Loose bird possibly injured, not sure what to do for the best

[ExcellentCat]

Bloody cat caught a fledgling sparrow this afternoon. I scooped it up & put it quietly in a box with hay (didn’t have a blanket) &. Prepared the kids that it probably wouldn’t survive. Well one of them has just been in fiddling, moved the blanket over the box & the wretched thing is now loose in my room. I have located it on the floor, but haven’t tried to catch it.
assuming I can get it back in the box, should I try it with a bit of wet cat food?
and could I release it tomorrow?

My understanding is that if a cat has caught it, it’s likely been bitten or at least had the cat’s saliva on its skin, and so it needs to go to a wildlife rehabber for a course of antibiotics before being released, or it will get septicaemia and die. I wouldn’t offer any food or water as there’s a risk of it ‘going down the wrong hole’ if you try to feed yourself, and if it’s young it probably doesn’t feed itself yet. Do you use Facebook? There are a couple of wildlife rehab groups I can recommend. Whereabouts are you based?

https://directory.helpwildlife.co.uk/

Thanks, I had seen that about wepticaemia, but it’s several hours later & it’s pretty lively so I think it may be in with a chance. I have caught it carefully & put it back in its box.

That is usually the case unfortunately, and then they go downhill rapidly between days 1-3 post bite. The recommendation is to start antibiotics within 24 hours of being caught by the cat, for the best chance of survival, so if you have a wildlife centre or rehabber locally I would try to reach out to them today.

thanks So much for the link, I have been in touch with a rescue & will take it there later & they will give abx. I have been told it’s cheeping like mad, so I continue to hold hope

Did they take it @ExcellentCat?

they did, that’s a really useful link thanks. It was really perky & chirping, so fingers crossed

Also the not excellent cat is getting a bell.

Ah so pleased it sounds like a happy ending. Well done for caring and taking the time to help, I think wildlife needs all the help it can get. My cat is currently sulking on the cat tree as I’ve just brought him in for the night!