help! cat brought in a baby bird!!!

[stonekicker]

what can i do - it doesn't look too squished, but obviously is quite shocked. it is now in a dark room in a box out of the way, but what should be my next step in caring for it? can't bear to put it outside as there is no shelter in my garden or give it back to the cat as mr kicker jokingly suggested. pls help! mtia x

[rowanwitch]

It will probably die, best thing keep the cat in and put it in the garden where it can call for its parents the less it is handled the better...Has your neighbours garden got any shade/bushes? that would be better and give it a bit more of a chance

[redcrx]

rowan is right.
Put the bird up high outside. Somewhere the cat cant get it.
the mum will hopefully then continue to feed it when she hears it calling.

[Eve]

I managed to save one that my late cat brought in but more often than not they are too shocked or otherwise injured and the continuing trauma of being away from it's parents and in unfamiliar circumstances mean it might not make it.

If it doesn't look injured, is there somewhere you can put it that your cat (maybe keep it in for a bit) or other predators can't get to it but its parents can to give it a chance?

if it can't fly it doesn't bode well as, even if the parents find it and feed it, it needs to be able to get away from other predators.

Let us know how it gets on.

[stonekicker]

it is too youngto fly, unfortunately. also, there are other cats in the area that will probably eat it if i put it outside even if i keep my two in. just don't know what to do! the only sheltered place is two gardens down and an interesting climb to get there. mmmm...we'll see if it survives a little time in the box first x

[lankeela]

Best place is to put it as high up as you can on a branch or in a bush, the mother will hear its cries and feed it.

[Eve]

That's an idea, is there a house nearby who has a more sheltered garden, preferably somewhere cats don't tend to go? Difficult though as they get everywhere!

Have the parents been calling for the bird? Might be more tempting to try and get it outside if the parents are about.

[jno]

is it an ortolan?

http://www.telegraph....cacy-is-outlawed.html

[stonekicker]

jno - not sure what type of bird it is. mainly green with some black markings, but it is so small that it is hard to make a decision where to leave it. as i said, will probably climb over to a couple of gardens away and let you all know if i come back in one piece! x

[stonekicker]

just to let you all know that when i returned to the box a little while ago, the bird was standing upright, looking really perky and cheeped at me! i have taken it outside now and climbed the world's most wobbly brick wall, edged along it one handed two gardens down and had a big fight with the mass of ivy and weeds on top of a shed where i think it came from.

got really wet, covered in insects, fence bits and ivy reaching through and it hopped into the dense bit of growth cheeping like a lunatic. i feel a bit better putting him in there as i don't think the cats locally can stray into the middle of it and i am keeping my two little buggers inside for the rest of the day to give the little thing a fighting chance.

thanks for all your advice and although i feel really sorry for the little thing as it is defenceless, he/she is in the right place and it's parents may well find it if it keeps up the racket it's making! thanks again x

[Avatar]

Well done Stonekicker. I think you've given it every chance you could.

[Eve]

Aww that's lovely to hear :) Hope the little fella makes it :)

[wildwood]

Karma will reward you.