My cat ate a spider. What if it's a black widow? Will he get sick?

This is not a black widow nor a brown widow, nor a hobo nor yellow sack spider which would be the dangerous spiders in Oregon.. So, while it is likely your kitty was bitten, it is unlikely that there is lasting damage. The poison of this spider likely did hurt or irritate your cat, but she should be fine since the licking and pawing stopped.

These spiders can be harmful if they eat them or if they get bitten by one. Here is a link to an article about this issue. Hope it helps to answer your questions: https://www.cuteness.com/article/treatments-whitetailed-spider-bite-cats

Oh no, poor Sylar! If he's not pawing at his mouth or foaming anymore, I would keep an eye on him. It could be the pain from the spider caused that reaction. I would try to look up the spider on the internet to see if it is poisonous or not, and if it is, rush him into an ER vet now. While monitor him, if you see any swelling of the mouth, vomiting, foaming of the mouth, respiratory difficulties, or the bite in his mouth gets bigger, I would have him seen by a vet right away.

The main insect to be concerned about would be a venomous spider like a black widow or brown recluse. Bites from these spiders can cause large wounds and tissue necrosis and can be very complicated to treat. Other insect bites will be a nuisance but should not cause any major problems. Additionally, if your cat eats the bugs, the only symptoms you may see are those related to GI upset. These symptoms would include drooling excessively, inappetance, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Or you may not notice any symptoms at all. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may still be normal after a spider bite. However, something like an abscess or a growth cannot be ruled out just by looking at it. I would recommend you continue the course. However, if this gets worse such as getting larger, I recommend you consider having it sampled to make sure he is not developing anything else. Best of luck!

Yes a spider bite can cause a swelling. the swelling does not look very extensive so likely was not caused by one of the "nasty" spiders such as a black widow or a brown recluse. If your kitty, however, starts getting abdominal pain (rigid belly) or the swelling starts to change color, then a visit at the emergency room is the next step. If Maisey eats, drinks, lets you touch the swelling and otherwise does not act ill, then I think you have nothing to worry about and the swelling should go away within a day or so.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is a risk that she may be stung in the throat. If that is the case, she may develop signs of breathing difficulties within a few minutes from eating the bug. If that happened, it should be treated as an emergency. If Myla ate the bug a while ago and she looks fine now, there should not be any problems, she will likely digest the bug.