HELP: cat caught very young baby bird.

[BigDamnHero]

My cat caught this bird. I think it's uninjured but looks very young. I have it in a tub on a warm hot water bottle. What the hell should I do??

[00100001]

honestly?

Put it outside and let nature take its course.

[JacquesHammer]

I don't think there's much you can do. I think the mother bird will reject it now. You could take it to a vet/rescue.

And get your cat a bell.

[BigDamnHero]

Would help if I included the bloody photo!

[BigDamnHero]

Mother bird wouldn't reject (that's a myth) but I have no idea which tree it came from.

[BigDamnHero]

Problems are: I don't drive and have a three year old I'd have to take with me if I went anywhere (in this heat, on a bus!).

[MatildaTheCat]

I'm afraid it will probably die. Did it fall from its nest? If a fledgling I guess it might get home if you place it outside and keep the bastard cat inside.

My bastard cat once killed mummy robin when she had a nest of babies in our garage. I was sad. Cats are murdering bastards.

[BigDamnHero]

Collars on cats that climb trees are very dangerous and my cats take them off anyway (before I knew the dangers we tried them with collars).

[BigDamnHero]

Don't think it's a fledgling yet. Cats really are murderous bastards!!

[BigDamnHero]

Am I going to have to put it out of its misery?? I don't know if I can do that.

[KidLorneRoll]

If you can't get it to a vet and it is visibly hurt then honestly, the kindest thing you can do is put it out of it's misery.

If you have cats that you let outside, then you have to accept they are going to hunt.

[RitaMills]

Poor wee thing, I'm lucky enough my cat hasn't brought anything like that home yet.

Where abouts you? I ive near a RSBP centre (lochwinnoch) and I'd pick it up and take it for you.

[BigDamnHero]

If you have cats that you let outside, then you have to accept they are going to hunt.

I know but normally their prey is either dead or an adult I can release to give it the best chance. This is neither.

[RitaMills]

I live* that should be.

[Fettuccinecarbonara]

Oh I'd love a baby bird to loo after!
If you're in devon I'll take it

[WaitrosePigeon]

Poor poor baby.

[BigDamnHero]

I'm North of Heathrow (between Hounslow and Uxbridge for anyone who knows the area.

There is a guy somewhere nearISH (though, not walking distance) who takes in injured birds because someone shot a parakeet out of our apple tree last years and DH took it to this guy.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

You are going to have to put it out of its misery. I have had to do this with mice which were seriously injured but not dead. I came up with a very quick and sure fire method. It doesn't sound nice to describe but it's very quick and guaranteed to work. PM if you want details.

[BigDamnHero]

My mum used to have a 'killing stone' when I was younger. Basically a big, heavy rock she could drop on anything too injured to help that the cats brought in if my dad was at work.

[Sparklewater]

We've wrapped in an old teatowel and dropped a Very Heavy book on mice that needed putting out of their misery before. Horrible job :(

[ArchieStar]

Definitely put out of its misery poor thing. At least you know your cat loves you and thinks you need presents!!

[ShovingLeopard]

If you are in the southeast try contacting Wildlife Aid in Leatherhead. They will come and get it or help you get it it them. Even if you are not local they will know who to contact in your area.

www.wildlifeaid.org.uk

[BigDamnHero]

Oh, fucking hell (sorry for all the language but I've been a veggie all my life so not good at dealing with dead animals as I won't even touch meat!). Is everyone sure putting it out of its misery is the best thing to do? I don't want to do it only for someone to come on and berate me.

[BigDamnHero]

Thanks for link, Shoving. Looking now...

[RitaMills]

If you've phoned around and no one can help then I guess that is the only option, you could just leave it outdoors if you can't kill it, it will die eventually.

[Ridingthegravytrain]

I used to have good success raising baby birds my cat brought me. Cat food given using tweezers. Raised a few thrushes and a blackbird. Very time consuming though, u see to have to take them to school with me when my mum had to work (very nice school!! Kept in the biology lab) Cats are bastards!