Help! I've got an injured bird that's been mauled by a cat!

[Tom1969]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice.

I've got an injured bird;
It seems okay; very fiesty; which is why the cat dropped it, and the wings on inspection seem to be okay, till I put the bird down and the left wing looks like it does in the picuture.

I've put it in a cardboard box with water and a bird fat ball.

I've had a look at the RSPB website, and it's given general advice; part of which is to humanely destroy the bird if it looks beyond help; but I'm not sure if it is.

What can I do?

[ron1863]

Looks like a blackbird, hope it's O.K. but generally shock could kill it

[Tom1969]

I've taken in the odd injured bird before; the smaller ones like sparrows never seem to survive the night, but this one seems okay; it was attacked about 9.00 am and still alive when I left it food and water about 20 minutes ago; so there's been over 3 hours since the attack and it's still alive and fiesty.

[Gill Catton]

yellow pages, look up wildlife rescue or wildlife sanctuary they will either be able to help or advise on who can, don't bother with the RSPB chances are they won't appear.
Two things spring to mind - it may well be just holding its wing strangely due to stress and bruises from the attack but also cats claws are stuffed full of bacteria so it might need a bit of care- I'd advise asking the experts and they can take a look at it

[Tom1969]

Cheers Gill,

I've just had a look at the animal welfare societies, and there's loads for greyhounds; but none in the way of wild garden birds.

I'll phone the RSPB tomorrow (Monday) to get some further advice, but in the meantime will the bird be okay as I'm keeping him (with food, water, and in the shed)?

Should I take into the house and leave it in a cool room, rather than outside?

[annmaria]

Hi Tom , if it is happy to eat its a good sign it will survive...apart from worms our blackbirds love sultanas which have been been roughly chopped and soaked for a min or two in warm water, in fact they love to rear their babies on soft sultanas.
Good luck ,
Annmaria

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Tom1969

Cheers Gill,

I've just had a look at the animal welfare societies, and there's loads for greyhounds; but none in the way of wild garden birds.

I'll phone the RSPB tomorrow (Monday) to get some further advice, but in the meantime will the bird be okay as I'm keeping him (with food, water, and in the shed)?

Should I take into the house and leave it in a cool room, rather than outside?

no the key word is 'wildlife' look up wildlife sanctuaries. Or let me know your area and I'll have a hunt for you

or phone your local vet and ask if they can recommend any good local wildlife rescue places

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Tom1969

I've taken in the odd injured bird before; the smaller ones like sparrows never seem to survive the night, but this one seems okay; it was attacked about 9.00 am and still alive when I left it food and water about 20 minutes ago; so there's been over 3 hours since the attack and it's still alive and fiesty.

Its often the stress and the bacterial infections that kill them. A wildlife rescue place will have the mild anti-biotics and will have the experiance to know when to administer.

Again I wouldn't bother with the RSPB either its not really their area of expetise

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

yellow pages, look up wildlife rescue or wildlife sanctuary they will either be able to help or advise on who can, don't bother with the RSPB chances are they won't appear.
Two things spring to mind - it may well be just holding its wing strangely due to stress and bruises from the attack but also cats claws are stuffed full of bacteria so it might need a bit of care- I'd advise asking the experts and they can take a look at it

As said if is suffering from any punture wounds infection is almost a sure thing from a wound caused by a cat. The wounds should be cleaned if it has any. And antibiotics adminstered as soon as possible. For the first 24hrs the bird should kept in the a dark and quiet and warm place to help get over the effects of shock. This is of course after any emergency treatment. A critical care formula could also be offered to drink or administered by a crop tube to help it over the next 24 hours. The most important thing is to leave well alone as said for 24 hrs. A sick bird is very good at hiding its true condition till near death its trait it needs in the wild so not to draw attention to its self. Do not be tempted to keep handling it and checking it all it will do is cause the bird more stress and induce shock. Good luck
Regards
Colin

[ColonelBlimp]

A great example of why I'm not a great fan of cats...