My cats are playing with millipedes. Are they toxic to my pets?

I am sorry to hear about Jack! In the US there are no millipedes that are considered toxic to dogs but some may produce chemicals that could be distasteful or irritating to a dog's mouth. You can try wiping your dog's face/rinsing his mouth and offering some food to try to get the taste out of his mouth. If he begins vomiting or develops facial swelling/trouble breathing this could be a rare sign of an allergic reaction and he should see a vet right away.

This looks like a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). If so, it is not deadly. House centipedes do their hunting via a set of venomous front legs. The good news is that they are usually unable to bite/sting through skin. If they are successful, it is not life-threatening, it's supposed to feel a lot like a bee sting. Usually if cats lick/ingest something toxic they will foam at the mouth - if you notice that all you need to do is rinse out her mouth with tap water. Don't shove or force the water down her throat or she could aspirate the water into the lungs. If she was stung by some chance it will likely resolve on it's own. I would only be worried if she actually at the whole thing and even then, it's not toxic; it just may upset her stomach. Hope this helps. If you have more questions please post again.

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!

You are right in saying that certain chemicals should be avoided around cats. This should include permethrins, pyrethrins, and any of the chemicals derived from these compounds. However, most studies have already shown that as long as your kitty isn't actively licking this chemical, being directly sprayed with it,or eating dozens of the ants killed by it, the level of toxic exposure required to cost significant harm or death in a cat is pretty unlikely. That is not to say that ultimately it would be safer to relocate your cat during the extermination process or use a different chemical that kills ants. There are many different insecticides that have very limited intoxication potential. If you have any concern about what to use, I would advise you to reference the pet poison healthline website. You can also call them if you want specific advise concerning your pet. Here's the website: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ Good luck in your ant killing journey!

Slugs in themselves do not pose a significant problem to cat’s digestive system – insects and the like are a natural part of the feline diet. Though slugs are non-toxic, the mucous they produce may cause your cat to drool or vomit. I would be concerned, however, if there is slug deterrent used in your yard, as that is toxic to cats. Depending on the slug-deterrent used, one slug is unlikely to cause terrible results, but you can monitor Zoe for signs of agitation, excessive drooling, muscle tremors and seizures, and a racing heart rate. If you see any of those signs in her, take her to a vet right away.

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.

If ingested in high doses, indoxacarb can lead to seizures in cats. However, this medication has a relatively high margin of safety in both dogs and cats. I do not know how many indoxacarb-containing cockroaches would constitute a toxic dose., but it is unlikely that eating an infected cockroach or two will cause significant problems. Obviously try to avoid ingestion of any cockroaches if at all possible. Ideally consider kenneling Fox or sending him to a friend's house while you are treating your home for cockroaches to avoid exposure.