Emergency – Cat Attack

[Lithium]

I had just barely covered up my Zebra Finches, when my cat decided to jump onto their cage. The top of the cage cane off and I had to try to get it back on without any of them getting back out because both of my cats were in my room. While I ran to get my mom for help, one of my males, Twidget, got out. When I came back, he was in the cat’s mouth. I got him out, and he doesn’t seem to be too hurt. He did lose most of his tail feathers; I think he only has one left. He is still alert and actively tried to get away when I went to grab him. Is there anything else I should do? I’ll be praying that he makes it through the night.

[Lithium]

Update: My mom says he's perched on the edge of the food dish right now.

[Sally]

If you don't see any obvious injury, I'd just keep him quiet and warm and wait to see how he does. Do you have a heat lamp? It can be as simple as a desk lamp with a 60w bulb that you place next to the cage, aimed at one end, so he could sit on the perch at that end and warm himself.

Unfortunately, when cats knock over or jump on a cage, it may come apart or doors may open, allowing the birds to escape. Cats and birds don't mix, so if you can keep the cats out of the room it would be best. I can't actually judge, though, because I have cats and birds in the same room. Most of my birds are closed off in the bird room, but the overflow is in the dining room, with no way to close it off.

[isobea]

Lithium - if you have some Resue Remedy you can put a few drops into a spray bottle and lightly mist the little guy. It will definitely help with the shock and lower the adrenaline going through his little body.
I once bought an owl finch at a bird mart and after I got him home and had put him into a quarantine cage, I noticed he hadn't moved one muscle in a few minutes. So then I paid really close attention and half an hour later, he still hadn't moved. A heat lamp didn't help either. So I tried the Rescue Remedy in the spray bottle (I sometimes use it for my dogs, too). Within two minutes he started moving and was fine thereafter. Good luck, it sounds like he will be fine.
Iso

[Sunbay]

Is there any blood? A cat bite/puncture can be a fatal wound to a bird. Keeping it warm and quiet is the best thing right now.
Hope the little guy makes it.

Lauren

[Lithium]

I looked, and I didn’t see any blood. I think that he mainly lost feathers, hopefully I got there before anything terrible could happen.

[Lithium]

The cats had been in the room with the birds before without incident, but the birds were usually covered and fast asleep. I don’t know what happened that made the cat change his mind, I think it may have been that the birds weren't asleep yet so they were still making noise. But, I’ll never trust him around the birds again.

[cindy]

There is a danger in cat saliva and even a cat scratch....

http://www.birdtricks.com/blog/saliva-i ... r-parrots/

http://www.cockatielcottage.net/cats.html

cats carry a bacteria called Pasteurella which can kill a bird within 24 hours of being bitten, requiring antibiotics should be given within 24 hrs.

[lovezebs]

Lithium

I hope your little guy makes it.

My Long Tailed Shaft Tail, didn't make it, after being half way pulled through the bars of my flight. And my Gouldian fledgling had his neck broken , when he was grabbed by the same cat. This is a twelve year old cat, who has lived all of her life around birds, without any previous incidents.

Your birdie is very lucky.
Have to be extremely cautious with cats and birds in the same household .

~Elana~

[Lithium]

I’m happy to report that he made it through the night. Hopefully he continues getting better.

[lovezebs]

Lithium
That is goid news. Maybe kittie only got a hold of the tail feathers, which makes for a very lucky bird.

~Elana~