Caiques have individual responses to the presence of other birds. They usually ignore or try to attack smaller birds such as finches. If you have another parrot, it is hard to say. Young birds usually accept other birds more readily than older birds. Sometimes, single caiques become very attached to another bird, even one of a larger species. If they accept each other, your caique will spend hours sitting next to the other bird preening with only occasional spats. Before I obtained a mate for one of my female breeders, she developed a major attachment with a larger hawk-headed parrot. She would trail after the hawk-head wherever he went, preening him whenever she got the chance. Other caiques, however, may detest, be indifferent, or fear the other bird. It is difficult to predict what reaction your caique will have. One of my own pets is so strongly attached to me; however, she has trouble tolerating the presence of any other bird, even another caique.

If you have mammalian pets, there are other problems. You should never keep a bird of any kind if you have a ferret. These animals are basically nocturnal, and will attack and kill even large Amazons while they sleep. If you have a cat or dog you must monitor them when they are allowed near your bird. Dogs, especially the small yippy ones, seem to frighten caiques more than cats. Cats, of course, should never be trusted near your bird and some breeders refuse to sell birds to people who have a cat. I have very little experience mixing these pets with birds, but you should be aware that if your dog or cat bites your bird it is imperative that you get the bird to a veterinarian immediately. Cat bites are reputed to be almost always lethal for birds. It is not the bite itself, but a bacterium called Pasteurella multocida, a normal inhabitant of the cat's mouth, that is transmitted by the bite. This is not just a worry for your pet bird; it is one you should be concerned with for your self too. Roughly 50% of all persons who are bit by a dog or cat develop an infection, most of which are due to this same organism (Talan, 1999). If your bird is infected with this bacterium it can die within 24 to 48 hours. For this reason, you must always be present when these pets are together.

Caiques vary in their response to other small mammals particularly rodents. One of the black-headed caiques I raised and gave to my nephew is often placed out in a screen enclosed porch. On occasion a wild rodent gets into this enclosure to take advantage of the seed given to the bird. Once, a chipmunk happened to find its way into the bird’s cage. The caique immediately attacked, sending it scurrying away after several bloody bites. However, when a squirrel happened to get into the cage, the caique hid in its roost box. Since hampsters, mice, rats and guinea pigs are often kept as pets, this may serve as a guide. Small rodents will probably be attacked and the large ones left alone.