HELP! Cat dragged him in, now what do I do with him?

[OSUJillyBean]

So my sister's cat is a mouser/birder extraordinaire. Today she brought in two birds and let them both go. I caught one with a pillowcase, took it outside, and it flew away.

I go sit back down and hear "cheep cheep!"
followed shortly by: "Mrow?"

*&^&^$*&^~!!!!


So now I find this fat little chick sitting under our coffee table (the cat's favorite bird-eating spot). I took it outside in a towel but it wouldn't fly away. It hops around just fine and isn't injured, but it won't fly. Then I noticed its wings aren't long enough to reach the start of his tailfeathers. Uhoh ...

Now I have this juvenile bird sitting on my lap and no idea what to do with it. I don't want to set it outside where the cat will find it, but it doesn't seem self-sufficient yet either. Can I keep it in a bird cage and feed it seeds and water until it's big enough to fly?

[Diamond_Y]

Can you check around for a nest? Maybe if you can reach it, you can put it back in it's nest.

[FastHorses000]

Even if you find a nest it has alot of cat and human scent and the moma probably wouldnt take it back. I would just put it in a cage and try to feed it until it can fly on its own. Just try and make it as natural as possible so he will keep his wild instincts. Good Luck!

[Ferronsgranny]

You can put up in a limb and watch to see if he parents come or you can keep it in a bird acge, but you must feed it what mommy bird would feed it. Worms, moths and bugs, etc. You can get some long tweezers to put the bugs, etc and wait until baby grabs it, then let go.

[OSUJillyBean]

But if the cat dragged him out of his nest in the first place? And the only trees we've got have the lowest branches ~7 feet high so a nest (if I could find it) is most likely out of reach. I will search for it though.

[Goldleaves]

I have no suggestion, but had to giggle. I wonder if your sister's cat was off in the corner doing an evil little laugh as you chased the birds around.

[rosewood]

Maybe a pet store would be better equipped to take care of it. Or know of a rescue that would take it?

[OSUJillyBean]

I held it up to a limb and sort of nudged it but it just sat there looking sort of stupid and cheeping. I'm sure it's stressed like crazy to be drug into the house by Mom's stupid cat.

It's not a small baby. It's legs are longer than my thumbs. It has all it's feathers but no long ones for flight.

I'm uploading pics now ...

[Sassy]

Oh boy and you will have to find out what kind of birdie it is first... Some birdies are meat birdie ei: bugs worms etc. And some birdies are seed birdies!! I would call around and see if their is a bird rescue or something! They can give you assistance identifying your new little orphan or take him off your hands if thats what you prefer!

[OSUJillyBean]

I was trying to get some pics of the bird and noticed this one. My sister's cat (who caught this little guy in the first place and brought him inside) is quite a character.



Anyone got a clue as to what kind of bird he is?



Here's one with my hand for a size reference. (note - I have small hands).



He was content to just sit here and hang out on my lap. He didn't even seem to mind when I flipped the towel around him as a cocoon, just wriggled deeper into it. Or maybe he was trying to escape but he's stupid?

[Ferronsgranny]

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/

They should be able to help, they do have a state by state listing.

[FastHorses000]

That looks to be a young Thrasher or Thrusher (not sure which) We have lots of them. Ive tried to save a few of those when I was younger but they all died eventually from stress. Maybe yours will be big enough to make it!!

Maybe cage the cat for a day or two until the bird can find his parents or learn to fly....???





I just noticed he looks mighty cozy in your lap there!! LOL

[OSUJillyBean]

I can't lock the cat up in the house (it uses the doggy door for the old can-barely-hold-its-bladder Pom of my stepdad's).

But .... I could maybe lock the cat in a room and put the bird outside. Hmm ... it isn't going for the seeds I offered it.

[Wolfie]

Looks kind of like a baby robin.

[OSUJillyBean]

I contacted the rescue lady but she only does birds of prey. Told me to take it to a local vet who does cheepy-birdy rescues.

Off to put on some clothes and take the bird for a car ride!

[cansncattle]

can you put a bell on the cat so it doesnt do it again?

[HotxtoxTrot]

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Looks kind of like a baby robin.

All the robins we have out here don't look a thing like that... they have red chests and are brownish/black on top. I've seen birds similar to that out here eating our bird seed, but they look less puffy and more streamlined.

[WhisperStables]

looks like someone is going to be digging for worms tonight. Moosh them up into a paste and try to feed the little one with either a plastic eye dropper or srynge (sp). Do not use mettal or glass, they can break their beeks on it.

[bunnyal]

Sure does look like a Thrasher. We have alot of those here in Florida. Last wild bird I rescued was almost bare naked, he/she only had a few pin feathers. I went to the feed store and they sold me some fledgling food. It worked great. It turned out to be a BlueJay. His name was Ralph. And no he didn't have I.D. on him, my son named him that. I ended up having to take him for a long drive after he learned to fly. I knew he was eating on his own out in the backyard. He kept landing on our heads and then would try to fly into the house everytime we opened the backdoor. I just drove a couple of miles away from the house and let him out the truck window in a woodsy area.

[OSUJillyBean]

Sad news guys, the bird didn't make it.

Thanks for all your help and advice. But I did manage to save the other bird the cat dragged in today (it flew off as soon as I put it outside so I assume it was okay).