No one likes getting stung by a bee, but it’s hard to advise your cat against swatting at one buzzing around. Instead of worrying too much about trying to prevent a bee sting, you can be ready to take care of your cat in case it does get stung. To prepare you for treating a cat with a bee sting we’re going to cover:
Since your cat is unlikely to walk up and tell you it was stung by a bee, you need to know what to look for to identify a bee sting. The most common places for bee stings on cats are face, nose, and paw. If your cat has decided a bee is prey it might swat at and bat the bee around, inadvertently getting itself stung.
At first, your cat will probably react to a sting in a similar way you would--it might jump, cry out, or run away from wherever they were when it happened. A sting hurts and can be very surprising, so if your cat has a sudden reaction you might suspect a bee sting even if you didn’t notice a bee beforehand.
If your cat is pawing at its face, licking its paw more than usual, or acting particularly careful with a paw, it might be experiencing discomfort as a result of a sting. You may be able to identify mild swelling or tenderness at the location of the sting. These are totally normal reactions to a bee sting for a cat.
Your cat will react differently if it is allergic to bees. Bee allergies are not common in cats, but you can’t know ahead of time what your cat’s reaction to a bee sting will be, but the minutes after the sting will make it easy for you to tell if your cat is allergic to bees. Reacting quickly can save your cat’s life.
Although each allergy can present differently, here are some things to look for that indicate an allergic response:
A cat who is allergic to bees, just like a person with the same allergy, can go into anaphylactic shock, which means it will have a great deal of difficulty breathing and eventually stop. If your cat is demonstrating these extreme symptoms, you should take them to your emergency vet as quickly as possible.
If your cat has an allergic reaction, your vet may use corticosteroids or epinephrine to stop anaphylactic shock and decide from there what your cat needs to get back to happy and healthy. Your vet may also prescribe you an EpiPen to have at your home in case of a future bee sting.
If your cat has a normal reaction to a bee sting, there are some things you can do to help them:
Although a bee sting can be frightening if you don’t know how your cat will react, paying close attention to their behavior and symptoms makes it easy for you to provide your cat with the proper care following a sting. Use this guide to make sure your cat is back to its normal self in no time.
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