Why is my parrot bowing, restless, and not eating after a cat attack?

Hello! I'm sorry to hear about Mithwing's accident. Cats can be very dangerous to parrots, and I'm sure it was a scary situation. Be very sure that she doesn't have any puncture wounds on her body as cat saliva contains a lot of bacteria that can be toxic to birds. While it is possible that Mithwing is just very stressed from the incident, she could also have some internal injuries that you can't see. If she does not eat or return to acting like her normal self within the next 12 hours, I strongly suggest that you bring her to a veterinarian immediately. She may need an x-ray to see if she has any broken bones (broken ribs are common and can be very painful) or internal bleeding. In the meantime, keep her warm and calm, and offer her favorite foods to entice her to eat. Good luck, and I hope that Mithwing feels better soon!

This is a lot going on! If she is getting scared near the cats, it is probably best to not bring her around them until she is more comfortable so that you don't get bitten and it doesn't stress her out even more. Making sure she is kept somewhere where the cats can't get to her cage and she can rest and relax is also a good idea. The nibbling or chewing sound could be a beak grinding sound, which can sometimes indicate the bird is attempting to rest and relax. If she's otherwise acting healthy and eating without bringing up food I wouldn't be worried unless it appears to be causing her stress or discomfort- in which case a vet visit is always best. If she's not yet comfortable with you, you can also start to gain trust by offering her a favorite treat every time you visit the cage. You may have to start with just tossing it in, then work up to handing it to her, and then petting and handling her from there. If she gets startled or is too nervous, take a break and try again later or go back to a previous step.

It's possible something may have startled your bird and is causing the wary behavior you are seeing, however if she is puffed up or refusing to eat/drink then that can indicate a potential illness. If you see other signs such as changes to the stool, or listless behavior those can also indicate illness and should be checked out by a vet. Otherwise, giving her a little space and leaving food and water where she can easily access it may help her calm down some and return to normal behavior.

It sounds like he needs to be seen by a vet for treatment. The bite may have injured his neck/wing and/or he may have an infection secondary to the bite. A vet can take an xray to see if anything is fractured and prescribe an antibiotic, if needed to treat an infection. The fact that he is crawling around the cage and not eating is very concerning so please have a vet take a look at him as soon as possible. Also, keep him separated from the other bird so this doesn't happen again.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like he is not doing well and in any bird with a history of trauma, it would be best to have them evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I would highly recommend you consider having him evaluated. They may recommend further therapy like antibiotics based on the findings. Good luck and have a great day!

Restlessness, picking or pecking at body parts, and holding a limb (whether it be wing or leg) in an abnormal way can all be signs of pain or discomfort. Sitting in a food bowl may be a sign Alex just isn't feeling well enough to perch or doesn't feel like she can balance safely without falling. Having Alex examined by a veterinarian who specializes in birds is a good step toward figuring out what is causing her pain. Your vet may recommend radiographs to see whether there is something going on that would explain her unusual behavior. In the meantime I would keep all of Alex's food and water bowls on the bottom of her cage and lower her perches to almost the bottom of the cage so she doesn't hurt herself if she has trouble balancing or grasping the perch. It doesn't take much for these tiny finches to hurt themselves so creating a safe cage space until she can be examined is a good idea. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with Alex!

I would give her a few hours to see if she'll eventually come out on her own to inspect her for injuries. You can try enticing her out with cat food or even some chicken warmed up so it's really smelly, and then inspect her as she's focused on eating. If she won't come out/eat at all, seems severely injured or in distress, or you suspect wounds, it is best to seek veterinary care ASAP especially since wild animals can transmit diseases.