Cat got Pigeon - now what?

[Caz1234]

Hi all,

Our cat unfortunately managed to catch a pigeon on Sunday morning. I managed to rescue it from the cat and it appeared to have a couple of puncture type wounds around the breast area.

I cleaned the bird up and put it in a box in the garage with some water and bird seed. I didnt hold out much hope for it but the next morning it appeared to be a lot brighter and the wounds were healing over.

The bird seemed to want to get out of the box so I let it out in the garden to see if it would be able to fly. It flew on to the fence but unfortunately didnt get any further than a few feet - it remained on the fence for about 5 hours. So obviously wasnt strong enough to fly anywhere.

I went back out to the bird later on in the day and on closer inspection I noticed it has downy feathers underneath so I thought it may well be a young bird and it was probably waiting for its mother to turn up - which she obviously wasnt going to. I decided to bring the bird back inside so that my cat didnt get a second chance at it !

I have offered it worms and bird seed but I dont think it has actually eaten anything.

What should I do now? I dont want to scare it by trying to force feed it - but I dont want it to starve to death if there is a chance it will make a full recovery.

Can anybody offer any advice?

Thanks

[Feefo]

What part of Cheshire are you in? The best thing you can do is get it to a sanctuary, it will need antibiotics as cats carry pasteurella in their saliva and if it gets into a bird's bloodstream they can die of pasteurella septicemia very quickly. Also those breast punctures could have ruptured its crop which will need repairing. Hopefully this sanctuary is within driving distance:

Three Owls Bird Sanctuary
Wolstenholme Fold
Norden
Rochdale
OL11 5UD

Tel: 01706 642162

24 Hour Helpline 07973 819389

If you can't get it to a sanctuary put it somewhere warm (but not hot!) and quiet for the time being, and make some rehydrating solution available. You can make this by mixing 1 pint warm water with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 tablespoon glucose, or honey, or sugar...dip his beak in it so that he knows that it is there.

Pigeons don't eat worms, seed is fine though but if it is a youngster it might not yet know how to feed itself.

Can you clarify whether it is a wood pigeon, a feral pigeon or a collared dove? What colour feathering does it have? Any marks? What colour beak?

If it is a young pigeon and not eating you can get some Organix stage 1 First First Porridge, mix it with warm water according to the instructions and add the smaller seeds from a wild bird mix. It mixes into a nice moist glop, if you open the baby's mouth you can put a glop in with your finger and he should swallow it. Do this about 10 times to start with.

Cynthia

[Caz1234]

Hi Cynthia,

Thanks for your reply.

Im in Wilmslow in Cheshire, not near Rochdale unfortunately.

I think it must be a feral or wood pigeon - it has a grey beak. We have wood pigeons in the garden but this one is a bit smaller and slimmer. I am at work at the moment so cant describe its feathers - will check later and let you know.

How can I tell the difference?

It opens its beak but no sound comes out - do you think this is a result of damage caused by the cat?

I will try the porridge that you suggest and see if he will eat any.

Caroline

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by Caz1234

Hi Cynthia,

Thanks for your reply.

Im in Wilmslow in Cheshire, not near Rochdale unfortunately.

I think it must be a feral or wood pigeon - it has a grey beak. We have wood pigeons in the garden but this one is a bit smaller and slimmer. I am at work at the moment so cant describe its feathers - will check later and let you know.

How can I tell the difference?

It opens its beak but no sound comes out -
do you think this is a result of damage caused by the cat?

I will try the porridge that you suggest and see if he will eat any.

Caroline

Welcome to Pigeon Talk Caroline.

Does he appear to be opening his beak each time he takes a breath?

Any chance of getting a picture of him & posting it?

Cindy

[Jaye]

Hi Caz...thank you for taking him in.

This birdie ABSOLUTELY needs to get on antibiotics ASAP. If it's an adult or adolescent...it can last maybe 48 hours + w/o being medicated...but not much longer than that. If he hasn't had antibiotics by 2-1/2 days max, he won't make it... regardless of all the other care you give him.

If there's no wildlife rehabber in your area...then you have to get it to a vet or find some antibiotics.

Feeding is secondary at this point. As Cyro mentioned, that bird has likely got pasturella bacteria coursing through his veins now, and it needs those meds.

Keep us posted and best of luck.

[Caz1234]

Hi

Thanks for all your replies.

I took a photo so you can see the bird. I have tried to get it to eat some porridge but it wasnt interested. When I was holding it I noticed that it was beginning to breathe with its mouth open (but it wasnt doing this while sat on its own).

I have spoken to the RSPCA and they said to take it to the vets in the morning so I will be doing that. I dont think there is anything else I can do to help.

[Feefo]

Poor thing, it is a woodie and it doesn't look at all well.

Will you be taking it to the vet as an RSPCA bird? Because the RSPCA just has them killed.

Cynthia

[Caz1234]

Hi Cynthia

I was going to take it as an RSPCA bird. The lady I spoke to on the phone said the vet would treat it for me and I wouldnt be charged.

I cant really afford to pay for treatment as I have just been made redundant !!

[Feefo]

Have PM'd you.

Cynthia

[Caz1234]

Hi All,

Bad news Im afraid, I went to collect pigeon from the garage this morning to take him to the vets and he had already passed away.

Sorry I couldnt have been of more use to him.

Caroline