obssesion

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:58 am

Hi, need some opinions. My IRN has started a very nasty habit and I'm not sure what to do about it. He has always been very attached to one of his toys which is a little kitty mirror. He obviously thinks this is his mate. At one time I had taken his kitty mirror because he does not talk and I thought maybe he would talk if I took away the mirror. Well, he still did not talk so eventually I gave kitty back to him. He has a fit when kitty is taken away. Well, now he is reguritating on kitty constantly. He did this a little bit in the past, but not to this extent. He does it all the time and it is very gross. I'm having to clean his cage twice a day and have to clean kitty constantly. I have just taken kitty away, because I can't take this nasty habit. But I am concerned that it will cause him stress or he will get depressed. I put two other mirrors in his cage, but he doesn't bother with them that much. Have I done the right thing or is there anything else I can do. I worry about him because he is my little love. Thanks for your opinions, Michelle

pinkdevil · Post by **pinkdevil** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:58 pm

It seems to me that your IRN has fallen inlove with his reflection in the mirror :lol:

and that is why he is regurgitating on the reflection.
After a bit of time he may do the same to the other mirrors when he is used to them, as his "mate" is still there.

If you don't want him to mess his mirrors, maybe you could replace them with other toys so he doesn't get bored. I don't think that having any mirrors in his cage would stress him out too much or if he was stressed not for long. Especially if he has something else to occupy his mind

.

To stop bordom with the same toys everyday, I have a collection of different toys, and rotate every few days. It is amazing the fun they get out of their "new" rotated toys. :lol:

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Post by **Lauren** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:32 am

Yep, he loves kitty alot! They can get a little snappy around 'mates', sounds like hes protective of his beloved kitty mirror.

Some people will tell you to get rid of the mirror. But I don't think it helps. The bird in the mirror is a companion. If you take it away eventually he'll find something else to show his love to and to 'protect'.

Pinkdevil, Rotating toys is a great idea to keep his mind occupied on other things.

Jibby has been the same around his beloved bell, during the last 2 breeding seasons I cannot take his bell away. I just let him be and do his business until breeding season was over. We just dealt with it and basically overnight he decided he was over it.
Now, hes completely not interested in it. I'm just glad I'm not cleaning it everyday now and hes not humping it all over my floor while I have people over, but it will surely happen again next breeding season. :roll:

I've tried discouraging the behaviour but you can't take away their nature. Its just something we deal with. :wink:

celtic_aura · Post by **celtic_aura** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:33 pm

I had the same problem with Gigi bird and he became Satan. So I took the mirror away.... then he started regurgitating all over his cage, especially the shiny knobs on the doors. So I agree with Lauren. Taking kitty away will probably just have him searching and finding a new mate in one of his toys, or his cage.