Feathers or Fur

The rage in the cage episode interrupted my explanation of how, as a cat person, I now have a bird as a pet. So I resume...

After we were left petless with K2's move to kitty heaven last November, I noticed how much I missed her companionship. I missed her greeting at the door, her twirl under the desk to be noticed while we worked and just her presence whether she was washing or sleeping. I realised how good she was for us. How good and healthy it was to have a pet to nurture and care for.

M and I were in agreement that we didn't want another cat while we live in an apartment. We want our next cat to know what it is chew on a blade of grass, roll in the sand, climb a tree and have a butterfly flutter past her nose. A dog was never an option for us, not with our busy lives, apartment living and having to walk a dog in the rain. A bird was the next option. A perpetually caged bird didn't grab us. No, we would want her to be able to spread her wings and fly.

To be honest, I wanted the pet. M wasn't interested in one at all. Once I heard that my friend's female parrotlet was up for adoption, it sounded like it was meant to be. Missy, as she was named then, was purchased to be a companion to Vivienne's male parrotlet. But Poots is a confirmed bachelor and didn't take to the intruder. After trying it out for seven months, Vivienne's husband decided enough was enough with unharmonious relations in their bird world. Missy was on her way out.

It took some discussion in our household for M to agree to take Missy in as our pet. I was sure she would be an effortless pet. How much could there be to cleaning her cage, changing her water, keeping her seed supply topped up and enjoying her company on our shoulders? She came recommended as a sweet companion full of fun antics. Vivienne was delighted with the prospect that the bird she had come to love would not be sold to a stranger. It was a perfect scenario: made more perfect by M finally agreeing to share our lives with this bird.

My picture of perfection didn't last long. Brooks' pecks turned into bites. Yesterday I was bitten solidly on my wrist. M was bitten even more solidly on his hand. I was less than impressed. My disillusionment with my new pet sent me scurrying to google parrotlet behavioural problems. This is just not on. If Brooks is to stay a member of our household, I have to understand her better and she has to shape up or ship out.

Apparently, her behaviour isn't uncharacteristic and yet, she can be trained to be an obedient loving contributor to our household, devoid of bites and full of tricks. It will take time and training. So much for hassle free but, then again, isn't she too cute on the apron?