable, steps up, bows to be scratched, sometimes makes a sound that resembles a giggle. It's nice because we all thought it's more interested in men but there isn't a single male employee at the vet's clinic so maybe we were wrong, it was the bird's first day there - it sure seemed eager to meet EVERYone :D

Vet still thinks it's doable (me bringing the bird home) but even though I know now that the bird isn't stressed and seems to be used to cats etc., I don't know my cats' reaction to it. Good enough reason to stay away.
Another friend suggested bringing Jasper over to see the bird - I don't know if I'll do that.

I'll spend some time with it again tomorrow (my usual volunteer slot for Feline Friends) and try not to fall in love with it LOL I'm also still hoping the original owner contacts the clinic, it would make everyone so happy!

Thanks again!
Pranjal

I've had birds and cats together for years with no problems. As many as 100 birds and 16 cats at the same time. The current group is 3 birds and 2 cats and none of them could care less about each other. I do take precautions tho that they are never alone together and if no one is home the door to the birds room is closed so there is no cat access. In my case if a cat showed any interest in a bird it was usually a Finch or something small like that and then it was temporary interest. None of them have ever even looked at the Macaw.

Lisa

Wow, 100 birds and 16 cats!

Lisa, did you introduce birds to your cats when they were still kittens? If not, how did you introduce adult cats to the birds?

My cats rub their noses on the toy blue-and-gold macaw's beak all the time - and they watch fascinated as the huge bird sings, dances and repeats even their meows - I guess that's as close as they're ever going to get, to a 'bird' ;)

Almost all the cats were strays that I got at various ages, kittens to adults. Other than some mild curiosity none of them were never really interested. Maybe the newcomer's took their cue's from cats that were already in the house? One of the current cat's was 2+ when we bought the house, she came with it, and moved in with bird's. She watches them every now and then but for the most part doesn't care and she was a hunter in her younger days.

Lisa

Pranjal, a bird like that needs to be handled and out of the cage, or it will mentally deteriorate.

All you need is one cat making one move on the bird and it's over.

Good luck.

Your house must be a busy place Lisa!

Elly, you're right, they're social critters - and so funny too! We had a couple at the vet clinic where I worked, they were such fun to be around. And they interacted with all our clients; the only problem was, if they were kept on the first floor (where there wasn't much happening) - we did that if there was a 'big dog' appointment - they'd screech like banshees and we often worried that clients would think we were actually torturing birds up there LOL. Once they were brought down into the main reception area, they'd be fine again. And of course when we closed for the day they'd happily go back into their cages - on the first floor :D

Its probably getting enough mental stimulation at the clinic, no idea how much they handle it.

(I know which 'one' cat would 'make the move' on the bird ... Simba!!)

- Pranjal

Knowing the cats and that this is such a high maitmense bird, you should rethink this one.

Keep the cats claws clipped, because one cat scratch on a bird, even if it's tiny, can kill the bird - some kind of bacteria. Ask an avian vet about it. Other than that, a grey can defend itself with a sharp nip to a sensitive body part, like the nose or ear, and that might finish any interest from the cats. Our cats learned to fear birds because the magpies outside the house did it for us, they used to keep them huddled under the front doorstep, screaming at them. So when we got a grey, there was no problem from the cats at all. These new kittens though -- not sure.