BABY PIGEON CAUGHT BY CAT

[amy31]

MY CAT CAUGHT A BABY PIGEON,HES ABOUT THE AGE,OF WEANING,I WAS JUST WONDERING,SINCE HES BEEN HERE FOR 2 DAYS NOW,HE HAS A SCRATCH ON HIS FOOT,AND I CLEANED IT WITH NEOSP.AND PEROXIDE,AND ALSO STARTED HIM ON CLAVAMOX.(ANTIBIOTIC FROM VET)I HAVE RAISED EXOTIC BIRDS,YEARS AGO,AND A CAT SCRATCH WAS ALWAYS LETHAL.WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHANCES ARE FOR THIS BIRD,AND ALSO,I WAS TOLD PIGEONS CARRY DISEASES,(I ALREADY DE-MITE HIM)SHOULD I HAVE ANY CONCERNS.HES THE MOST FRIENDLIEST PIGEON I THINK IVE EVER SEEN,IVE BEEN HAND FEEDING HIM,AND HE ALREADY THINKS IM HIS MOMMA,AND RESPONDS TO MY VOICE,IMMEDIATLY,I NEVER SEEN THIS IN WILD BIRDS.MY MAJOR CONCERN,IS HE GOING TO MAKE IT...

[cyro51]

Hi Amy,

I think that with your care he will make it!

Little squabs win your heart in seconds! They make excellent pets.

First, don't worry about catching diseases from him, but as a sensible precaution maintain normal hygiene as you would with any animal and keep him isolated from any pet birds that you have for a period of quarantine.

If he is on antibiotics he should be okay but if there has been a puncture wound it is best to let it heal from within by gently removing the scab and flushing the wound with a sterile saline solution. That should stop an abscess forming.

I received a baby dove that had been absolutely torn up by a cat and was just about dead when he was finally handed to me. He had been left to die for 5 hours so needed treatment for shock and antibiotics. He is full of beans now, a few weeks later.

Keep squabbie dry, warm and draught free, offer him a cat lit tray with water in it to bathe in if he so wishes. If you click on Resources at the top of the page you will find advice on general care and feeding.

Keep us updated!

Cynthia