If your cat appears to be in severe pain, this could be a warning sign of an extreme reaction. Under no circumstances should you give your kitty over-the-counter pain medication, which is poisonous to cats. Your vet will not only advise you on which type of medication is safest, but also on the proper dosage.įor home care, you can treat mild swelling by applying a cold compress or wrapping the affected area with a cool washcloth. It might be tempting to administer diphenhydramine to your kitty without first consulting a vet, but be cautioned: some over-the-counter medications containing diphenhydramine might also contain other ingredients, such as pain medication, which could be harmful or even fatal to a cat. If she doesn't advise you to bring your cat in to get checked out, she may recommend administering an antihistamine medication, such as diphenhydramine, which will slow your cat's reactions to the histamine released by the venom. Even if she appears to have a mild, localized reaction, you should still call your vet right away. Once the stinger is removed, keep a close eye on your kitty to watch for signs of a severe reaction. If you try to pull it out with tweezers or your fingers, you run the risk of rupturing the venom sac and pushing more venom into the wound. Gently use the edge of a credit card to scrape the stinger out. A bee's stinger can continue pumping venom into the wound for up to three minutes after the sting occurs. If the stinger is still in the wound, it should be removed right away. Any of these signs are your cue to take your cat to an emergency vet as quickly as possible. Other signs to watch for, according to the Animal Hospital of North Asheville, include shallow or rapid breathing, drooling, changes in behavior, mood or mental function and collapse. A heart rate that's either too slow or too fast.

Signs that your cat is experiencing anaphylactic shock include the following:

Your kitty might show signs of pain such as lameness or limping, distressed vocalizations or compulsive licking at the site of the sting. Wasps, on the other hand, keep their stingers intact, which makes it possible for them to sting their victims multiple times, which could increase the danger to your pet.Įxtreme swelling, redness and pain might be early signs of an extreme reaction. Bees have barbed stingers that detach from their bodies and become embedded in the skin when they sting. Check to see if the stinger is still in the wound. Most often this occurs on the face, typically near the nose, or on a paw, thanks to the cat's tendency to bat her prey around. In most cases, a cat will experience a localized reaction, which results in mild swelling and tenderness at the site of the sting. Otherwise, your vet can advise you on treatment to administer at home. As such, any sign of an extreme reaction must receive veterinary treatment right away.īecause it's impossible to know for certain whether your cat might experience an extreme reaction, as soon as you're aware of the sting it's best to call a veterinarian, who may have you bring your kitty in to be safe. This could result in a dangerous drop in blood pressure that could be fatal. While the majority of cats aren't hypersensitive to the venom found in bee or wasp stings, if your kitty falls into the minority of cats that are allergic, getting stung could make her seriously ill or go into anaphylactic shock. Here is everything you need to know about bee sting treatment for cats. If your kitty has a hypersensitivity to the toxins released by a sting, the results could be a lot more serious than a swollen paw. A cat's curiosity and predatory instincts are likely to compel her to pounce on the intruder, which is just as likely to respond by stinging its attacker.

Even indoor cats aren't immune to such a catastrophe if a wasp or bee finds its way into the house. Cats and bee stings are not a recipe for a happy, healthy kitty.

Dog stung by bee on paw limping