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My cat found a baby chipmunk a couple days ago and tried to eat it. We tried to find his/her mother but so far we've had no luck so we're trying to keep him/her and nurse him/her back to health. Unfortunatly I've never tended to a chipmunk so I dont really know what to do.
We put him/her in a big cage with hamster/rodent filling stuff on the bottom, a water dripper thing, and some rodent food, along with my loves t-shirt (because he/she seems to favor him and his scent) but he/she wont move or eat. When we try to give him/her water he/she wont take it. I am really afraid if I cant get him/her to eat he/she will die.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Please help me save this little baby!
well first off you said you are feeding him rodent food, this may be harmful to chipmucks! second he may need a bigger cage, chipmucks run around A LOT! third he may be sick or injured, so definately take him to the vet. fourth... he is probably paralized with fear, because 1, he is not used to being in an enclosed space and ... 2, he is probably terriffied because of your cat! how can the little guy no for sure he wont get killed.
so do your research, take him to the vet, get a bigger cage, feed him the right food, AND KEEP THE CAT AWAY, hopefully on the oposite side of the house.
ps animals in severe distress or fear will often neglect eating, but this may be a sign of illness. good luck to the baby chipmunk. :)
I think he may be suffering from internal injuries...cats bang around their prey a lot...and a baby chipmunk is so tiny. He may be in shock, also. Let him be for the night (got a little box he can crawl into...a kleenex box or something?)...For sure he won't starve in one night, or die of thirst...honest...If he's better in the morning, then try and offer him something to eat or drink (a chimpmunk wouldn't use a water bottle like a hamster, so put some water in a lid and offer it).
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I think you should take him/her to the vet, because they know everything about animals. And if it has any chance of living it will be a higher chance if in the hands of a professional. Hope I helped. :)
