We also lost a cat just about 7 weeks ago, so sorry for your loss
.. I had contacted the breeder and she did replace our "Ben", with a retired grand champion spayed female and her last kitten... They do not bother the dogs, the kitten will sit and the top of the stairs and tease them though.. I do not have any experience with birds..Cats do have that hunting instinct... I would stick with a kitten..
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