Yep, I actually heard that from someone this week who brought me a little yellow-rumped warbler. The caller said she saw the bird in the yard and her cat seemed “interested” in it and then chased it and caught it several times, “just playing with it; he didn’t mean…” She trailed off.
I gritted my teeth and told her that the bird needed antibiotics if it had been in the cat’s mouth at all. When I got the little warbler, her left wing was all but ripped off at the wrist.
I gritted my teeth and told her that the bird needed antibiotics if it had been in the cat’s mouth at all. When I got the little warbler, her left wing was all but ripped off at the wrist.
Her right wing was missing most of its feathers.
All her tailfeathers were gone.
I showed the lady the damage and explained that her cat had effectively killed this bird and she asked, “Well, can’t you just put it in a cage?”
“Ma’am, imagine that your hand has almost been severed at the wrist and someone just stuck you in a room.”
“Well, I mean treat it, of course.”
“Ma’am, there is no treatment for this. This bird will never fly again, and if I attempted treatment, all I’d be doing is prolonging her agony.”
“Well, what will you do, just put it somewhere until it dies?”
“No ma’am, I’ll end her suffering as soon as I get her home. This is what happens when cats are allowed outdoors. It’s safer for your cat and the wildlife in your yard if your cat stays indoors.”
“Well, I hate you can’t help the poor bird.”
Notice there’s no expressed remorse that the cat she carelessly allowed outdoors maimed this poor bird to the point that it required euthanasia.
Folks, I have cats. I love my cats. And because I love my cats, they remain indoors, safe from predators, traffic, parasites and lousy weather. And because my cats are indoors, the only predators my wildlife faces are those they’d encounter in the wild—natural predators, such as owls and hawks.
I cannot stress it enough: CATS BELONG INSIDE. It’s safer for them, and it’s damn sure safer for wildlife.
Shortly after this warbler's needless death, a game warden from several counties south of me called with an injured osprey. This poor bird looks to’ve lost a battle with a bald eagle. He’s ripped open from his neck to just above his shoulder.
“Ma’am, imagine that your hand has almost been severed at the wrist and someone just stuck you in a room.”
“Well, I mean treat it, of course.”
“Ma’am, there is no treatment for this. This bird will never fly again, and if I attempted treatment, all I’d be doing is prolonging her agony.”
“Well, what will you do, just put it somewhere until it dies?”
“No ma’am, I’ll end her suffering as soon as I get her home. This is what happens when cats are allowed outdoors. It’s safer for your cat and the wildlife in your yard if your cat stays indoors.”
“Well, I hate you can’t help the poor bird.”
Notice there’s no expressed remorse that the cat she carelessly allowed outdoors maimed this poor bird to the point that it required euthanasia.
Folks, I have cats. I love my cats. And because I love my cats, they remain indoors, safe from predators, traffic, parasites and lousy weather. And because my cats are indoors, the only predators my wildlife faces are those they’d encounter in the wild—natural predators, such as owls and hawks.
I cannot stress it enough: CATS BELONG INSIDE. It’s safer for them, and it’s damn sure safer for wildlife.
Shortly after this warbler's needless death, a game warden from several counties south of me called with an injured osprey. This poor bird looks to’ve lost a battle with a bald eagle. He’s ripped open from his neck to just above his shoulder.
The wound was fresh when he came in, the blood still sticky, and there was some swelling, so vet Richie Hatcher of Smalley’s Animal Hospital in Dublin recommended no sutures to begin with. The wound needs irrigating daily, and the bird is on a strong antibiotic to prevent infection. The problem is that as the swelling has gone down, I’m seeing a wound I don’t think we can fix. I’ll be taking the osprey back in Monday for further evaluation, but I suspect, looking at this wound now, that we may be fighting a losing battle.
There is some good news in this otherwise horrific week, however: the downy GHO continues to amuse me with his goofiness. As his vision sharpens, he’s transfixed by shadows. I’m trying to feed him and he’s head-bobbing and beak-clicking threats at his own shadow. And feet—oh my God! He has feet! And they’re amazing to watch! He stares at his feet without moving for minutes on end…His feathers are coming in nicely, though. Thank God feather growth doesn’t require smarts; he’d be so out of luck…
And the little flyer continues to grow. She’s still mostly in the “eat and pass out” mode and not really interested in solid food yet, but she’ll get there!
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