Scorpion sting in cats - Symptoms and what to do

Our little felines are very curious, adventurous, playful beings with a great hunting instinct that does not stop even with animals such as scorpions, also called scorpions. Unlike us, our cats don't see danger when they dig up or try to play or get close to one of these animals.

They do not know that these will feel threatened and will sting to defend themselves. In addition to causing intense pain in the area of ​​​​the sting, sometimes these scorpions have a poison capable of causing the death of our little feline in a very short time.

Can a scorpion kill a cat?

The scorpion stings are really painful and not even the thick skin of our cats can resist them. But, in addition, some of these arthropods are poisonous, to the point that they can cause the death of the feline. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish the dangerous of the scorpions and to know which ones are poisonous. To guide you, keep in mind:

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• Non-dangerous scorpions: they have rounded tweezers, they are black or dark brown, and they have a uniform back and a tail with a stinger.
• Dangerous scorpions: they are light brown or yellow in color, have an elongated body, a back with defined stripes, fine and long pincers and a tail with a stinger and a barb, giving the appearance of a double stinger.

 

Symptoms of a scorpion sting in cats

We are not always aware that a scorpion has just stung our cat, since, on many occasions, we do not see the author of the attack or we are not sure what animal it was. But we can suspect it based on the symptoms it causes. Thus, the tremendous pain is characteristic and the cat can manifest it with restlessness, agitation, vocalizations and a constant licking of the bite area. Other clinical signs presented by a cat stung by a scorpion are the following:

• Salivation.
• Tremors.
• tearing
• Dilated pupils.
• Paralysis of the diaphragm.
• Fever.
• Difficulty to swallow.
• Cardiovascular, neurological and pulmonary collapse.
• Respiratory difficulty.
• Redness in the bite area.
• vomiting.
• Abnormal behavior.
• seizures
• Death in a few minutes in the event that the sting was from a poisonous scorpion.

Given the potential risk, if you see a scorpion near your house and signs like those mentioned in your cat, go urgently to the veterinary center. Remember that, whatever time it is, there is always someone with 24-hour service. Lastly, it should be noted that some cats can develop anaphylactic shock , a serious and immediate allergic reaction that also requires urgent medical attention.

 

What to do if my cat is stung by a scorpion

The recommendation is to go to the veterinary center within the first 40 minutes and, if possible, capture or photograph the scorpion to find out if it is lethal or not and what procedure should be followed for treatment. During the journey to the clinic, make sure your cat does not get too agitated or stressed, since the acceleration of the heart rate makes the poison advance much faster. The veterinary center will proceed as follows:

1. It is generally sought to remove the stinger.
2. Clean the bite area.
3. Apply local cold.
4. In addition, you must put an antidote in case the sting is the work of a poisonous scorpion.
5. Fluid therapy, antihistamines or drugs to relieve pain may also be prescribed.

It is important not to medicate the cat on our own. Due to the metabolic peculiarities of this species, it is dangerous to give medicines that are not supervised or marketed for them. Remember that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for human use, such as ibuprofen , paracetamol or aspirin, can seriously harm your cat and put their life in even more danger.

 

Are there home remedies for scorpion stings in cats?

The thing to do whenever it is known or suspected that a cat has been stung by a scorpion is to take it to the vet, where they can do much more for its life than all home remedies combined. In addition, it is the only way to reverse the venom and prevent a lethal progression in the case of venomous scorpions, as well as to treat anaphylactic shock in those cats that are allergic.

However, if you know for sure what the toxic species are and your pulse does not tremble when it comes to extracting the stinger from your cat's foot, you can remove it, clean the area with soap and water and put a cloth or a compress cold to reduce inflammation and produce a vasoconstriction that reduces the advance of the poison for a few minutes. A paste of baking soda and water or calamine lotion can also be applied to reduce itching and provide some relief to the cat before arriving at the veterinary facility.