Has anyone had a newborn chick survive a cat attack?

[rachellea]

I got home 30 minutes after my husband called me that it happened , I’ve cleaned it with water and iodine - and put the chick on small amounts of amoxicillin / baytril orally. Since we only found out it hatched because the cat was running with it it hasn’t been much on eating.

I also covered it in triple antibiotic . All I ever see is that they die, but the chick is lively still, should I keep trying or just go ahead and stop
It’s future suffering .

 

[GodLovesU]

I would keep trying unless it has any extremely severe wounds.

 

[WoDia]

@rachellea I will only tell you what I would do. It’s important to keep the chick warm (99.5 on the warm side of the brooder). Keep the wounds clean and covered in triple antibiotic (non-pain relief). Also, the chick is a new hatchling and likely in shock. All it needs right now is a quiet, warm brooder. If it makes it through the night (and is alert tomorrow), you could consider placing one of its hatch mates with it for company and offering Nutridrench (or similar chick vitamins) water once it’s active enough to drink a little. I hope your little one can make it through this. Keep us updated.

 

[SourRoses]

The prompt antibiotics are a very good decision. Since cats have needle like teeth, the deep puncture wounds they cause are extremely prone to infection. When my mom worked as a vet tech, the vet sent everyone to their doctor or urgent care for antibiotics for even the smallest cat bite. For dog bites it was just "wash it, treat it, wrap it, get back to work".
If the chick makes it, I would keep up with the antibiotics consistently for a while after the chick seems better.

And she could make it! Her eyes are open, she doesn't look weak. She won't need to eat for a while, but when you first give her water you can put some sugar in it, it's a good pick me up for chicks that helps with stress.

With the ointment on her, make sure you're careful to maintain her temperature. She won't be able to fluff up like a normal chick for a while. Either back in the incubator or in a good brooder setup. You will likely need to baby her temperature more than normal, Unless she has a broody mom?

 

[rachellea]

The prompt antibiotics are a very good decision. Since cats have needle like teeth, the deep puncture wounds they cause are extremely prone to infection. When my mom worked as a vet tech, the vet sent everyone to their doctor or urgent care for antibiotics for even the smallest cat bite. For dog bites it was just "wash it, treat it, wrap it, get back to work".
If the chick makes it, I would keep up with the antibiotics consistently for a while after the chick seems better.

And she could make it! Her eyes are open, she doesn't look weak. She won't need to eat for a while, but when you first give her water you can put some sugar in it, it's a good pick me up for chicks that helps with stress.

With the ointment on her, make sure you're careful to maintain her temperature. She won't be able to fluff up like a normal chick for a while. Either back in the incubator or in a good brooder setup. You will likely need to baby her temperature more than normal, Unless she has a broody mom?

Right now she’s back in the incubator with a towel to cuddle up in , I do have broody moms outside but I’ve had to nurse their chicks back to health after mom attacked them too, for them I didn’t use antibiotics just hen healer, I did force feed it some egg, covered in a tad more antibiotic and it’s had sugar water to take in the first antibiotic .I’m doing my best and I will keep y’all updated, i
Promised myself this would be the last time I bothered it tonight because it is so desperately lonely . It grieves when I leave … very energetic still . Maybe I’ll be one of the only ones with a success on here but I have read so many bad stories . I will keep y’all looped in though, thank you so much for the responses

 

[rachellea]

Update the chick is Alive but now has splay leg from incubator - I have put this baby through it . Tonight I’m going to put it in its own. Brooder after one last wash of the area. I’ll continue antibiotics but this poor baby is so tired

 

[MountainWoman73]

I haven't had a cat attack (yet) but I did have a chick survive being stepped on by my 4 year old. No lasting injury. Sometimes they're tougher than you think.

 

[rachellea]

I haven't had a cat attack (yet) but I did have a chick survive being stepped on by my 4 year old. No lasting injury. Sometimes they're tougher than you think.

That is pretty impressive, I know cats carry something in their mouth (bacteria) designed to kill birds and mice/ and I’ve never seen a happy ending- however a kids shoe can also end their life lol

New update- baby is in its own brooder with hobble on for splay leg. Is getting around okay , still has tons of energy, still on antibiotics, has no idea why I won’t leave him alone . When he’s getting around really well I’ll give home a friend . Hes getting around good but I just don’t have faith my other chicks won’t run him over and he’s overcome a lot

 

[WoDia]

That is pretty impressive, I know cats carry something in their mouth (bacteria) designed to kill birds and mice/ and I’ve never seen a happy ending- however a kids shoe can also end their life lol

New update- baby is in its own brooder with hobble on for splay leg. Is getting around okay , still has tons of energy, still on antibiotics, has no idea why I won’t leave him alone . When he’s getting around really well I’ll give home a friend . Hes getting around good but I just don’t have faith my other chicks won’t run him over and he’s overcome a lot

So glad to hear that he’s doing well. Amazing story. He’s going to love having another chick for company. Continue with the updates!