Help: Injured Bird

My beastly fierce kitty pounced on a dove this evening before dinner. Before we could chase the cat off the bird, it looks like he did quite a bit of damage. The bird at first had trouble opening and closing its wings but later flew about 15 cm off the ground across the deck. Since then the bird has limped around for short distances but mostly has stayed curled up in one spot on the deck. It's definitely injured (limping, inability to fly) but there's no obvious major injuries (broken wings, missing limbs).

I've put out water and seed but I'm not sure what else to do. I dismissed the suggestion of wringing the birds neck to put it out of its misery and certainly can't afford to pay for a veterinarian to patch up a wounded bird. Instead we thought we'd let the bird stay on the deck for as long as it takes to recover or die (with bad kitty kept inside). The deck has high walls (2 m) so the bird is safe.

Is this a sound plan of action? What should I do?

~Ulrika~

Call the vet and ask him/her about a wildlife waystation or rescue place in your area. There should be one (there's one in downtown LA, ferchrissake), and they've got the resources and knowledge to help birds.

Sadly, that one is probably in shock, which, in my experience, is a bad sign.

Good luck, Ulrika.

And don't punish the cat.. it was doing what comes natural.

Most sites seem to say that if the bird is badly injured to pick it up with a cloth or towel, put it in a dark box somewhere warm and not to attempt to give it food or water. And then to get in touch with a nearby animal/bird charity of some sort. This link might help.

Best of luck!

Great advice everyone. Thank you. With this I was able to find that in San Francisco, starlings, pigeons, and sparrows are only cared for at a place in San Rafael called Wildcare. Their hours are 09:00 to 17:00 seven days a week. I'm supposed to keep the bird away from food, wrap it and place it in a box, if possible. However, because the bird is so well protected on the deck, I'm going to just leave it be for the night and then take it to Wildcare in the morning.

Hopefully the little gal will make it until tomorrow.

I'll let you know what happens.

~Ulrika~

I hear squab is quite tasty.

How do you know the pigeon is a girl?

I hope it survives.

You should ask Taco to lay his healing oven mitts on the poor little thing.

It's very sweet of you to look for help for an injured bird, Ulrika. I'm sending lots of healing good vibes out to your little guest.

My family made countless trips to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary on the west coast of Florida (around the Tampa/ St. Pete Area) when my sister and I were growing up. We must have saved 20 ducks and a half dozen seagulls!

I don't think it will even be there in the morning, I think it is just in shock and once it comes out of that it will just fly away. On a side note, if the cat if killing birds its hungry, you feed it?

Um - Billybob, cats hunt birds. It's what they do, whether they are hungry or not.

it was a joke, I know cats hunt birds and dogs dislike cats and birds eat the dog after its been run over on the highway, its a viscous circle

ok i have done this before - Get some oven mitts and try to pick it up. Report what happens when you try this and we'll take it from there. For reals.

I'm sorry for your bad experience. And I understand the whole thing cats need to go outside.

Go easy on me on this one. This is something that I've agonized over when I've seen friends let their cats out, particularly in the city.

Incident 1: Cat crossing the street, my sister driving me and her newborn daughter. She swerves and almost hits another car head on.

Incident 2: Walking my dogs, cat laying on the sidewalk. Big cat. I take them across the street before they have a chance to see the cat.

Incident 3: Dead cat in road. Well we know what happened there.

I have to have my animal on a leash at all times and I am always with them. Why are cats allowed to roam and cause inconveniences? Does the benefit outweigh the potential for harm? Don't you worry about what your cat could get into? I hear there was even AIDS spreading in the cat community, although I find this hard to believe, anyone verify this?

Just my thoughts. Hope the bird gets better.

Sadly, the bird did not survive the night. I thought she would, as she was moving around as late as 01:00 last night but when we checked this morning there was no movement. I even had my oven mitts ready to go. Thanks for all your help. I've never been in charge of an injured bird and was at a complete loss as what to do.

Also, my cats are house cats and do not roam beyond our patio. This was a young bird, which landed on the deck, and unlike other birds wasn't able to fly away when the cat came to investigate.

~Ulrika~

Its a different virus, but it is usually called Feline AIDS

FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (FIV)

There are five different types of FIV: A, B, C, D and E. In the United States, most cats are infected with subtype A on the West Coast and B on the East Coast. The most common mode of transmission is through saliva and bite wounds. The majority of FIV-positive cats are outdoor males. FIV survives outside the body for only a few minutes and is unlikely to be passed by sharing litter boxes and food dishes. Most infected cats will test positive within sixty (60) days after exposure. Kittens can test positive due to maternal antibodies, but usually become negative later. Kittens should be re-tested at six (6) months of age.

FIV infection is associated with neurologic disease, chronic renal failure, cancers (especially lymphoma), stomatitis (mouth and gum disease), respiratory conditions, diarrhea, urinary disorders, and wasting syndromes.

Aww sorry to hear the birdie did not make it

I was hoping it would survive the night.

It should still be edible

So sorry the little dove didn't make it. If such a sad event (or other critter encounter) happens again, give Animal Care & Control a call -- they're right next to the SPCA and will come to folks in the City pretty much anytime.

http://www.sfgov.org/site/acc_index.asp?id=29490

That really sucks. Did you bury it?

or feed it to the cat? He deserves it, he did do what comes natural.

Should of just let the cat finish the job! Like what I have been reading it is natural instinct for cats to pounce birds. Honestly I think you did more harm to the bird not letting the cat finish the job and letting the bird suffer through the night in pain until it died! At least the cat would of most likey killed it quicker!

What a sensitive soul you are, Ekim!