Insect bites in cats

During spring and summer, many of our insects come to life and it's common for our four-legged friends to enjoy chasing them as they fly around. Cats being stung by wasps, bees or bumblebees is a common occurrence and something you should be extra vigilant about during the warmer months.

Bee or wasp stings

As with humans, a bee or wasp sting hurts your cat, but it rarely makes it seriously ill. A sting can cause discomfort to your cat in the form of pain, itching or swelling. Some cats may be allergic, but this is rare.

Allergy

It is difficult to know if a cat is allergic to bites before they have been stung for the first time, so it is important to keep a close eye on the cat if it has been stung. If the cat becomes lethargic, has difficulty breathing, has difficulty walking, vomits, becomes very swollen all over or loses consciousness, go straight to the vet.

What can I do?

In most cases, your cat will express discomfort and some pain when stung. They may start licking a lot where they have been stung and avoid leaning or supporting themselves in the direction of the bite.

You can relieve the pain with a cooling wet wrap and wash the area clean where they have been stung. If the sting remains, pull it out and keep the cat under observation for symptoms that may indicate an allergic reaction.