My cat caught a baby bird

[desura]

Like, the thing looks like a hatchling, doesn't even have feathers.

And worst? It's still alive.

I have no idea how to return it to the nest. I don't want to kill it, but I have no idea how to take care of it either since it's so young.

What can be done? Should I just put it out of its misery?

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

yea, I think it's beyond help if it's that young and you're not equipped to feed/house/care for it.
Life happens.

 

[Number1]

You let your cat out and it's killing birds!!!
What a surprise!!

You OK?

 

[thedarkwolf]

yeah I don't get why you are so concerned about this bird when you cat has killed tons of critters already.

 

[Ruptga]

A chick that leaves or gets taken from its nest is usually as good as dead. Throw it against some concrete for a quick death, then let your cat enjoy its treat. That's also a better end than what it was going to get from your cat.

Also don't be surprised if later your cat climbs a tree, chases a jingle bell, or gets chased by a dog. This is all extremely normal behavior.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Keep your cat indoors unless you want it killing everything it sees for shits and giggles.

Too bad about the bird, but... good kitty.

 

[JSt0rm]

nature you crazy.

 

[Jeff7]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-birds-abandon-young-at-human-touch/



Is the nest far out of reach?

 

[thesmokingman]

Cats being cats. At least it didn't put it in your shoes.

 

[1sikbITCH]

I read a story recently where a crow snatched a puppy from someone's back yard. Nature happens.

 

[JulesMaximus]

This is why I don't let my cats out. They become part of the food chain by either killing (decimating really) local bird populations or becoming coyote food.

You might try calling your local vet and see if they know of a place you could take the young bird where they will care for it. Chances are it will die but that's really the most you could do.

Even if you did manage to find out what nest it came from the bird that hatched it most likely wouldn't care for it after you touched it anyway.

 

[BrainEater]

..... then let your cat enjoy its treat. ....

Actually , the cat brought that home as a treat for 'the alpha' .
Cats do this all the time.
They are showing you that they love you.

 

[Bart*Simpson]

Should I just put it out of its misery?

Yes, and then keep your cat in your house from now on. Thank you. :thumbsup:

 

[Red Squirrel]

Keep your cat inside. Not only is it a danger to birds and stuff but it's a danger to your cat too. Unless you're in a very rural area with little to no traffic or people. People can be assholes.

I would check with a local animal shelter to see if by chance they have any tips for you or are willing to take it in, but realistically I don't see that bird getting very far. Even if you were to find the nest the mother may not take it back, though some say that's a myth, so I don't know for sure. Maybe leave it out in the open somewhere. The mother may find it, or a predator will, but it will be out of your hands at that point. The nest is probably not all that far.

 

[midnight growler]

If you let your cat outside, give her/him a collar with a bell so wildlife can hear it.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

throw it up in a tree. The momma bird will hear it's cries and come to save it.

 

[SearchMaster]

I was bringing my dogs inside the other day and one of them ran over to the garage door and picked something up. Turns out it was a young blue jay (had feathers but very young). I told her to drop it and she did, and the bird was flopping around. I took the dogs in but when I went back out the bird was dead. I think it flew into the window of the garage door. My neighbor (an avid bird lover) saw me and came over, I felt really bad for her because I know she was quite sad about it but she certainly understands how things go sometimes.

 

[Chiropteran]

I know how to handle this. What you need is a metal pot, large enough to easily fit the entire bird. Fill it halfway with water, add some cut carrots, celery, one onion, 1 TBS salt, 1 TBS pepper, a bay leaf, and thyme. Remove any feathers from the bird, remove the head and guts. Rinse, and place in the pot. Bring the pot to a boil, adding other ingredients, stirring occasionally. After 15 minutes, turn down to a simmer and let the pot simmer for 3 hours- this will make an amazing broth, and the tasty bird meat will just fall right off the bones.

Enjoy!

 

[NoTine42]

Actually , the cat brought that home as a treat for 'the alpha' .
Cats do this all the time.
They are showing you that they love you.

I must be awesome.
My outdoor cats left me 3 mice yesterday.

At least they were whole. It's kinda disturbing when they just leave the head and stomach.

I stopped filling my bird feeder. It was basically just brought birds closer to the cats.

 

[Ryland]

My wife just released a chipmunk her cat caught. We live in the woods and the cat is a ~13 year old mouser that has always been an outdoor cat. She adopted us when I was able to get her kittens spayed.

 

[Ryland]

I must be awesome.
My outdoor cats left me 3 mice yesterday.

Naa..your cats are trying to show how bad of a hunter you really are and are trying to make sure you have enough food to survive.

 

[Paladin3]

Actually , the cat brought that home as a treat for 'the alpha' .
Cats do this all the time.
They are showing you that they love you.

This.

We live in the country and our cats are indoor/outdoor. We always praise our cats for being such good hunters when they bring us something they've hunted up since they are trying to show us love.

One summer we keep a tally of how each cat did, but lost track when the numbers per species (mice, birds, moles...) got into double digits. My fluffy orange cat is the most proficient hunter and I've seen him make some amazing leaps to take birds out of the air mid-flight. Our big, fat, black Bombay cat climbs into trees and relies on his dark color and stealth to snatch birds. We had a third cat, that we have since lost, who was a squirrel hunter but enjoyed eating his prey. He would still drop us off tidbits like the head to show he cared.

Two nights ago the orange cats brought in a bat still alive that we released. Anything they bring in still alive but not healthy enough to release, I put in a trash bag and quickly snap it's neck to end it's suffering.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Put it down.

The cat, not the bird.

My parents dog's have killed two birds, both were sick or already dying as they seemed drunk before they got caught.

 

[NoTine42]

Naa..your cats are trying to show how bad of a hunter you really are and are trying to make sure you have enough food to survive.

probably true. Hunting is in their blood.

My cat's mom, fully pregnant jumped up ~4 feet and grabbed a bird off our bird feeder. After landing, she started meowing loudly. She delivered her kittens that afternoon.