Mr. Squeaks: A Pigeon's Tale or How To Live with Fur and Feather PART II

[mr squeaks]

Bath time

Birds like to take baths periodically and Squeaks is no exception. With some water in a kitty litter box placed in the bathtub, Squeaks will splash away. Fortunately, the glass shower door keeps water from being sprayed all over! At first, I did not know how long to leave him in, but he hops out of the box when finished. A proper bath takes 10-15 minutes. Sometimes, when I think he might want a bath, I’ll prepare everything but he will have nothing to do with the water. If I place him in the box, he’ll just hop right out. He definitely knows what he wants or does not want!

First Close Encounters…

I had been letting him out in the bedroom area to stretch, flap his wings, exercise and get to know me. Since I can close the door between the bedroom and the living room, Squeaks could have his area and the cats could have theirs. Bubba and I are very close and he, too, likes to follow me around. One day he was in the bedroom at the same time Squeaks was out “exercising.” When Bubba and Squeaks first met whisker to beak, Squeaks did his impressive hop and flap. Bubba was definitely not expecting such a reaction and now takes a wide detour whenever he sees those feathers with a beak heading his way! Because of his laid-back personality, Bubba is the only cat I can leave alone with Squeaks. Bubba will either sleep on the bed or watch Squeaks from a safe height. Of course, all the cats knew there was a bird in the house since he lived in the bedroom and the bedroom door was always open when Squeaks was in his “home.” The cats could look but not touch. Even if they stuck a paw through the bars, there was enough room for Squeaks to stay out of the way. Besides, with the wall on one side and a tablecloth covering the top and 2 sides, only the door entrance of his home was uncovered.

As time passed, a routine developed. Squeaks was let out as much as possible to run around the bedroom area. At times, I would leave him alone while I was in the living room. Then, one day, I heard a strange scratching sound at the bedroom door. Squeaks was not happy being alone and wanted out! NOW! Four cats, one bird and one human in a one-bedroom apartment – what to do? The time had come to take away barriers, namely a bedroom door. With my fingers crossed and closely watching Squeaks and the cats, I opened the bedroom door. Squeaks is not a shy bird. He came strutting out as if he owned the place (well, actually…). The cats did not faze him. Mighty brave bird when there are 6 pairs of eyes (Bubba doesn’t count) staring intently! “Well, well, well,” the cats seemed to be saying, “What do we have here?!” That first time, Twiggy seemed to say, “Yesssss, looks mighty tasty.” Twiggy, especially, tended to eye him as a tasty, if large morsel, but did not make any attack attempts. Gypsy seemed to say, “Would you like a fur mother? I will keep your feathers clean.” Gypsy, as the resident ‘mother’ kitty, seemed quite determined to get close to him – not to eat, but to lick! Squeaks, at least for now, would not tolerate this. He did his famous hop and flap routine and she backed off! Timmy just looked and seemed to say, “uh, could we just talk a minute?” Squeaks explored his “new” world and eventually, the bird novelty wore off. The cats relaxed with Timmy stretched out on the floor across from Twiggy and Gypsy. Squeakers walked around missing little on his initial living room tour. His walk finally took him behind Timmy. I had forgotten that Squeaks likes to hop on things that are an inch or so off the ground. Before I knew what he intended, he hopped on Timmy’s flank. My one regret is not having a camera! I had never seen a cat go from a reclined position to airborne in less than a second! At the same time, Twiggy and Gypsy defied gravity due to Timmy’s reaction! Squeaks was finally able to FLY! Timmy now watches Squeaks very closely and keeps his distance.

Current Update

Squeaks has the run of the apartment whenever he’s out. The cats are becoming familiar with a bird walking around, although a bird coming around the corner, when least expected, is still a surprise. Squeaks will now hop on my foot and I will “lift” him to the couch. He will either explore the couch, stand on the couch arm and survey his world, or try climbing to my shoulder and nibble on my earring, ear or hair. There are times when Bubba is also sharing space on the couch, but neither cat nor bird seem to mind. If I’m sitting in a chair, he will walk up my lifted leg and make himself comfortable on my thigh. I have also found that if I tip my water glass, he will take a drink. Since pigeons do have droppings, a paper towel is always kept within easy reach.

Gypsy is the only cat still determined to get up close and personal! She will watch his every move and has tried approaching from the front and from behind. Squeaks can see her coming every time! She even tried lulling him into a false sense of security by not looking as if she were paying attention to him. That doesn’t work either!

Another surprise awaited the cats. In the mornings, I like to open the door to the balcony. Both cats and bird enjoy this extra space. One morning, Squeaks was behind the door in the living room when Timmy decided to come in. Timmy no sooner came around the door than Squeaks went after him with his beak at the ready. I don’t know who was more surprised – Timmy or me. Of course, Timmy was not on the humorous end! Since that time, Squeaks will go after any of the cats as the mood strikes, and especially if he can surprise them. I guess he’s just saying, “chase me? I can play that game too!”

The Encyclopedia Britannica says that under ideal situations, pigeons can live for 30 years! Since Squeakers is not even a year old, we have many years to go. Will Gypsy finally win the game of “lick the bird?” Will he end up riding on a cat’s back? Sleeping with the cats? Playing tag with the cats? We will all be getting to know each other VERY well! What an adventure awaits!

[mistenle]

I have really enjoyed your stories, thank you for sharing them.

[Jiggs]

Any updates mr squeaks?

[mr squeaks]

Thanks for reading! Mr. Squeaks continues to rule my apartment with an iron beak! Gypsy still continues to play "catch the bird to lick" and Squeaks continues to foil her attempts! Squeaks is now full grown and a large Blue Bar. We went through an episode of "round" worms after I discovered a worm in his stool. With the medication from the Vet, he passed SIX more! Since then, all is well.

I have moved his "bath" litter box water to the kitchen, where, IF in the mood, he will spray water everywhere. I have the mopping up process down to a fine art!

He loves to parade on the back of the couch but will "flap" his way back down if I move to another part of the apartment - even the kitchen where he can still see me!

Timmy and Twiggy avoid him and Timmy, especially, "slinks" around the door coming in from the balcony watching for the "beak" to attack!

[mr squeaks]

Peter and his Blue Bar mate laid 2 eggs this Spring '05. Only one hatched. Unfortunately, this squab was either pushed or fell out of the window ledge and became a cat treat. However, just before the squab fell, Peter started building a new nest next to the "mansion" in the same window! There are now 2 more eggs waiting to hatch.

MEANWHILE, 3 other windows were being used by his progeny (could only identify one, Sybil, a Pied. The other parents were 2 Blue Bars and 2 Checkers. Because there are so many of these around, I can't be sure just which ones are Peter's). All nests had 2 eggs. Only 2 squabs hatched, each squab in a separate window. Both are growing and are Checkers. The parents must be very impatient because BOTH sets have laid 2 MORE eggs with the squabs still in the window!

I have my eyes full, trying to keep track of everyone! Sybil's eggs did not hatch and I have not seen him laying more eggs.

Although I will be retiring at the end of May, I will return to monitor the activities of these REALLY expectant parents!

[Pidgey]

I really like Mr. Squeak's way with the cats--that's the way it SHOULD BE!!!

Pidgey

[TeresaL]

Since I have 5 cats, you've given me hope! This is such a great web site. I never would have imagined that I could have read so many touching stories and met so many great people because of a lost pigeon!!!

I did introduce one of my "scaredy cats" to Poopy this weekend. Poopy didn't seem too concerned, but Baby (the cat) wanted out of the room instantly. I predicted that scenario. However, a couple of my other cats will be much more curious than Baby and I'm a little concerned about introducing them. I also have a couple of dogs (London is a bassett/beagle mix and the Peggy is some sort of hound/mutt). They are indoor dogs, but they have killed a lot of moles and chipmunks. I don't trust London with Poopy at all.

Poopy makes a noise, but I don't know if it's a chortle or a growl. It's a gutteral sound and I know it means "back off!" He only started making it last week. He sits on his stick and stares at me when I'm using the computer and when I talk to him, he seems very interested and moves his head from side to side. He also spreads his wings a lot now when I talk to him. He didn't do that until this weekend. Maybe we are making some progress.

Thanks for the beautiful stories, Mr. Squeaks!

[mr squeaks]

Yeah, that gutteral sound probably IS a growl. I, too, have learned a LOT from this site. The only thing I can think of for introducing your cats and dogs to Poopy is slow and easy. Squeaks was confined to his "home" while he was recovering and the cats had lots of time to become "acquainted." I did not know how the cats would react, when I let him out among them, especially the two females since they had been outdoors. Also, what might have helped was Squeak's attitude. That bird came strutting out with an "ATTITUDE." Of course, he is also a larger bird than the wild birds I feed on my balcony. The cats DO want to go after them. At least Poopy can fly to keep away from your "hoard." Perhaps placing Poopy in a large cage in a room where your dogs and cats congregate and let the dogs and cats "sniff" him out, so to speak, might help. The cats won't be able to reach him, especially if you have a side or two covered and the dogs will probably just sniff. Since Squeaks can't fly, I was really taking a chance but basically had no choice. Luckily, all worked out. Gypsy still likes to chase him and can get practically right on top of him but then backs away. She REALLY wants to play and her body language shows it. Soooo funny! However, even Gypsy will run away from him when he comes after her with his beak at the ready!

I have also heard that many people will nod (bob) their heads back at their birds. Works with Squeaks --- comes walking toward me bobbing too! He usually dosen't like me out of his sight and if I go into another room, even for a minute, he's following me. Of course, since he considers me his mate, that figures! In the mornings I hear him cooing and I will scratch his head and neck between the bars before I let him out.

Good luck and I hope all goes well. Keep us informed...