PLEASE ADVISE - adopting/buying kitten

[Bilal77]

Hello! I have a dilemma in regarding a to adopting/buying a kitten.
I have a 15 year old gorgeous rainbow lorikeet which me and my family got when we lived in New Zealand, he is the family pet which we adore. However he is not affectionate and is quite independent as he is only caged at night when he goes to sleep, other than that roams the living room. He is super affectionate towards other animals as we had a rabbit he absolutely adored and wishes to be next to all the time.
My two children are grown up and will be in full time work soon and I'm a retired widow - my children do not want me to go back to working due to previous health problems (to do with my eyesight and knee).
I am at home all day and have wanted an indoor cat for so long (as has my daughter).
We have spoken on this topic for a long time and have received conflicting advice. We agreed if we did get a kitten we would keep them in seperate rooms with minimal interaction - originally we didn't mind adopting any kitten/breed but were told to get a 'friendly' breed such as the British Shorthair or the Persian as they will 'less likely' attack Bilal (purebred I know are quite expensive) but if it lessens the risk of them not getting on, my daughter is willing to pay. We were also told to get a kitten as they will 'learn' to view the parrot as part of the family compared to an older cat.
My daughter wishes to keep the kitten in her bedroom (mainly at night) which has plenty of space and Bilal is in then front living room - we have two living rooms so the cat could have the second one when it is not in my daughter's room.
My dilemma is quite an odd one but would appreciate ANY advice. Thank you!

[Damia]

I have 2 cats, and adore them, but they are vicious monsters and slaughter any bird they can get they paws on. Personally I would put the safety of the bird over the preference of getting a new cat. Cats just have hunting instincts and small fluttery things are irresistible.

[Aquamarine1029]

A kitten may grow to like the bird and basically ignore it, or it may not. I have 5 indoor cats and three have very weak hunting instincts, and the other 2 would kill any small creature they could get to. To add, I have had all of my cats since they were kittens. Another problem with your plan is keeping the cat locked up in certain rooms. Most cats would be very unhappy and miserable with this. Cats are extremely independent and curious, and they do not like being boxed in.

[Toporama]

I would agree with everything that Aquamarine says.

I'm really sorry, but that set-up doesn't sound good for either animal.

[Bilal77]

Thank you for your advice! I really appreciate it, we were thinking of keeping the parrot in the front living room and giving the cat the rest of the house (it's a big 3 bedroom, 2 living room terrrace with dining room - all spacious rooms) and I'll be in the house to play with it all the time. Are there any ways to determine if a kitten will have weak hunting instincts?

[Aquamarine1029]

Are there any ways to determine if a kitten will have weak hunting instincts?

No. Not possible.

[GuppytheCat]

Honestly, and speaking as a cat-lover, you'd be better with another house rabbit.

I suppose you could talk to a rescue and ask if they have a laidback, lazy adult cat. You might get away with a stockier, semi-longhaired, pear-shaped type of cat - they tend to be a bit less agile than the lean mean killing machine sort.

[frostedviolets]

Wow.
I absolutely would not get a cat in this situation no.

Birds are one of the cat's main natural prey items and cats aren't like dogs, you can train them to an extent but they aren't likely to deliberately not do something they desperately want just because they don't want to make you angry (like most dogs).

They also don't have that 'pack mentality' of dogs, I am unconvinced that a kitten really would grow up seeing the bird as family.

I think all would appear friendly until the cat is undoubtedly left alone one day and seizes the opportunity

[theconstantinoplegardener]

I have a cat who is one of the "friendly" breeds you mention. She certainly is friendly to humans, but not to birds. She's a keen hunter.

[KeepYourCup]

I wouldn't. You'd never feel they were truly safe around each other and it only takes one person to leave the wrong door open at the wrong time for it to end in tears.

I'm not really sure why you'd consider getting an animal that is known for actively hunting the pet you already have.

Plus it's unfair to keep them shut away in certain rooms of the house.