Forum Topic

What to do with a mauled blackbird

This afternoon our cat caught a blackbird.  Its shrieks were pitiful, and I shot out and rescued it from her.  I think it had a bite on its lower back, but didn't investigate for fear of distressing it further.  It stayed stock still for ages before hopping behind a flower pot, and as it was growing dark, I eventually I picked it up and put it in a large cardboard box with a bit of water and some crumbled fat ball.  Maybe I should have let nature take its course, as I have no idea what to do now if its still alive in the morning.  Any ideas please?

Alison Foy ● 2301d8 Comments

Realistically there's probably not much you can do. In my experience they usually die of shock. If it's still alive in the morning give London Wildlife Protection a call to see if they can help.https://www.londonwildlifeprotection.org/found-an-animal/

Bruce Hammal ● 2301d

A few years ago I found an injured pigeon and like you,took it home.The pigeon was in shock as well as being injured .I found a youtube video of hours of cooing pigeons which calmed it down,its feathers ruffled up and it looked at peace.It was off to pigeon heaven in the morning but it was a good death if there is such a thing.Nature will take its course but ,if you can ,play this to it..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P73t0-hLxlE

Ben Gemmingen ● 2301d

Did it make it?

Bruce Hammal ● 2300d

A few years back I spotted a robin on the glass it look dead, a neighbours cat ran off, when I investigated it looked OK, so I gently picked it up got a shoe box, cotton wool and laid the robin inside. No movement then about an hour later it flew off obviously was in shock.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2300d

on a different note, if your cat, like most do this for a living, do they try and bring it inside??  It all gets so messy at this point

Mike Chisholm ● 2300d

Just to update, I put it in a carboard box with some shredded paper, water and crumbled fat ball.  Later that evening it was still alive, but unfortuately it was dead in the morning :-(

Alison Foy ● 2298d

Poor blackbird :( It's really worthwhile putting a little bell on your cat's collar to give birds a better chance of not getting caught.

S Powell ● 2297d

Agreed - probably the best thing to do, although your cat might not appreciate it!

Brian Coyle ● 2297d