Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I just found a chipmunk outside, my cat was torturing them. I picked them up and put it in our huge maple tree that has a lot of holes in it. My cat didn't break their skin, but their back legs where injured.
I knew only my mom would help them get better so it's the best I could do, but is there more I could have done/do for them?Normally in all areas there is a animal rescue center or a place you can take injured animals. They help the animals get better and release them again in the wild. Putting the chipmunks back in the tree the cat can get in the tree to attack them again.
It will not help these chipmunks but you could put a little bell on the collar of your cat. It could help others chipmunks or others little birds or animals and your cat will still enjoy hunting as I am sure your cat is not hunting to survive.
Hope this helps the chipmunks !
My cat caught a chipmunk, but I got it away from him. I brought him in the house and put him in a container. He looks shocked and I can't tell if he's injured. I don't see any blood anywhere, but I don't want to scare it anymore than it has been, so I don't want to pick it up just yet. What can I do for it?
By ELLEN JUNKINS from Plymouth, NH
The smartest thing would be to contact your local wildlife rescue place and turn it over to them. That's the smart thing.
Now here's what I would do (and have done in the past). For a chipmunk, I would put him in a good sized hamster cage. Hamster food would be good for him.
One thing that you don't want to do is to try and handle him. Not now or in the future. If he doesn't start to come around in a day or two, take him to a vet. He may have internal injuries. But remember. He is a wild animal, no matter how small and cute he is. And once he has been nursed back to health, he should be released back into the wild. Or at least turned over to a zoo.
From my reading I have learned that at least in birds when a cat punctures the skin, it will cause a bacterial infection that will be fatal. The chipmunk might need antibiotics to heal properly. Look up wildlife rehabilitators in your area and see if there is one nearby. Take it over there and let them worry about it. Thank you for caring for it though.
PS I remember reading a story about an imprinted Crow that loved humans and was a pet. It got loose and went to another person for love, thus showing no fear, and the person killed it with a broom. Teaching animals to trust people when that animal is wild is causing that animal to be very disadvantaged as soon as it is healed it will still like to be around people. I hope this helps. I will help you look for a re habber if you cant find one. Robyn
Wildlife rescue as suggested is the best idea and if you see no blood or obvious woulds, I'd let it back out in the woods.
Thanks everybody for your advice. The chipmunk had a small wound on its leg and I put organic antibiotic on it for a few days and he was eating and doing great. I let him go back to the wild this morning.
Hi, I lost my chipmunk some months ago. My sincere advice/request to you is NEVER feed a chipmunk with cow's milk (from my personal experience).
I just saved a chipmunk from being attacked by a cat. I have it in a container with towels to give it time to relax and calm down. It seems to be anywhere from 6-9 weeks old. I couldnt get a good look at the moment but Im pretty sure its injured and the rehabilitation center near me is closed for the weekend.
We just rescued a litter of 5 that were abandoned by their mother, we don't know if she died, but there were alone for 2 days before we picked them up. I googled info, and found out they may be around 5-6 weeks old. It said you shouldn't feed them cow milk, go the pet store and buy puppy formula, called ESBILAC, they can eat crackers, fruit, nuts, veggies, anything they can munch on. I would say try antibiotics on the wound
My chipmunk has a broken back legs. Other than that he is in good condition. I have gotten him to drink some milk. He can't be put back in to the wild because of his legs. What should I do with him. I can't destroy him.
How did he do, we just rescued one last night from our small dog. He looks to have a broken leg but once we dried him off he seems allright otherwise. We dont know what to do as he cant go back into the wild like this
My cat also caught a chipmunk as well and my son rescued him. The chipmunks back legs is broken as well.. he's drank a little bit of milk. I've provided him a small bed to lay in as well as water too. I have no idea what to do. I just know I can't release him back into the wild because I know he wouldn't make it..
me too a year later
My cats got ahold of him at 2am this morning and I am not sure what to do. He is breathing and I don't see any blood. I am not sure if putting him in a box with some towels was a good idea until morn. I'm afraid he will chew through the box. Any ideas?
It is a wild animal. I would call the animal control center near you.
Hi,
I think it will be good to have it in a box. Be careful that it doesn't bite you.
Animal control will likely just euthanize the chipmunk since it is a wild animal. The best hope for this chipmunk, is to take it to your local wildlife rehabilitator.
If you cannot find out where it is, then call the veterinarian, the animal shelters or the library to ask if they know where the local wildlife rehabber is. You can even call the local zoo and ask them.
I am not sure about chipmunks, but if a cat bites a bird, the bird will die from a bacterial infection. That is why a wildlife rehab would be the best place for the animal. I have taken lots of small animals like your chipmunk to our rehabber. It has always been a relief to know they are taken care of by a professional.
You have a caring heart to have had concern for this little creature. The world needs more caring people like yourself!
Blessings,
Robyn
I have fed baby chippies before..I don't believe anyone but animal lovers will do anything about the little one you have..A box it may chew out of..I'd use a small cage or an aquarium w a lid on it. Depending on how bad the injury is it can heal w your help. Food and water. Ty for saving him/her .
You should find a wildlife refuge and get it there ASAP! If you don't have one, call the local animal shelter and get their guidance to give the little one the best chance of a good outcome. Post back what they tell you! Prayers for the wee fur one!
Dont call animal control..... They almost always will murder what you have.
Your best chance is a animal rescue. Or do the best you can yourself. Good luck.
I found four chipmunk babies inside of my home. One was left on my kitchen floor, washroom floor, hallway floor, and one was left in my master bedroom floor. This happen in a span of 4 days. It looks like they were left there on purpose. Any idea what is going on? Bad chipmunk parents? lol!!
The parents might have been scared off by a predator.
The mother could be looking for a safe place for her babies and has chosen your home. There could be reason she has done this because normally they take care of them. If you are worried call the animal control and see what you can do to prevent her from getting back in your home and what to do with the babies she has left there.
I would be very worried if I had chipmunks in my house that other critters were getting in also. Have you looked for holes in your foundation, around bricks, doors and windows?
Or my second worry would be the the dog brought them in to "play with". My previous dog would do this...bringing living creatures inside to play (which never ended well for the critters so I had to be very, very, very careful to check her mouth BEFORE she came into the house at night).
Were you able to get the new family back outside?
We are fortunate to have wild life rescues, which would have been my first call. They don't kill the creatures, they take care of them and release them when they are ready.
Post back with updates!
I found a chipmunk injured by a cat attack. What should I do for his recovery and how much time it will take to recover? What should I apply on injured area?
Our area has an animal control center. I would call them. Your taxes are paying for it.
Dont call animal control- call your local wildlife rehabber. They will care for it.
I saved a chipmunk from my cat last night, and kept it in a small cage with hay, birdseed, and water. This morning I checked on it, and it seemed to be dead although it wasn't stiff. I checked its body all over and it didn't appear to have any puncture wounds and no bleeding. It didn't respond to anything I did to it, but I noticed that it seemed to be breathing, but very shallowly.
It's almost as if its playing dead, but more so appears to be in a deep sleep. If it is, why wouldn't it wake when I was handling it? I set it back down and left it alone. I'm afraid to just lay it out in the yard for fear that something will get at it. What should I do?
Make sure it is warm and fed. Check to see if its mother appears. Here is a great article:
animals.mom.me/
I have one the same, he sleeps heavily, then wakes. We found him in the very same pose in the middle of an exposed area. He is weak, but eating and going to the bathroom. He is getting more lively over the last day.
I have rescued over 5 chipmunks from cats. They appear dead but are only feigning to fool the cat. I use this chance to examine for punctures or injuries. Once in my hand I walk them to a bush or where I think they came from. They always come back to full life and off they go running as if nothing and chirping to warn others.
