Insect Stings

Insect stings, particularly those of wasps and bees, are a hazard. Cats are fascinated by movement and will jump and snap at wasps or bees, often getting stung in the process. Resultant swelling can be severe and dangerous, especially in the mouth or throat. Swelling within the mouth or throat, or pressure caused by swelling in the neck, can block the air passages and threaten suffocation. Swelling of mucous membranes in the mouth leads to excessive salivation and difficulty in eating. ice packs will help to reduce swelling, but persistent swelling indicates a systemic, possibly allergic reaction, which should be treated immediately by a veterinarian.

For a simple bee sting, the first course of action is to remove the stinger. If it is a wasp or bee sting in the mouth, wash the mouth with a mixture of one teaspoon baking soda to one pint of water. If the sting is on the skin, gently swab the painful area with rubbing alcohol. immediately apply a paste of baking soda and water to help relieve the itching. Use this treatment for all types of insect bites that cause a mild, local reaction.

Ticks are prevalent in wooded areas in the summer. These parasites fasten onto the cat's body, embed their heads into the skin and suck blood, eventually swelling up to resemble a coffee bean. To remove a tick, cover it with an alcohol-soaked piece of cotton; never try to burn it with a match or cigarette. After a few minutes it should begin to back out of the cat's skin. Lift it off with tweezers, taking care to keep the head intact. Fragments of the head that remain in the skin can cause infection. Place the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it, then flush it down the toilet. Swab the affected area of skin with alcohol and let it dry.