My Pet World: Noisy parrot may have been lovesick!
Q: I recently gave my 18-year-old African Grey parrot to a bird sanctuary because he became restless and climbed and squawked a lot. In his huge new cage, he seems happier. I visit him every week, but I wonder if this is actually detrimental to helping him adjust to his new surroundings. I only want him to be happy. Any thoughts? -- N.L., Las Vegas, NV
A: "I don't believe there's any problem with you visiting the bird, unless he seems agitated or anxious during your visit, or the caretakers report he appears upset after you leave," says certified parrot behavior consultant Kashmir Csaky, of Lynchburg, VA. "In fact, the visits may be beneficial."
Clearly, you're still bonded with your feathered friend, and Csaky wonders why you relinquished the parrot in the first place. She says that if it was because of his restless and noisy behavior, what might have been happening was merely an adolescent male seeking a hot babe bird.
"We don't spay or neuter parrots," she notes. "And the guy was possibly being ruled by hormones."
It's possible that your parrot was otherwise happy in your home, and with help from a certified parrot consultant, you might have figured out exactly what was causing the commotion. Perhaps, your pet simple needed a richer environment. Expert advice could have helped -- and still might if you wanted to bring your bird back home.
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Q: My 14-year-old cat was diagnosed with kidney failure, but my veterinarian never told me the stage of the disease. Any advice? -- D.P., via cyberspace
A: Some level of kidney disease is very common in older cats, and the stage is important.
"Treatment depends on the individual cat, as well as the stage," says Dr. Natalie Marks in Chicago. Blood work, urinalysis and an accurate blood pressure reading could help your veterinarian stage your cat's illness.
No matter the stage, more water is a good thing. You can encourage drinking by offering your cat water in several places around the house, and at various different levels (including one water bowl placed up high, for example). Some cats like running water, and there are many feline drinking fountains available. Canned food is preferred for cats, in part because it contains much more moisture than dry food.
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