Toxic to cats · Bites & stings

Is Spiders toxic to cats?

Extreme severity

Yes. Even a small amount can be life-threatening — treat any exposure as an emergency and contact a vet immediately.

Symptoms to watch for

  • Redness to the skin
  • Bite wound
  • Swelling
  • Inflammation to the skin
  • Pain to the touch
  • Warmth or hot feeling to the touch
  • Necrosis of the skin
  • Bruising
  • Vomiting
  • Scabbing of the skin
  • Local itchiness of the skin
  • Organ failure
  • Fever
  • Abnormal clotting

How vets treat it

Remove the pet from the area and monitor for clinical signs. Relocate the spider safely if possible and seek veterinary attention if symptoms develop.

Why it's dangerous

Spiders inject venom through bites which can cause localized tissue damage, inflammation, and in severe cases, systemic organ failure or clotting abnormalities.

Good to know

The black widow and brown recluse are the most dangerous; females are generally larger and more venomous than males.

Sources

This page is informational and is not veterinary advice. If your pet has been exposed to something risky, contact your vet or an animal poison control line right away.

More substances toxic to cats

Black Widow Spider Extreme severity Brown Recluse Spider Extreme severity Coral Snake Extreme severity Rattlesnake Extreme severity Everything toxic to cats →

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