Next time you're shopping for someone who is as wild about cats as you and I are, consider following suggestions. You'll all be happy, including feline of group.

First of all, decide upon your "Basket". It can either be a medium-sized wicker basket (cats love to nestle inside of them) or it could be a fairly deep cat bed. Inside, on bottom, lay out sheets of colorful tissue paper, or even a pretty baby blanket.

One thing that all pets, including birds need is attention. If your schedule has you working long hours and not spending much time at home, perhaps you should consider a fish tank instead of a bird. A bird cannot be left in it’s cage alone all time and still be expected to be friendly on odd days when you feel like playing with it. Some birds require more interaction than others, but they are social creatures and need you to set aside some time each day to play with them. You can use this time to teach them tricks and strengthen bond between you.

When considering bringing a bird into your home, you must think about safety of your new pet. Are there other pets in house that could be threatening to bird? Are there tiny nooks and crannies that a bird could get into and hurt himself? Do other members of your family leave windows and doors open where bird could fly out and be lost? All these things must be considered for safety of your new pet

The purchase and placement of his cage is another consideration. You must buy a cage that is right size for your bird. Many parrots become quite adept at opening their own cage doors so you should consider how easy cage is to break out of. The cage should be made out of a safe material and have bars spaced in such a way that bird cannot get his head stuck in between them. There should be no sharp edges and their should be appropriate food and water dishes as well as perches inside cage. Cages can be expensive, but don’t skimp on this as it is your pets new home!