Birds eaten by cats!!!

[H008]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and this is my first post.
Sorry, if this is not the right place to post this. (Mods please feel free to move)

Every spring/summer birds make nest in my backyard. I like to sit back and watch them come and go carrying stuff back to their nest. This summer there were 3 new nests in my backyard. I can hear the babies chirping every morning. Today I didn't hear anything. I went outside and there are feathers spread all over the grass everywhere. That's when it hit me that the neighbour's cat (s?) has eaten the mama & papa birds. They wiped out the parents of all 3 nest in one night. I looked into the all 3 nests and the babies are alive. There is 4 in one, 3 in another and 1 in the last nest. The babies are no longer chirping. I'm beyond devastated. I'm so angry I don't know what to do. Plus, I have the urge to go hunt these cats down. I swear if I see these cats again I will surely do damage. An eye for an eye.
First thing I decided to do was google this situation. LOL.
Tada, I found this cool forum. Any advices.

This is one of the crime scene =(

[mary313]

Oh boy!! Well, it's really not the cats fault. They are only doing what's in their nature to do, (if they did indeed do it) so please do not harm the cats! It is very sad though.

[loyallyroyal]

That is so sad, doesnt somebody make a spray or something that is supposed to keep cats out of your yard?
I never really have to worry about the neighbors cats having 4 dogs, and for the most part they leave the mourning doves alone.

[H008]

Thanks for replying guys! =D

I always see the same cats in my yard and it really got on my nerves. Now this happened. argh! I hate owners that let their cats run wild like this. I can't promise what I will do if I see them in my yard again.

Does anyone have any advices what to do with the babies. I think they will die soon. In one of the nest the babies don't even have feathers yet.

[Ashling]

Take them to a wildlife rehabilitation center/ person or even the vets, so they can give them the intricate care they need to survive. If the first one you visit won't take them in, find another.

Don't harm the cats... I have your same sentiments towards cats, but they can't help what their instincts make them do and it's not their fault they have irresponsible owners. Feel sorry for the poor things! Maybe try to find out where the cats live and confront their owners calmly with all the facts and explain why they should be kept in for their safety as well as the wildlife's. They just need to be educated. It's illegal to let your cats roam at night here, I don't know about where you live though.

[slic102]

Where are you located? I know we pick baby birds up from local vets office in Dallas and transport them to a wildlife rescue center just outside of town. Call some of the vets in your area and see if they will take them in and don't wait....those babies need feeding asap!

[CRToon83]

Originally Posted by loyallyroyal

That is so sad, doesnt somebody make a spray or something that is supposed to keep cats out of your yard?

Yeah, it's called mace.

But seriously folks, this is nature. H008, I understand your frustration, but going and harming a cat will do no good. Let's face facts. These were wild birds, they were not your property. Legally, you have no avenue for retribution. Cats are very individualistic, they will not stay in one yard like a dog will. Birds are a constant source of prey, and well these just were in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

I feel that if you keep on your eye for an eye mentality, you are going to get yourself in a lot of trouble. These cats may be some little girl's best friend, and if you harm them, you will probably be caught, and in a lot of trouble. Not to mention potentially scarring a young child.

Cats will be cats, birds will be birds. However, if the bird nests are within reach, and the babies are still alive, i'll tell you what I did when I had a baby sparrow abandoned in a nest in my garage. I got a mini syringe, and sucked up the juice from some canned cat food, fed it to it a few times a day. There was no wild life rescue around here I could find... it eventually grew up and flew away.

Good luck, and just don't do anything stupid.