Yesterday I heard a thud

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You may or may not know that is common for cardinals, especially young ones, to get a bit confused. They will see their reflection in a window or mirror, and fly right into it, to fight or to flirt. So, I heard this thud, and over to the side of my windows I caught a little flutter out of the corner of my eye. I ignored it. Princess was outside, though. She retrieved the victim, who immediately put up a loud screech. Of course I intervened. Loosened the cat from the female cardinal, and put the cat indoors. The cardinal just sat on the lawn, in a daze. No blood. Some ruffled feathers, but looking okay. Blinking, as if to ask "What hit me?" Like any good bird mother, I knelt down, and offered an extended index finger. She climbed aboard. I took her across the yard and nestled her in some low growing evergreens. She sat a while, out of sight, unless you knew precisely where to look. I was relieved on one of my later trips out to check on her she got all flustered and fluttered deeper into the shrubs to recover. There have been many cardinals at the feeding stations again today. I certainly hope she was one of them.