Nature Notes (#434)~ When a cat catches a bird or other wildlife…

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Since I had to rescue a cat caught american robin today, I will share my yearly warning about cats and wildlife…

My neighbor brought me this almost fledgling robin that his cat had. Any wildlife that has been caught by a cat and have teeth or claws into their bodies will need antibiotics. Cats are natural predators and much like their bigger cousins like lions don’t want to expend a lot of energy hunting. If they can wound the animal the bacteria that is in their mouths and on their claws will kill that animal unless treated. Lions can would and then follow a wounded animal until it dies of infection.

Cat claws and teeth are curved just to inflict those kinds of wounds that are not open to the air and will fester.

While this robin did not look seriously injured it needed to be kept warm and transported. I use sock with rice or beans I heat in the microwave just to warm. I will check on this baby robin in a few days. Hopefully it will get the antibiotics soon enough and that there aren’t other injuries from the cat.

If you have an outdoor cat, consider keeping it in during nesting season. Songbirds spend a couple of weeks on the ground after they are out of the nest learning to fly. It is during this period that they are most vulnerable to predation.

Find a Wildlife Rehabber in every US State and in Other Countries

https://www.wildliferehabinfo.org/ContactList_MnPg.htm

From The American Bird Conservancy

Cats #1 Threat to Birds

Predation by domestic cats is the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada.

In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year. Although this number may seem unbelievable, it represents the combined impact of tens of millions of outdoor cats. Each outdoor cat plays a part.

Instinctive Predators of Wildlife

Even well-fed cats will hunt and kill. Upon reflection, most cat owners will have observed this behavior. When a cat plays with a feather toy or laser, it is practicing predatory behaviors. When these behaviors continue outdoors, the results are deadly for birds and other wildlife.

Unfortunately, the mere presence of cats outdoors is enough to cause significant impacts to birds. Because cats are recognizable predators, their presence near nesting birds has been shown to reduce the health of chicks and decrease nest success.

Other Wildlife

Cats are responsible for the deaths of 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds and 6.9 to 20.7 billion mammals every year, according to research conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nature walks are wonderful. But you don’t have to travel to special location to enjoy Mother Nature. There is so much to see in your own neighborhood or even in your own back or front yard. Get a guide-book of the wildlife in your area and learn the calls of birds and frogs and toads. So many times I hear a bird that lets me know what I am looking for in the trees.

4 thoughts on “Nature Notes (#434)~ When a cat catches a bird or other wildlife…”

  2. We have a big problem here in Australia with introduced animals killing native wildlife. Raising awareness and getting people to control their pets is a good start in protecting the vulnerable species.

  3. I do hope the little one recovers well. Sadly, all the introduced critters here in NZ do much damage. On the bright side, we have more and more predator-proof preserves to protect our native species.

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