My cat licked my parrot. Is there a risk she will eat my bird?

Hello, as in any occasion, you should make sure that you're washing your baby's hands immediately after touching Saffie. Majority of the infectious diseases we worry about are transferred via fecal to oral route, hence why washing hands is so important. To further ensure that your kitten is safe to be around your baby, keep up on her physical exams and you can have your veterinarian test a stool sample for any parasites or giardia. Eating birds particularly may expose your cat to foreign bodies and parasites but does not directly expose your baby to these same infections. Hope this helps and best of luck.

There is no way to know for whether or not the bird Rocky licked was carrying any sort of pathogen, and whether or not that pathogen is transmissible to dogs. I would operate under the assumption that everything is going to be OK unless you begin to see any clinical signs of illness. You can certainly obtain a fecal sample and bring it into your vet to make sure he didn't pick up any intestinal parasites. Hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend that you monitor her for signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, nausea and/or abdominal pain. If any of these are observed, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, she could be just fine. Have a great day!

Hello! I'm sorry to hear about Mithwing's accident. Cats can be very dangerous to parrots, and I'm sure it was a scary situation. Be very sure that she doesn't have any puncture wounds on her body as cat saliva contains a lot of bacteria that can be toxic to birds. While it is possible that Mithwing is just very stressed from the incident, she could also have some internal injuries that you can't see. If she does not eat or return to acting like her normal self within the next 12 hours, I strongly suggest that you bring her to a veterinarian immediately. She may need an x-ray to see if she has any broken bones (broken ribs are common and can be very painful) or internal bleeding. In the meantime, keep her warm and calm, and offer her favorite foods to entice her to eat. Good luck, and I hope that Mithwing feels better soon!

Thanks for your question. Fortunately, there are very few diseases that would be likely to go from a sparrow to you or Cleo. These diseases typically require a large amount of close contact and many of them are pathogens that you and your cat would come in contact with on a regular basis. Unless the bird produced droppings (urates/feces) while flying in your house, you will not need to disinfectant anything. If you wanted to clean the items that the bird came into contact with, that would not be a problem either, if it makes you feel more comfortable. I hope that helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Parvo. Cats are naturally hunters and thus this behavior may be part of her instinct. However, this may also be caused from a dietary insufficiency. I would recommend that you make sure Paro is being offered a well balanced commercial diet. Eating lizards may predispose her to some parasites, but these vary by region so your local veterinarian may be able to offer better advise on what risk Paro may be at if she continues to eat these lizards. Monitor for any signs of vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and yellow tinged gums. If you note any, then contact your veterinarian to have her evaluated. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I am sorry your friend is in this difficult situation. The kitchen is not a good place to house a bird because birds are very sensitive to cooking fumes and cooking with Teflon near a bird an be deadly for the bird. Cats and birds can potentially co-exist, though their presence can cause both of them to be more likely to act aggressively. It may be possible for your friend to keep the bird, but some planning, adjusting, and training may be needed. Here are a few good resources: http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/can-cats-and-birds-live-safely-together https://www.petcoach.co/article/bird-safety-bird-proof-your-home-to-eliminate-household-haz/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/teflon-toxicity-ptfe-toxicosis-in-birds-signs-and-preventio/