Black Widow Spider Bites in Cats

Identification Of The Black Widow

• Black widow spiders are one-half to one inch long and glossy black. They also have a signature red spot underneath their abdomens. They tend to reside in warmer parts of the United States, including the southeast and southwest.
  The most perilous aspect of the black widow's living quarters is they are mostly found in dark crannies often unseen by people and pets. Most pets that are bitten by black widows are interested in the strangely shaped web these creatures spin. Once a cat begins sniffing around this web, a black widow can inject a poisonous amount of venom into the cat.

Symptoms

• A bite from a black widow may severely injure or kill a small child or pet. Because the venom they eject is a neurotoxin, it will affect the central nervous system of a cat. The following symptoms may occur:
  • Paralysis
  • Stiff Muscles
  • Sensitivity in the area bitten
  • Tremors
  • Death

Tests

• To date, there are no tests that can verify the presence of venom from a black widow spider. A veterinarian can only identify certain symptoms like muscle spasms, paralysis, and if the cat has problems breathing. The possibility that a cat has access to these spiders is part of the diagnosis.
  A vet can only give treatment to help relax muscles. Otherwise, one must hope the cat did not receive a fatal dose of venom from the spider.

Treatment

• There is currently no treatment on the market for black widow spider bites in cats. There is an immunizing antivenin available to human beings, but it is very costly if a veterinarian must administer it. Cats must have a medication that will reduce any muscle spasms or be hospitalized. A cat owner will have to make a difficult decision -- either pay a costly fee for the antivenin or wait for the cat to get better on its own.

Prevention/Solution

• There are no home remedies for spider bites in cats, so avoiding such bites should be a priority. Restrict access to areas of a home where black widows may nest. If a cat goes outdoors, then the yard area should also be inspected for black widows. If found, it is best to either not allow your cat outside or get an exterminator to eliminate the spiders