To euthanase this bird

[sk1pper]

I am mainly posting here for traffic as it's an emergency. My cat bought in a house sparrow about an hour ago. I managed to prise the poor thing from her jaws but there is a break in it's wing and a fair bit of blood. I cleaned the wound with an antiseptic wipe and stopped the bleeding with some baking soda and put it in a shoe box with some bedding. I know the best thing to do would be to take it to a wild animal rescue centre but there are none close by, and the nearby vets are either closed or don't accept wild birds (I've called 7 places!)

I know cat bites are toxic to birds, and Im worried that if I leave it, it could die from shock or septicaemia (or both). I'm not even sure that bird wings can heal on their own, online resource is conflicting. I don't want to kill it if there is a chance though.

What do you guys think?

I'd see if it survives the night and take it to an open vet tomorrow, but that's my choice and I don't think there's a right decision here.

If you feel you can euthanise it cleanly and humanely, i would not judge you for it. I personally don't have enough confidence in my ability to do so, so would always go to a vet.

I'm a vet nurse and with broken wings I'd be sending this bird to Devon :(

In all honesty even without that if I couldn't get veterinary atte tion for it before tomorrow if be erring on the side of euthanasia - it needs antibiotics and infection will likely be systemic by now.

Not a nice thing to have to do but sadly better for the bird

Out of hours vets? Or ring a wildlife rescue for advice?

RSPCA?

It's got no chance of surviving without help and from what you say slim even then. it's most likely to die slowly of septicaemia Yes the break may mend on its own but probably not in a way the bird can ever fly again unless it's treated by a vet. Wing dlinting and antibiotics are only chance but with such a small bird unlikeky to end well. Is there no vet who can take it and euthanize it. Oh and maybe keep your cat in instead a letting it decimate the local birds.

Oh and maybe keep your cat in instead a letting it decimate the local birds.

There's always one.

Oh ffs - cats kill birds/mice Tis the circle of lifr

Oh and maybe keep your cat in instead a letting it decimate the local birds.

Please can someone ring Africa and get them to keep the lions in? They're absolutely decimating the local antelopes.

Worst aspect of cats but they do hunt. Part of being a good owner is dealing with their catches, I'm afraid.

Spade to the neck. Close eyes, foot I the blade and push. Poor little scrap, but it is for the best.

Lesson learned. . Leave the cat to finish it off in future. It's just being a cat.

It'll die from either shock or infection.

Hold it in your left hand upside down, neck between the index finger and middle finger of your right hand firmly, and sharply and quickly pull its head away from its neck to break it. Sounds horrible but it's the most humane and quick way to dispatch.

No its not the circle of life if it was op should have left the bird with the cat. Circle of life is wild predators killing birds to eat. Op presumably feeds her cat. It has not eaten the birds it's caught it and bought it home alive. She's bought the issue on herself by letting her cat out as a non native predator to needlessly kill

I'd take it to the nearest vets, whether they say they accept wilds birds or not, and leave it there for them to euthanise. They can't really refuse if they're handed a shoe box and then you walk out. It's not something I'd want to attempt myself in case I ballsed it up and caused the poor thing more pain.

Yes shirty kitty because people own and feed lions and lions bring injured antelope into houses on a daily basis.

Cats bring presents/trophies home. It's in their nature. Yeah, you can fit them with a bell to warn the wildlife but you can't condemn them for doing what comes naturally.

zwellers, it was no more ridiculous a statement than yours about keeping the cat indoors. It's clearly a cat that's used to being outside so to needlessly keep it indoors would be stressful for it. right back at you.

Oh come on, I didn't post here for unhelpful comments about not letting my cat outdoors in future. I honestly don't think you can make me feel any worse about what has happened to this small creature than I already feel. But I guess this was always the risk when posting on AIBU.

Although it's rare for my cat to bring in birds, when she does they are always alive - stunned and shocked but alive. We always manage to release them after a few hours, no drama. This one has a broken wing so naturally not able to follow the same routine.

I have an update anyway, my local vet came through and rung me out of hours. They say I can take it down the surgery and they will look at it free of charge. Just waiting for my husband to go get the car and then we're off.

Appreciate all the help, I can update if anyone cares about it

I hope the out of hours vet is able to help. You never know, better to let an expert make the decision. Good luck. And yes, do update, would like to know if the little fella pulls through.

A bell on your cats collar might help avoid it happening again, without the drastic step of never letting it out of the house ever again.

Yanbu, it sounds like the bird won't survive anyway, much better to end it quickly then a drawn out suffering.

I'm so pleased skip! Please do update us.

Update us please :)!

It would help the bird if it were to get antibiotics asap because of the bacteria in the cat's mouth. Is there a vet clinic nearby that would be open now?

I think you'll have to kill the poor bird.

I know these comments always get slated but please consider keeping your cat inside. I work in conservation and our job is made almost impossible by people insisting they should be allowed to let their cats roam.

Some useful information here www.birdlife.org/americas/news/five-neat-tricks-keep-your-cat-attacking-birds

Not sure I could do what Spun says and not one to tell you to keep your cat indoors - but can it wear a neck collar with a bell in future as I understand this might be a better preventative measure?

I've had cats that would lose a collar within 24 hours of it being put on. One they've learned the knack of removing it you've no chance of keeping one on. And of course it's always the ones who hunt who are able to do it.