Little Critter I Found (NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE REPLY)

My cat tried to kill this thing, but I stopped her and found it was still alive. It has several injures, one to the head, one under the chin, one on the neck, and on on it's back. The funny thing is it's been alive, moving, and drinking for an hour or so now. It's just a baby, it's eyes aren't even open yet.

I've been feeding it a combination of milk and warm water, but seeing as it looks like it's gonna live, I think I need to get more organized. Does anyone know what this thing is, or more importantly, what i should feed it?

BTW, it's like 2-1/2 to 3 inches long

(See attached image)

 

I've done a lot of rescue work with animals... usualy with this kind of thing you can't save it especially when it's that injured... the babies need their mothers and chances of survival are very slim in an inexperienced person's hands, but I am really glad you are trying.

The absolute best bet for this creature is to take it to a wildlife refuge. If you can't find one or do that, then keep doing what you doing ... I don't know exactly what this is especially since I can't see the size of it... but since I don't know what it is, I am not sure what to tell you what to do other than take it to a refuge.

Poor little thing.

 

Aww poor little mite.

I agree, take it to a wildlife rescue.

 

I've been looking at it... My best guess is it's a rat.

 

that pic makes it look more injured than it actually looks. it doesnt look that hurt.

anyway, since it's saturday i dont really have many options. i could take it to the vert college on a normal day, but...

it's just sleeping now. seems pretty happy really. i hope it doesnt die.

and im not too sure about wildlife refuges around here. ill look them up.

 

Keep it reasonably warm.

Check out this page: http://www.mouseranch.com/FYI/orphans.shtml

(Assuming it's a mouse or rat, it sure looks like one)

 

i am keeping it warm as best i can. ill check out that site.

 

It's definitely a rodent of some kind. I'm not aware of a whole lot of other animals that are born without hair like that, and are that small.

They need very constant care. You'll probably need to be up several times a night to keep it healthy and alive. I dobt any wildlife center would be willing to take in such a tiny, tiny, mousey creature like that. They usually deal with bigger ones. Looks like you might be on your own with this one.

On a side note, I've noticed that cats just seem to kill any thing they come across just for the hell of it. I can't tell you how many little baby rabbits our old cat used to catch. Once, after she had kittens, she caught one small baby rabbit without killing it I guess to try to get her kittens to mess with it. We tried to save it, but she had bit it somewhere on the neck and I guess destroyed some nerves because it was paralyzed on one side. It died on us later that night. Poor thing. On the brighter side, we have managed to save 2 baby birds this year who had fallen from their nests....one was a robin, and the other a pretty little blue jay.

 

I read that if they don't have their moms you have to feed it every 2 hours

 

i don't think it's a mouse, mice babies are only about an inch long, and they dont have tails... could be a rat!

 

Sadly everybody, he died last night. I found him dead when I went to feed him. I named him Ringo. I'm gonna bury him in the woods today.

Let's all have a round of applause for Ringo, one very tough little rodent type thingie!

 

Awwww

**Claps for Ringo!**

 

I'm pretty sure he was a squirel that fell out of a nest in my shed. I saw some nesting on the floor of the shed, then later I saw a squirel running along the roof. He must have fallen out of a nest in the raftors or soemthing.

Thanks for all the help though.

 

Bummer, a squirrel would be fun to have. Sounds likea chick which falls from the nest, can't do much for them.

 

ok, i didn't have time to read the other posts so forgive me if this has already been said.
first i should tell you i am an apprentice wildlife rehabillitator and have worked with wildlife for over five years.

with that being said, what you have is a baby possum and if it is not yet, you need to get it to the closest wildlife rehabilitator asap!! the baby will 100% die if not. second, it is 100% ILLEGAL for you to have that in your posession, care for, treat, etc. it is illegal. period. the best thing you can ever do for an injured animal is to love it enough to realize you don't have the necessary skills to give it the proper treatment and chance for rehabillitation and release and to get it to someone who can really help it! third, cat injuries to wildlife are rarely survived, especially in an animal that young. it needs antibiotics IMMEDIATELY which can only be determined, assessed, and given by a licensed rehabilitator. cat injuries (scratches, bites, etc.) carry the high risk of infection that can kill any wild animal quickly. even if you see no 'infection' at the wound sites, guarenteed inside it is occuring.

also, if this animal is to survive, it needs to be treated so as to not imprint, to be able to grow and recooperate with others of its species, and to be fed the proper natural diet so it can grow properly. opossums grow rapidly and even hours without the proper nutrients can be fatal. even if the animal initially seems to be doing well, they go down hill very quickly and without warning.

PLEASE do the right and LEGAL thing and turn this baby over to someone who can give it a chance. you can even leave your info and they will contact you if it survives to be released. most places will even allow you to come and watch the release happen. and there is no greater feeling than seeing a once hurt animal return to its freedom!!
if you need help finding someone in your area, go to www.iwrc-online.org and there should be a link to places by state/city and you can also try the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association website (which i can't think of off the top of my head).

 

Well actually, if you had read the posts, he already died, because it was the weekend and I couldnt get him to any type of exotic vert or anything because on the little island where I live, there are not many unusual services such as that.

BTW, im not trying to sound mean or anything where i said "if you had read the posts", it was just the simplest way of saying it

oh, and i couldnt really give a second shit about the legality of it. if i cant get it to a specialist im gonna try to save it anyway. not trying to sound mean here either

 

don't take this the wrong way, but you should care its illegal. not for any consequenses that would happen to you, but for the consequenses it has on the animal!! no matter how good the intentions without the training/education trying to help is essential torture to the animal as it slowly dies.
i understand how much you can really love or care for something and want to be the one to help it, but as i said before, you have to love or want the best for the animal (it being healed and returned to the wild) and put that above your personal feelings for the animal. it is there ONLY chance at survival! i am sorry you lost the critter. that's hard, i know, but you should know there are wildlife rehabilitators open 24/7 and even if you don't have a big sanctuary near where you live, you most likely have many licensed private rehabilitators. if you post your city/state if will get you a list of wildlife rehabiltators in your area.

 

there may be, but im pretty sure that there arent any services like that here. i live in prince edward island in atlantic canada, id most likely have to leave the island to get specialty services such as that. from where i live, it's a four hour drive off the island, then another two or three to moncton, which is the biggest city i could get to in new brunswick. thats seven hours. i dont think he would have lived as long as he did in a car. couldnt have plugged in the heating pad or anything. i did my best for him.

 

If I found a little creature, and couldn't find a place to bring it, I would take care of it. I don't care if it's illeagle. What should I do, let it die because I don't want to get in trouble?

Poor Ringo, RIP

 

Or he could of just left it there to die... yes that would be better according to your post..... I cant stand you peta people..... I found 4 kittens with no mom and that were sick and i asked a person like you for help and they acted just like you telling me i shouldnt have done anything and they refused to help me because they werent mine..... So i should just let them die??????? Well i didnt know anything and now i have 4 healthy cats and im glad i didnt just leave them like people suggest.