okay so.. the full story...

 

Pepsi, our untamed budgie went to bed like normal last night in his cage next to his friend Talullahs cage. The lights went off, all was quiet. Then at 4am this morning i went in to the lounge to grab a nappy for my baby daughter and luckily for me i had to turn on the light as i'd lost the baby wipes.

 

I looked over at the birds just to check them and Pepsi's cage was fully upside down. There was seed and water everywhere and he was clinging to the bars of the cage shaking.

 

I dont know how long ago it had happened but after further inspection a cat had come thru our laundry window and ripped open our garbage etc and obviuosly gotten to him thru a closed sliding door.

 

I turned him up the right way, gave him more food and water and left him to recover. He was very jittery tho (not surprisingly) and i noticed he couldnt fly to his perch but wanted to jsut let him be till this morning so he was a lil more recovered so i coudl havea better look at him.

 

This morning he is shaking still and sleeping alot (altho obviously i dont know how long he was fighting with this cat or hanging from the side of his cage) and having now looked on the floor by his cage he has lost about 20 feathers.

 

He wasnt clipped at all but now he only has one pin feather left and only 2 tail feathers. His wings feathers are looking very bare and his normal fluffy feathers are also sporting bald spots.

 

I realise this probably means he will now drop like a rock instead of being able to fly like normal but is there anything else i can do for him?

 

When i turned him right way up his food door was jammed wide open by the food tray, so i imagine the cat had his paw in the cage attacking him.

 

Anyway i'd just like your guys thoughts. He doesnt need a vet or anything but i dont want him being too stressed. We are all being a little quieter than normal around him but we've left him in our lounge so he is close to his little friend Talullah who seemed mainly untouched but did loose 2 feathers.

 

Keen to hear your thoughts.

 

Bye for now

What an experience for poor Pepsi.

I remember another member had her bird attack by her dog and they took her bird to the vet for a check over. If I am correct the bird was giving antibiotics for any possible infection from the plucking attacking. You may want to be on the safe side, your side.

 

I would keep her warm, calm and even possible covered on 3 sides until she feels safe again.

 

I am sure others will come on with more advice too.

If there is ANY scratches or wounds a vet is essential. Cats claws are the filthiest things, and an infection will definately set in. I would keep him warm - he will be in shock poor little mite. Cover his cage on 3 sides, and put a lamp on if you think he needs some heat. Keep everything as quiet and peaceful as you can.

I have to say i'm a little nervous taking him to the vet after what happened to Monty.

 

I dont think hes been scratched, at least i cant see any obviuos signs of blood or anything and i dont have a heat lamp but i've had the heater on this morning and hes stop shaking now, he still looks fairly stressed tho and is sleeping alot.

 

I'll cover him up on 3 sides now. I was wondering about doing that btu hubby said he might panic more if he thinks there is something outsie the blanket but thats not the case is it? I leave it covered on 3 sides so that he can still see most things going on aye thru the last side aye?

 

Are there any signs i shoudl look for for infection as i think i'd rather wait and see before going to a vet.

 

Also is he in any danger now that he only has the one pin feather? Will he be aware that he cant fully fly or coudl he do himself more damage?

 

okay well my daughter is screaming her nut off now (3 of us are sick as here atm - so lots of ppl to look after) so i'd better go

 

thanks again for any advice

okay update, i jsut moved Pepsi into the other room with the heater as my kids were being rowdy and i noticed that he has some blood on his tummy under his feathers and Talullah where she lost all her pin feathers on one side is quite bloody too.

 

I also counted up all the feathers he has lost and hes lost 25 significant feather. No wonder my lil man is looking a little bald.

 

I was talking to my friend whos been invovled in breeding for years and years and she says that i ought to jsut see how he goes for a little while and that a visit to the Vet coudl be enough to tip him over the edge which i think i kinda agree with, so i'm going to give him a few hours in the spare room just to chill and get some rest and then see hows he goes but she said not to be surprised if he dies of shock

 

I think i already knew there was a chance tho, so now i think its jsut time to wait and see.

 

Talullah is out of her cage and just looking around after one failed attempt to fly with her ONE pin feather but i think she'll be fine, her pin feathers have bled before when she was over clipped just before we got her.

 

Anyway man i know how to talk dont i - bye for now, will keep you all informed

If you are not going to see a vet, i'd give him a warm bath with a bit of anticeptic. Make sure his cage is mostly covered and givehim some warmth. He is probibly in shock. If he has lasted this long, he might make it.

 

I'd get him some Probitics or Vetafarm "Sparks" This will help him.

Definitely a vet visit and good shot of Baytril or something is needed, that's what we have to do with all the patients at the Wildlife Shelter that have cat puncture wounds. Hope Pepsi makes out okay.

I can understand your hesistance, maybe a different avian vet is in order if you can find one. Infections set in fast and cat salvia is deadly and waiting can be deadly too. That being said. I hope everything is okay, and I know you will make the best decision in the interest of your birds.

I can fully see where all of you are coming from.

 

1) Pepsi is not at all tame and gets really riled when i go near him, so i dont think a bath woudl help him, plus i dont have any antiseptic.

 

2) He has already survived 12 hours after the attack which i think is a positive.

 

and lastly 3) i checked him jsut before and hes looking a lot better, i really think after some well earned rest he may be fine *crosses fingers*

 

I havent seen any ads for Avian vets so i wouldnt even know where to go and am right out of cash, jsut spent our last $2 of bread for lunch, so as sad as it is i'm going to wait it out and pray for the best.

 

Only time will tell, so say your birdie prayers for me and i'll keep you updated.

 

Thanks all of you. I know it all jsut sounds like excuses but i promise its not.

 

Off to check Pepsi again now, bye bye

Hi Hellybell, I know where your coming from, Hows he going today.

If he has blood on him it would be benificial for him if you gently catch him in a small towel/cloth and carefully rinse it off with warm water. I hope he's feeling a bit happier soon.

Just a quickie as i'm crook as (i burst my eardrum last night and have an abcesss on it - OUCHIES)

 

But on the up side Pepsi and Talullah are looking really good. Pepsi hasnt seem to have eaten anything other than his millet but i put it in in the hopes "comfort" food would help him feel better and it seems to have worked :bluebudgie: He is still covered but looking better all the time.

 

Talullah is still preening heavily but she is making an awful loud noise atm so thats gotta be a good thing :ausb:

 

Anyway will let you know if anything change, thanks again - dont know what i'd do without you all (even if i didnt actually TAKE all your advice )

thank you for the update :bluebudgie:, keep them coming.

:bluebudgie: We can only hope that the cat did the "plucking" kind of plunder which is totally possible instead of the "biting" thing which will make Pepsi free and clear. :ausb: