A Cats Bee or Wasp Sting

Cats can often come into contact with such insects that give stings or bites, especially younger or playful cats that may still chase after bees or wasps. Stings on the body, while painful are often not so serious unless they are numerous however a bees stinger or barb is likely to be left in the skin and will continue to discharge its poison so should be removed quickly with tweesers however this can sometimes be tricky since the bees sting has a barb. Stings can be bathed in a warm water solution containing some sodium bicarbonate and a cold ice pack applied to reduce the localised swelling.

The biggest danger in wasp or bee stings is if the cat is stung on a sensitive area of the body like throat, mouth or nose where it can cause breathing difficulties or has an anaphylactic shock reaction which is an especially dangerous allergic reaction that can result in death if not treated immediately by a veterinarian since most often the throat and airways swell up. It may be nescessary for the vet to attempt artificial respiration however this is not always successful.