Mr Tiddywinkles is a…
Highly skilled predator
Birds that have been caught by a cat!
Around 40% of our wild bird admissions are linked to cats and what you do next can be the be-all and end-all of if the bird is to survive or not!
Not only can cats inflict serious injuries to wild birds, it’s in their nature, their saliva also carries large amounts of bacteria which once in the bloodstream of the bird, causes infection and eventually septicemia. Almost all catted birds need antibiotics to save their lives.
Any bird that has been in a cats mouth should be seen by a local vet or rescue as soon as possible. You should never release a catted bird, even if you do not see an injury, without getting further help as not only does it take the smallest amount of saliva to kill… it could also be a breach of The Animal Welfare Act and Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.
What to do while arranging help:
Gently remove the cat from the area to prevent any further attacks while rescuing the bird.
Get a well ventilated box that you can put the bird into (This could be as simple as a shoe box for small garden birds, or a larger postage box that has had air holes added).
Using gloves, pick the bird up and place it into the box, you can scoop the bird up with a towel if you have no gloves.
Bring the box and bird inside, place it in a quiet and well ventilated room that has no pets inside.
Contact your local rescue or vets.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED OR DRIP WATER INTO A BIRDS BEAK