cat with young birds

[Pauline10]

We have a young cat about 18 months old and she has a collar with a bell.
Yesterday afternoon she brought a young bird home which i found in the hall.
I carried outside but was not sure where to leave it as it could fly a little bit.
Can anybody give me some advice on where to put the birds that she brings home. (She doesnt kill them or the mice and I usually run all round the skirting boards trying to catch the mice).
Many thanks

[thebeard]

the birds may have a poor chance of survival once they've been caught by a cat, even if they seem uninjured. Your cat may well just find it again, but the best thing to do would place it in some cover near to where the nest may be.

[Gill Catton]

Keeping you cat in at dawn and dusk will help too (It works for mine) and also praise her a lot when she comes back when called, give her a treat, then if she's out and you suspect she's up to no good you can yell for her and she's more likely to come back straight away.

[Pauline10]

I have been keeping her in at night so that she doesnt bring any mice in.
She always comes back in when i shout her, do you think it would be better to let her out at night rather than day.
Thanks

[werdnal]

Just warning that cats and wildlife is a very emotive subject here, and you may get some rather terse replies. If you search there are many previous threads about cats and how to prevent them decimating the local baby birds. Sadly, bells don't seem to help when it comes to fledglings, as they don't have the instinct, or sometimes to ability, to escape a cat.

Keeping the cat indoors as much as possible is the best way to help, but search the forum and you might come up with some other previous suggestions.

[Siskin]

I'm not sure there is really a best time for keeping your cat in, my cat has a real taste for blood unfortunately and there have been dead birds in the kitchen when I get home from a night shift, or he may bring them in during the day. As for any birds she brings in, it may be worth taking them to a vet for a shot of antibiotic; I have done this before and the vet doesn't charge.

[Pauline10]

Thanks

[angelika611]

I have 2 cats and a garden full of birds,my cats have never killed a bird because i dont let them out there house cats,letting cats out they dont live for many years they are either road kill or injured by feral cats or poisoned,i have kept mine in from kittens and they are ok with it they watch the birds through the window,i would rather keep them in then for them to slaughter birds or lay dead or injured on the side of the road at least mine will reach old age.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by angelika611

I have 2 cats and a garden full of birds,my cats have never killed a bird because i dont let them out there house cats,letting cats out they dont live for many years they are either road kill or injured by feral cats or poisoned,i have kept mine in from kittens and they are ok with it they watch the birds through the window,i would rather keep them in then for them to slaughter birds or lay dead or injured on the side of the road at least mine will reach old age.

Good for you and I bet they are happy loved pets too..

[solus]

Originally Posted by angelika611

I have 2 cats and a garden full of birds,my cats have never killed a bird because i dont let them out there house cats,letting cats out they dont live for many years they are either road kill or injured by feral cats or poisoned,i have kept mine in from kittens and they are ok with it they watch the birds through the window,i would rather keep them in then for them to slaughter birds or lay dead or injured on the side of the road at least mine will reach old age.

*Like*

Well done you!