Bites can lead to serious illness in birds.

Even more lethal than the actual bite itself is the bacteria transferred from the animal to the bird in the puncture bite wound. This is especially true of cat bites. Pasteurella multocida is the bacterium to which birds are very sensitive. Birds that have been bitten (especially by cats) must be taken to the veterinarian immediately for treatment, which includes a strenuous antibiotic therapy.