can birds eat cat biscuits

DEAR JOAN: Every morning I feed neighborhood cats with a bowl of dry cat food placed on my front porch. Imagine my surprise when I saw a bird eating the cat food.

Is this harmful to the bird? I could see its chest grow as it ate six or seven pieces.

DEAR DEE DEE: Its probably not that bad for the birds, but its probably not that good for them, either.

Some cat food can have ingredients that arent particularly good for birds things they cant digest, their body cant fully process or is just too much for them. But it can depend on the food, the bird and how much it eats. Filling up on cat food also could stop them from eating the foods that are good for them.

The bigger danger, besides diseases, is that the cats might declare a territorial war that the birds cant win.

In short, you should probably discourage the birds from eating the cat food. Some people suggest feeding the cats at night when the birds are asleep, but that opens the door to other creatures opossums, raccoons, skunks and rats to partake.

You might need to place the food in a shelter that the birds arent likely to enter, or keep an eye on the cats as they eat and then bring in any remaining food.

DEAR JOAN: Years ago my father-in-law told me about a mocking bird and its nightly serenade that just wouldnt quit. He made a recording of the bird and played it back when the bird started up. No more mockingbird noise.

DEAR JOAN: I use aluminum foil at potential rodent entry points to my house. I stuff it in the spaces and it keeps mice out.

I had heard chewing the foil causes mini electrical shocks in their mouths. After reading todays article, I took one for the team and tried it, but I experienced no electrical shocks.

DEAR BRAD: That reminds me of the time my nephew told me the best way to see if a 9-volt battery was good was to touch it to my tongue. The battery was good, my tongue didnt stop tingling for an hour, and my nephew has been written out of the will.

It makes some sense that they wouldnt like to chew on metal, just because of the texture. My mother always used steel wool to plug mouseholes into the house. They didnt or couldnt chew through the wool and it kept them out until the steel wool would get a little tired, and then the mice could pull it out.

The vet recommended rinsing the eye by brushing it gently with fresh tap water. Rowdy is always excited when I say, Lets do your eyes as he knows hell get a treat at the end.

DEAR G: Its amazing what our pets will tolerate for a treat. Sweet boy and a good mom.

DEAR JOAN: I cover any possible rodent entry points in my home with aluminum foil. I place it in the gaps, and it deters mice.

DEAR DEE DEE: The birds may not suffer too much, but they may also not benefit too much from it.

Given the texture, it makes some sense that they wouldn’t want to chew on metal. To seal off mouseholes in the house, my mother would always use steel wool. They were prevented from entering until the steel wool became a little worn out, at which point the mice could remove it because they were unable or unwilling to chew through it.

DEAR JOAN: My father-in-law used to tell me stories about a mockingbird that would not stop singing at night. When the bird began to sing, he played back a recording he had made of it. No more mockingbird noise.

Is this harmful to the bird? I could see its chest grow as it ate six or seven pieces.

When we put out the dry cat food dish when there were no cats nearby, the sparrows would completely empty it, which astounded us. Since then, the cats have all returned home, but we still occasionally leave the cat food out because the birds still appear to want it.

I worked a part-time job in a pet store after school when I was a high school student. One day, as I waited for customers at the register, I noticed a bowl full of small, hard, round objects sitting on the counter. I grabbed a handful because they smelled good and got hungry, and I began munching.

I asked the store owner what they were when she arrived later to take my place. The bowl was there, she explained, so she could give samples to her customers to try on their pets at home. It was a new type of dog food.

NOTE: Avoid leaving the cat food dish outside at night as this will draw in skunks, opossums, raccoons, and other wildlife. I dont think you want to do that.

I’m glad to be back! Lois and I arrived late on Monday from Panama. As soon as I recover from the shock of returning to reality, I will write about our adventures in the upcoming days. Meanwhile, lets catch up on some mail.

FAQ

Is dry cat food OK for birds?

Those diets have been improved considerably since then by the staff and volunteers at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum’s wildlife rescue hospital, but your dry cat food is OK to use as a treat for the birds if they want to eat it.

Are cat biscuits good for birds?

Birds can occasionally eat small amounts of dry cat food, as it can be a source of protein for them, but it’s not ideal for their long-term diet. Wet cat food is less suitable due to its higher fat content and soft texture that is inappropriate for most birds’ digestive systems.

What can I do with leftover dry cat food?

Throw it out! Since cats can only eat dry food with their tongue and teeth, it is inevitable that there is a lot of saliva on the last bits in the dish: definitely unhygienic, and probably unappetizing as well.

What happens if my bird eats cat food?

Some cat food can have ingredients that aren’t particularly good for birds things they can’t digest, their body can’t fully process or is just too much for them. But it can depend on the food, the bird and how much it eats. Filling up on cat food also could stop them from eating the foods that are good for them.