My cat killed a baby black snake with red diamond spots. What is it?

If you can see the pupils clearly and safely, then you can determine if it is a danger. Most non-venomous snakes have round pupils. Venomous snakes have slits (think of the dragon, Smaug, from The Hobbit movies). If you are unsure, keep your distance and contact Animal Control. The image is blurry and dark, which makes identification difficult.

Unfortunately there is nothing I would recommend doing at home, other than keeping Panther warm and encouraging water consumption as much as possible. Treatment of venomous snake bites is usually focused on pain medication with injectable opioids, IV fluid therapy, and antivenom. Monitoring blood work is important as well. If there is any way to get Panther to a vet I would recommend traveling.

Thanks for reaching out and including a photo. Does appear to be a garter snake, which are not poisonous. Just because not venomous, does not mean it wont' bite and they still have saliva that can cause some reactions in humans. In many states, keeping wildlife captive is not legal and is very stressful on the snake. Consider re-releasing or presenting to a wildlife rehabilitation society. Good luck.

That looks like it could be a baby snake to me. Eww!! It's good that Wednesday is eating and drinking. I'd keep an eye on her for now, and if she keeps acting lethargic over the next 24-48 hours, have her seen by a vet.

It may be a retained eye cap, injury/infection or could indeed by a genetic "defect". Have it examined by a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Wild snakes generally should not be kept as pets as they do not transition to easily to captivity. They may also harbor parasites and bacteria that professionally bred snakes are not exposed to.

Most likely this is an abscess due to a bite by another cat based on your description. A snake bite would have in most cases swollen instantly and caused serious pain and additional problems. Unfortunately this is a condition that requires systemic antibiotics to treat. You will need to get your cat to a vet for treatment. You may look to see if there are any low-cost clinics around you. Sometimes the local humane society or APL or ASPCA will have a lower cost veterinary clinic. You may find out if any of the clinics in your area offer a payment plan or allow the use of Care Credit which is credit line for medical costs you can apply for. Or you may need to ask family or friends to help out. This website may provide some other ideas/resources: http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html In the meantime you can help the abscess to drain by applying a warm compress (like a clean warm washrag) to the area for 5-10 minutes a few times daily and cleaning any drainage away afterwards. The longer you delay treatment by a vet the more expensive the issue may become to treat.

Hello. Without a picture, I can only guess , but your cat probably vomited up some cord like material he swallowed. Cats do like to eat anything that looks like string. It is possible he tried to ingest a small snake, too, but whatever it was, I would just be happy he vomited it up rather than it becoming an obstruction in his intestines that could have required hospitalization. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.