Selecting The Right Cage For Your Bird

Swainson Toucan

I like to think of my bird’s cage as her bedroom – a happy place, with lots of stuff to do, that belongs to her.  I respectfully try keep out, except when it needs cleaning or toy changes.  A cage needs to provide safety, security, and comfort for your bird and peace of mind for you in knowing that she will be okay while you are out of the house. PetSmart offers Up To 15% OFF On Select Bird Cages. Buy now!, click here

If you are looking for a new cage, or buying your first, here are some rules of thumb to go by:

Toco Toucans

BIGGER IS BETTER! Birds are active creatures. Always try to get the largest cage you can that has bar spacing still suitable to your species.  A parrot needs to exercise it’s wings and must have enough unobstructed room to do so.  This means that you should look for a cage that is larger your bird’s wing span with several inches on each side to spare.  This allows for any toys or perches that are in the cage and could injure the bird during vigorous activity.  If you have a long-tailed parrot, remember to plan for room for that too!  Your parrot should be able to turn in any direction without bumping any part of its body, wings or tail against anything.

If you have separate sleeper cages for your parrots, a smaller one is okay.  I bought Theo, my goffins cockatoo, a travel sized cage (30″X20″X18″) that would never be suitable for daytime use, but is perfect to provide her a good night’s sleep.  We haven’t gotten her in it, because she is not yet comfortable with it, but we are working on it.

Blue and Gold Macaws

* Bar spacing is an important consideration.  If the spacing is too wide for the smaller species, a head can get caught in the bars.  It’s amazing how a head will fit through the bars in one direction and suddenly become so large that it won’t come out the way it went in. Also, it makes negotiation around the cage difficult for little feet. Likewise, a larger bird in a cage with too small bar spacing can get a foot caught in the bars.

Congo African Grey Parrot

* Easy and practical to service.  Does it have slide out trays for easy bottom cleaning?   Can you service the food dishes from outside the cage? Is the front door large enough to easily and safely remove your parrot?  Is it on wheels? Most newer cages include optional seed catchers.  They are a great help in keeping the mess under control, but they take up 8-12″ more space around the cage on each side. I don’t use mine for that reason.

* Safely constructed. Take a good look around at the cage.  Do you see anywhere that a foot could become lodged? Round dome-top cages tend to create this danger.  I know this sounds like kicking the tires when you’re buying a car, but does it feel solid when you give it a good shake? Some cheaply made cages have sides that are not welded or bolted together where toes, legs  and wings can become lodged.  Some birds are quite capable of breaking welds and larger parrots like macaws and cockatoos need to be in a very well constructed cage. Remember that your bird will explore every inch of this cage when you are away. If they are anything like mine, they will be devising escape plans, which will be put into action the minute the front door closes.  Each of my cages is outfitted with padlocks – 12 in all.

* Non-toxic powder-coated or stainless steel. A stainless steel is going to be the best that you can buy.  It will last a lifetime.  It won’t chip or rust and will be sturdily made.  When you buy a powder-coated cage, please make sure it isn’t from China.  MOST of the cages made there have tested  positive for dangerous levels of lead and zinc in their powder coating.  Please read this article on this subject by Larry Houston, who found out about this after his parrot’s health was compromised. In his article are details on how to have your cage tested if it was made in China.  Cages can be re-powder-coated if you suspect a problem with your current cage.

The cage  is the biggest investment you will make in your parrot.  It will be her home for the entirety of her life, which might be 50 or more years.  A stainless steel macaw cage will set you back more than $2,000, but when you divide this among the years of service it will provide, it doesn’t seem like so much.  There are many other cages available, costing less, that are wonderful homes to our companion parrots.  Be sure to check them carefully for safety, durability and appropriate sizing.  Don’t be afraid to contact the manufacturer for details about the cage and where it was made.

How to Choose the Right Bird Cage

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Bird cages, just like the birds they house, come in all shapes and sizes. So how do you pick the right one? It’s important to find the right cage for your particular bird because the cage will directly affect the health and well-being of your pet. Below we give advice on selecting an appropriate cage for your bird along with some tips to ensure your bird is happy and healthy in their new home.

Before you get a new cage, give some thought to where you should place the cage in your home. If possible, you should pick a central area of your home to encourage your bird’s social side. And be sure to keep the cage away from any drafts of cool air. It’s also important to give your bird and their cage some space. In fact, it’s always best to get the biggest cage possible (of course, not everyone has room to spare in their homes), and this is particularly important for larger birds. Your bird should be able to walk around and completely extend and flap their wings without touching the bars of the cage. Round cages are thought to upset birds, so always get an angled cage. Rectangular cages are considered the best.

Certain breeds have unique needs. Parrots require enough space to climb and get plenty of exercise, while canaries and finches prefer a cage that is wide and long enough to allow for flying. Budgies prefer a cage that is tall and wide so they can move around, and cockatiels need enough room so their large feathers on their tail and head fit inside the cage and don’t touch the bars when the bird moves. Birds that don’t have enough room can act out in negative ways—it can cause them to bite, make loud noises, or excessively pluck their feathers.

Also consider the bars of the cage. How far apart are they spaced? Are the bars horizontal or vertical? Larger birds enjoy bars that are horizontal so they can climb and get exercise, and smaller birds need the bars spaced closely together so they aren’t able to escape – or get stuck between the bars during an escape attempt. And always be sure that your feathered friend’s head cannot fit between the bars.

Your bird’s cage should be sturdy and well-constructed. Never choose a cage made from plastic or wood, as your bird will be able to chew through it. Cages made from stainless steel are a much better idea—they’re non-toxic and easy to clean. You also need to be sure the cage has a strong latch. Birds can be crafty, and with enough time many can figure out how to escape. Be sure to choose a latch your bird won’t be able to manipulate, possibly adding a lock to keep your pet secure.

Your birds will spend a great amount of time in their cages. After all, a cage is essentially their home. So be sure to give the decision plenty of thought. And don’t forget to clean the cage regularly and include perches and toys to keep your bird entertained, happy, and healthy.

By Jay Matthews

20 Things Only Cat People Would Understand

Pet owners know that caring for an animal brings a new world of experiences. Some pets are affectionate and some are snarky, but only cats are consistently both. Between acrobatics, midnight cuddle attacks, and massive attitude problems, cats have managed to completely capture our attention. A mix of endearing and annoying habits, the following 20 situations are ones every cat owner can appreciate. 

1. Sunbeams Are Magic

Don’t even think about ruining the magic!

2. The Joy of Kittens

No one appreciates the heart-warming joy that comes from playing with kittens quite like cat people. Whether it’s their pint-sized ferocity or surprisingly razor-sharp claws, cat owners know that cute power is strongest in a pile of kittens. 

3. The Look of Pure Patience

Any cat owner with more than one pet knows that cats are the most patient animals on the planet.

4. Sharing Your Desk

When you’re a cat owner, keeping your desk to yourself is virtually impossible. Warm laptops or keyboards are cat magnets, no matter how many times we shoo them off. Even if your desk holds nothing more than notebooks and pens, cats are determined to prove that your space is their space. Luckily, the internet brought us the desk/cat box hack, or else cat owners would be perpetually at war between productivity and cat snuggles. 

5. Preferring Cats to People

Cats never complain, leave you, seriously impede on your space, or need an explanation. What’s not to love?

6. Wishing You Could Take Your Cat Anywhere

Unlike dogs, cats take a lot of coercion to go anywhere. So much so that a cat willing to take a walk is likely a sign you’ve finally achieved full nirvana.

7. Cats Are the Boss

It’s so sweet of you humans to buy me a cat scooter. Now just get rid of the dog.

8. Cats Are Too Smart for Their Own Good

Anyone who has ever nearly died laughing while watching a cat furiously trying to figure out a mirror knows all about this.

9. Being Your Pet’s Servant

Just like cats see our space as theirs, our time is theirs as well. You could be cooking, gardening, or getting ready, but when your cat decides it’s time for attention, almost nothing can dissuade them. Cat owners know that when it’s time for your cat, you’re better off listening. 

10. Kitty Cat Eyes Are More Powerful Than Puppy Dog Eyes

Resistance is useless!

11. Random Acts of Snuggles

When your cat is in the mood, cat owners can expect aggressive cat cuddles. Just don’t try and snuggle when it’s time to hunt.

12. Midnight Wake Ups

Much like your cat deciding your daytime schedule, cats are happy to decide your sleep schedule too. Cat owners are all too familiar with waking up in the middle of the night to cat paws batting at their ears. It seems that time is not a factor for cats, and us owners can just get over it. 

13. Tiny Cat Paws

This one’s self-explanatory. Every cat owner’s been caught swooning over these little foot pads.

14. You’re Really Just Furniture

Nothing summarizes being a cat person quite like feeling like you’re part of the furniture. Despite (sometimes) craving your attention, cats are also pleased to lounge all over you. Cat owners understand this best, and are fast to change hats between being an owner and a cat couch. 

15. Cats Are Part Liquid Grace, Part Idiot

Yah, I meant to do that.

16. Cat Toys Aren’t Impressive

Another experience cat owners know too well is the untouched pile of cat toys you just brought home. Cats are notoriously picky, so cat toys we humans like don’t always interest our furry friends. Every cat owner can commiserate over the mound of unused, bright, fluffy toys in the corner. 

17. Your Furniture Is Impressive

On the other hand, every cat person knows that cats will decide what is a toy. Couches, chairs, beds, and virtually anything else that can be scratched, were clearly purchased just for your cat. Despite notches and sawdust at the corners of all of our furniture, we still don’t get mad. Just as integral to cat ownership as watching your furniture melt away, is getting sucked in by those wide, round kitty eyes. 

18. Pure Paper Bag Excitement

When you’re tired of buying toys your cat doesn’t respond to, every cat owner has offered their prized cat a paper bag to play in. Second only to catnip, paper bags drive cats crazy. Who knows if it’s the crunching, the movement, or the built-in ability to hide, nothing is more at home to a cat owner than the sounds of your kitty destroying a paper bag. Such a simple toy brings cats so much joy, and cat owners find themselves jealous of such simple happiness. 

19. Lasers Are Everything

Learning about science fiction laser weapons as a kid is immediately followed by disappointment when you learn the comparatively limited capacities of real world lasers. However, all of this is pain is made up for the first time you show a laser to your cat. Instantly ecstatic, cats go together with lasers better than peanut butter and jelly. There’s nothing like watching your cat cartwheel around the room chasing a laser pointer to remind us cat owners that there’s really something exciting about this bit of technology. 

20. Your Keyboard Is Sacred

Much like trying (and failing) to keep your cat off of your desk, keeping your keyboard clear is nearly impossible when you’re a cat owner. Like letting a toddler free in a candy store, turning your back for even one minute results in disaster. A cat will seize absolutely any opportunity to slip under your working hands and take a snooze. If you’ve ever swept hair balls out from between your keys, you might be a cat owner. 

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Featured photo credit: Dramatic kitten/Gabriel Rodríguez via flickr.com

12 Feelings Every Cat Owner Understands

Do you have a pet cat? If you do, you know all about the joy cats can bring into your life – alongside the horrors, of course. But no matter how many times your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night, you know you will love them forever.

Check out these 12 feelings every cat owner undoubtedly understands.

1. The Pain Of Trying To Take A Picture Of Your Cat

You are the cutest, most beautiful cat in the world, but the photographs I take of you never reflect this. Either you are a moving blur, or you are snarling at the camera. It is annoying, but I still have hope that one day I will take the perfect, most adorable portrait of you.

2. You Always Know Where Your Cat Has Been

It doesn’t take detective skills – I can always tell where you spent your day while I was at work, because you always leave a cat shaped bundle of matted fur on whatever you were sleeping on. Which is normally the kitchen table (also known as the ONE place you’re not allowed to go).

3. Your Home Is Filled With Tiny, Colorful Toys

Guests are forever tripping over your tiny, fluffy mouse toys and colorful balls. That isn’t even the worst of it, though. I’m 99% certain that underneath my sofa and bed lays piles of cat toys and treasure – but I’ll deal with that problem when I move out.

4. Your Cat Is Your Alarm Clock

I have an actual alarm clock, but you like to wake me up whenever you’re feeling a little lonely. This could be five minutes before my alarm goes off, or an hour before, but one thing is for certain – even though you woke me up, now that I’m up you, want to leave the room again.

5. Your Furniture Has A Well-Loved Look

From the wooden table to the two-seater couch, all of my furniture looks pretty distressed. You don’t even seem to notice that I bought a scratching post for you, because you are too busy scratching my couch. And bed. And table. And chairs…

6. You Know The Struggle Of Trying To Clean Up Cat Fur

Vacuuming up cat fur is nearly impossible. Brushing it away is just as difficult, so I have resigned myself to living in (black) clothes covered in your sweater of (ginger) fur.

7. Hairballs Are The Bane Of Your Existence

Most of my home has wooden floors – ideal for hairball removal – and yet you always choose to find the one discarded t-shirt on the floor to vomit on. Seriously?

8. You Know How Much Cats Love Clean Laundry

There is one unquestionable rule – if there are fresh, clean clothes somewhere in my house, you will be asleep on top of them. Dirty clothes piles and your actual cat bed are just not as comfy, apparently.

9. Taking Your Cat To The Vet Is Emotionally Distressing

I know that I’m not the one getting jabbed, but the sound of you in distress makes me want to cry. Every time I try to be brave, I always end up feeling terrible as I (forcefully) shove you, yowling, into your travel carriage.

10. You Find Yourself Constantly Covered In Random Scratches

Whenever you’re feeling particularly hyper, I will get playfully swiped. I know it is just because you are in a good mood, but it irks me when my friends say “oh, my dog would never consider doing that.”

Yeah, but is your dog as cute as my cat? Cats are adorable, and you are the most adorable of them all – case closed.

11. You Keep All Of Your Empty Boxes For Your Cat

Every time I acquire a cardboard box, I keep it for a least a few weeks for you to sleep in. For some reason, cardboard boxes are more exciting to you than the squishy toys I actually buy for you.

12. You Are Forever Dealing With Litter

A horrible necessity,litter is the worst, especially when it has been kicked all over the kitchen floor. Which you find the need to do, despite the handy mats I lay out for you to wipe your little paws on.

Can you think of any other feelings all cat owners will understand? Comment your ideas below!

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Study Finds Cat People Are More Intelligent Than Dog People

We’ve all heard the sayings before: Must love dogs. Time spent with cats is never wasted. Man’s best friend. There is no one more loyal than a cat. And for those of the Tinder set: Don’t like dogs? Swipe left.

Indeed, the rivalry between cat lovers and dog lovers has existed since the start of time, and the answer to that seemingly innocuous question—are you a dog lover or a cat lover?—carries with it either open arms or the death of a friendship. If we were to go by stereotype, cat lovers are, by nature, isolated creatures, usually of the female persuasion, who are haughty, judgmental, and destined for loneliness. Dog lovers, on the other hand, are affable, athletic, and energetic—the life of the party, readily pleased, and as easy to read as an open book.

Well, that rivalry is about to intensify: Recent research demonstrates quantifiable differences between people’s preferences for pets. And, as any die-hard cat owner will claim they’ve known all along, these studies suggest that cat lovers are more intelligent than dog lovers.

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Cat got your tongue? Read on.

At the annual Association for Psychological Science meeting, researcher and associate professor of Psychology at Carroll University Denise Guastello found that the personality differences between cat people and dog people aren’t just an economical way of judging character. In part because of the environments they prefer, cat lovers scored higher on intelligence than dog lovers.

“It makes sense that a dog person is going to be more lively, because they’re going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog,” Guastello said. On the other paw, “…if you’re more introverted, and sensitive, maybe you’re at home reading a book, and your cat doesn’t need to go outside for a walk.”

If you’re like your cat—a nonconformist, prone to spending a great deal of time alone—you are probably also more prone to using that time in solitude effectively, whether it’s reading or learning a new language. Such sensitivity and introversion may be because cats have 300 million neurons, while dogs have roughly half of that, Live Science reports. And that difference is significant, from the ability to survive in the wilderness to increased visual memory.

Turns out, it wasn’t satisfaction that brought back the curious cat, but knowledge—and a keen sense for how to use it. Cats—mercurial, mysterious, and savvy—have, over time, fine-tuned their communication skills with humans to persuade their owners to feed them when they’re hungry, accounting for more than one chagrined morning of interrupted sleep, whereas dogs are much more likely to follow their owners’ cues. And while dogs have the ability to sniff out drugs and detect cancer, among other illnesses, cats demonstrate more expressive and sophisticated vocalizations: It was found that a wild cat can manipulate an ambush to its advantage by possessing the ability to mimic the call of its prey. Further, dogs are, by and large, much more dependent on their owners than cats, for which evolution is largely responsible—dogs were domesticated 20,000 years before cats, and are notoriously obedient because of it. Cats, meanwhile, are much like their owners: Icons of independence and autonomy, which, according to some, are the hallmarks of intelligence and success.

Bark or mewl, pounce or purr, whether you prefer a pup to join you for runs around the park or a cat to sit on your lap as you read Chaucer; are an extrovert or an introvert or somewhere in between, one generalization is irrefutably true: We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. And when it comes to character, rarely does intelligence trump love and the capacity for compassion.