HELP bloody cat caught a baby bird

[CallMeColin]

He has form for this. Managed to get it out of his jaws, has a small puncture on chest but shallow and not bleeding much. Bird is feathered and obviously learning to fly but can't take off alone yet.
Parents were circling over making noise and I've left the bird on the ground but they haven't been back. Can't see an obvious nest. Any thoughts what is best to do? Am keeping an eye out in case cat #2 or neighbours cat sees it. So upsetting.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

The Help Wildlife website states that if there is a visible injury from a cat the bird needs antibiotics within the hour.
Interestingly, it says that a lot of animal charities will tell you to leave the bird as so many of them die in spite of treatment and they'd rather not be inundated.

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

I rang the rspca when this happened, and their advice was to put it in a cardboard box for an hour or so, in the dark, and see if it recovers.

Then could you place it somewhere up high? top of a wall, or tree branch?

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

Oh dear, shotgun

In my case, bird wasn't visibly injured/bleeding - and did recover.

[NotmeItWasNotme]

Happened to me once. Lock the cat inside if you can. Put baby in an open box with a tiny (jar lid) of water. Let the mummy and daddy bird look after it. Mine was a baby black bird. Daddy spent several hours feeding and watching over baby. Later baby flew off with him.

[NotmeItWasNotme]

The parents know where the baby is, and hopefully they will come back.

[CallMeColin]

Thanks, I'll call vet and see if they want to treat him, is no longer bleeding, shallow wound. Cat inside but his brother still out so keeping watch. I'll look to make him a nest from something.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

I know, Greenwood .
Cats apparently account for thousands of dead birds every day.

[cozietoesie]

As above - but the bird's chances are very very slim, I'm afraid. Cats' claws and teeth are pretty filthy so even if the shock didn't do for it, infection probably would.

Sorry to have to say that. It is upsetting.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

If vet can't help then the Help Wildlife website lists wildlife rescue/rehab places.

[CallMeColin]

Thanks. Nearest bird rescue 40 min drive. Unfortunately I don't drive and can't reach DH to get him to come home. Lady had a go at me for letting my cat out, a "murderer". Told me to bring it in as it will just get taken by another. Feel really upset. Poor bird. Currently in a warm box with a shallow dish of water. Not sure what to do...

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

They do sometimes recover if you leave them for a while, somewhere nice and quiet.
My cat had a baby starling the other day, I managed to get the cat away and the starling hobbled under next doors car. The adults were there and it eventually flew away.

[CallMeColin]

Took to a different Vet as mine weren't interested. They thought he looked in good shape and will treat him/her. If he stays that way the vet nurse will drop him at the wildlife hospital in her way home later. Fingers crossed for him. Will buy a louder bell for the cat collars.

[UnderTheGreenwoodTree]

Ah, hope he pulls through.

[CallMeColin]

Just for information. If injured or abandoned the advice is to pop them in a warm covered dark box and take them to specialist wildlife rescue, where they have the best chance. Don't leave them for parents to come back as chances are another predator will get to them first. As it was going to take hours to get there (I don't drive) I didn't want to leave him without food/antibiotics/pain relief. Luckily vet nurse lives near the rescue so will drop him off on her way home. He looks perky so fingers crossed the little fella makes it.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Good work OP, and glad the vets were willing to help. Hope the little one survives.

[RubbishMantra]

Try not to be upset if baby bird doesn't pull through. I remember in my childhood attempting to rescue youngsters that had fallen from the nest, got lost from parent birds etc. Few pulled through. Shock has a huge part to play in their demise.

The worst time was when I saw a fledgling just flying in circles, and all the neighbourhood cats were having a great game. I took adolescent bird to the vets, and all he could do was euthanase, because one of the cats (not mine) had punctured the skull with a canine. I cried for that poor little bird.

Yet I still have cats, and wouldn't be without them.

[CallMeColin]

Yes poor little mites are so fragile. Particularly worried as skin was punctured and he must have squeezed it too. At least they can give pain relief and euthanise if needed, better that than be tortured in the garden and left to die I guess. Blooming cats, I have bought the loudest bells, will see how they go.

[CallMeColin]

Sadly they had to PTS. Due to the puncture wound on its chest. RIP bird.

[RubbishMantra]

I'm sorry CallMe. wound was probably deeper than it looked, and like cozie says, cats carry a lot of bacteria on their teeth and claws.

Take comfort that you did everything you could for the little bird. x

[UpsiLondoes]

:-(. I volunteer as a driver for the local wildlife rescue - next time do call them directly and they might find someone near you who might be able to come out. I've also been told cats' claws are designed to specifically cause an infection even in a bloody scratch - so the bird gets weak or sick over hours/days and the cat stalks and waits. Always take a bird in, even if it's just a scratch, so it gets some antibiotics before it's released back into wild

[CallMeColin]

Thanks all. The lady at the rescue wouldn't even tell me their address. She was a little, err, anti cat. Appreciate it must be upsetting to keep dealing with the damage cats do. But as DH said, the birds are not vegans either, eating the worms and insects. I did feel awful though.

I got him to the vet quickly to hopefully stabilise and transfer there later but I guess the wound too deep to treat on such a fragile creature. Poor thing.

They now have 2 bells apiece and it sounds like the 'Carol of the Bells' when they walk.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Glad you've sorted the bells. Quite true, birds are not vegans, but they're wild creatures who fulfill a function in nature. We need them as a species.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I don't think bells really help, it never held ours back.

Google "anti cat hunting bib". Cat may never forgive you though.

[GerundTheBehemoth]

You did all you could, OP. The bells may help a bit now. Keeping cats in overnight is probably the single best thing you can do to reduce casualties but sadly fledglings are very vulnerable for several days after they leave the nest, as they're slow to react and also poor fliers.

I'm really torn on the cat/bird thing as I adore both.

[honeyJD]

My cat caught a baby blue tit the other day, it wasn't injured as cat was just carrying it before I spotted her and chased her off... I got cat in and checked over bird, then placed him up in a load of ivy on top of our fence. Cat went out a few hours later when I hoped baby bird had moved/flown but the little sod caught him during the night and left him dead by the back door, i was heartbroken next time I will keep cat in for a lot longer and bring the litter tray back out!