Spider Bite Tips for Cats

The black widow and the brown recluse are both venomous spiders. Black widow spider venom is a nerve toxin. One bite can be sufficient to severely affect or even kill a small cat. Black widow spiders are typically shiny, black and have a distinctive red hourglass-shaped area on their stomachs.

Brown recluse venom is a local toxin and destroys the tissues surrounding the bite. With or without treatment, the wound may take weeks to heal. Brown recluse spiders can be identified by a distinctive fiddle-shaped mark on their.

Prompt veterinary treatment is recommended if you suspect a venomous spider has bitten your cat.

For more information, please click on Black Widow Spider or Brown Recluse Spider.