My cat ate a fly sprayed with bug killer. Will my cat be okay?

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.

This toxin exposure can cause oral irritation, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, pain and lethargy. Sometimes it can require supportive care such as fluids, antibiotics and GI medication. If your cat acts abnormally at all she should be seen by your veterinarian.

In general, most over the counter pesticides when dry, will not harm pets. The most common signs seen will be some transient vomiting, possible drooling, and possibly diarrhea when ingested in small amounts. Obviously there are many different kinds of pesticides available and the signs associated with them can vary greatly. The label on the original container for the pesticide should have a phone number to contact incase of concerns and more specific guidance may be found there. Ingestion of dead spiders is not likely to lead to any significant illness. As your dog is reportedly fine, it is unlikely you will see any problems at this time. Of course, if you notice your dog acting ill, please seek veterinary attention.

Since it was several hours after applying the bug spray I think Willow will be just fine. If the bug spray was going to affect her she would have to ingest a large amount. Just keep an eye on her for now and if she is still acting abnormal after 24 hours or her symptoms change and become more severe then take her to the vet.

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!

Some parasites and insects can be carriers of bacteria as well as other infectious agents. However this is not an uncommon behavior in cats and certainly not every cat that eats a bug will get sick. Keeping Pearl on a flea/tick preventative will help prevent some of the more common infections. Be careful about applying any agent to prevent bugs as they can be toxic to cats.

Mmmm, protein! Catching insects is all part of a cat's prey drive, and it is normal for them to hunt and eat their prey, even creepy-crawlies. If she eats too many cockroaches at one time, it is possible that she could get an upset stomach. I would also be a little concerned if the cockroaches have been exposed to any pesticides, so use of pet-safe cockroach traps would be smarter than a spray or chemical.