We've been having rodent problems recently - just this summer we had a terrible rat infestation in a wood pile at the back corner of our yard. The neighbors had literally
dozens and dozens of poultry and other birds crammed onto a half-acre lot, which allowed for an awful bloom in rat population. It was awful!
Now we're having vole/mole issues in the yard. Earlier in the spring we had a mouse come in and steal the birds' food off of the floor and make a hoard and a nest in the toy-bin.
We're not necessarily looking for a cat to
kill all rodents and small birds within a quarter-mile radius. Quite the opposite, actually, I hate seeing animals die unnecessarily. Songbirds and finches especially. But I think having a feline roaming around would definitely inspire any critters to pack up and move out of our yard
So here's the thing! We don't want having a cat to interfere with our ownership of our four birds. They are our priority. We don't want to cause them any unnecessary stress or, God forbid, cause them any harm.
However, it
would be nice to have a kitty around. We haven't had one in ages, and we recently just lost our dog over the summer. We'd love to have a furry friend again.
If we get a cat, it'll live partly outside and partly inside. We'll have a large kennel complete with litterbox, bed, and food/water bowls for him/her to stay in at night or whenever it's rainy or cold. We'll be able to let him or her hang out around the living room (where the birds are, but they'll be locked in their cages) during some evenings, totally supervised by at least one person.
As of right now, there are no other cats in the neighborhood, and nobody lets their dogs run lose on a regular basis. (Except for two tiny chihuahuas which sometime patrol the street and bark at people, but they're so small and such total weenies that they would never harass a cat.)
The cat will be neutered/spayed, microchipped, and will have a reflective stretchy collar complete with identification.
Every single door on each of the birdcages will be locked, some of them twice. Two of our cages are big sturdy ones sitting high atop a stand - a cat wouldn't be able to knock it down. The parakeet cages are a tad flimsier but are sitting on top of a table 3-4 feet from the ground.
The cat's kennel would be in the kitchen, away from the view of the birds.
Opinions? Would we be jeopardizing our birds' safety? Does anyone else have stories about having cats and birds, or maybe just some success tips? Is anything unethical about our plan?
Thanks!