Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    If the bee had stung one of your cats, you would already know. The cats
    wouldn't have kept playing with it. I saw a cat go after a bumble bee
    once, and when the bee stung the cat, the cat let out the loudest shriek
    I ever heard and must have jumped 6 ft. in the air. Needless to say,
    he didn't bother the bee any more after that. I felt bad for the poor
    kitty, but when I think of it now it's funny. Someone once told me that
    after a wasp stings someone, it dies. If that is true, and the wasp was
    still alive then it couldn't have stung your cats. 
    
    My Smokia was going after a wasp the other day and it concerned me too.
    I would think a bee sting would be harmless to a cat, (except the pain)
    unless the cat was alergic to the bee. Some people are alergic to bees,
    so some cats might be too. Just a guess. I hope you cats are OK. 

    It's worker honeybees that sting once, then die.  Queen bees can sting
    repeatedly (but you seldom encounter them).  Wasps and hornets can
    sting repeatedly, too.  In fact, they must in order to kill the insects
    and spiders they feed to their grubs.  I myself have been stung at
    least three times by the same wasp.
    
    Earl Wajenberg

    I had no idea that a wasp could sting more than once!
    
    Part of being a mother (...and for you fathers out there as well) is 
    being prepared.  I do know that humans can die from a bee sting, their 
    throats can close up and they swell...some people carry medication with 
    them at all times.  
    
    As a child my mother would make a paste of baking soda and water and
    put it on our bee/wasp stings which seemed to work.
    
    Now I am sure that it will never happen to me (boy, have I heard THAT
    before) but I want to be prepared...in case something bites my babes.
    
    I think it would be pretty difficult to do CPR on Otis....maybe not Tiff 
    - she lays there with her mouth open half the time anyway.
    
    Seriously though, I didn't know if anyone out there had an experience with
    insect bits that could help all of us know what to do in case of an 
    emergency!
    
    Marilyn
    

    actually, humans can die of WASP stings, too,  if they are allergic.

    I'm surprised to hear that they can sting multiple times because the
    last time I got stung, I only got stung once and the doctor had to
    remove the stinger so I assumed that the wasp died shortly thereafter.

    Deb (allergic to wasps)

    I'm allergic, too!
    
    Cats DO have reactions.....My cat B.K. got stung last
    summer.  I assume he tried to eat it, because his face
    was severely swollen, and he was spitting foam and having
    a hard time breathing.  We rushed him to the vets, and they
    gave him a shot to prevent any fluid buildup in his lungs.
    I was told this happens often when a cat gets stung.
    His swelling started to go down about halfway to the vets.
    But on the way home, he had an *accident* in the box....seems
    the shock gave him the runs that quickly. (he was embarrassed, too!)
    
    We couldn't find the spot where he was stung, either.
    
    L-

    Murdock found a wasp in our bedroom, and went to town with it before
    I could stop him.  He got stung on his paw, and ran behind the water
    bed for cover.  My husband was throwing a nutty because we couldn't
    get him out from behind the waterbed, and thought he was going to
    die.  Well, he didn't die, but was very spooked for several hours
    afterwards.  His paw didn't swell, and I couldn't find the stinger
    in there but he did bleed.  I have never been stung by a bee myself,
    and don't want there to ever be a first time!
    

    Well, yes, bee/wasp stings can be toxic to cats.  Gino came down
    the back stairs making strange movements and was trying to wipe
    something away from his mouth.  Then I saw what it was - a yellow
    jacket.  He managed to knock it away but the stinger was still stuck
    in his lower inside lip.  Well, we managed to get that out and then
    his face started to swell up.  So we called the vet immediately
    and he was there waiting for us when we walked through the door.
    
    After a thorough examination it was discovered that not only was
    his face swollen, but the throat had started to swell which could
    have affected his breathing.  So a cortisone injection was given.
     
    I'm real cautious when I see a bee in the house.  I've found dead
    ones that I know the cats have gotten too and when I find the bodies
    of these bees I really check the babies over.  I also heard from
    a friend that her cat got a horrible reaction from a spider bite
    swollen face/head and ended up in the vets for 3 days.
    
    
    Giudi, Pippin, Gino & Stitch

    That's what frightens me - either coming home and they have been bitten
    and no one is there to help them...OR being able to get them to the vets 
    in time.
    
    I don't mean to get 'off the deep end' on this one, but I never really
    thought about it til I saw the two of them playing with that wasp
    yesterday morning, like it was a 'toy'.  
    
    Otis came 'flying' into the bedroom on Saturday and kept 'licking' (for
    lack of a better word) the roof of his mouth and every time I tried to
    get near him...he would bolt.  When I did get a hold of him he dug into
    me for all he was worth, he still has his claws (he obviously didn't
    want me near him) and HE HURT ME!
    
    Finally, he shook his head and _something_ came flying out of his mouth, 
    but I never found anything.  I did come across a small piece of bark 
    (like something that would come in on someone's shoe)....I don't know, I 
    guess being home all day and having nothing to do - he decided to try 
    and 'eat' that!  All I know is that I was 'frantic'...and I didn't rest
    until I could see that he was o.k. and breathing and could swallow.
    
    Folks, I do get paranoid about these things...as if you can't tell!
    
    Marilyn
    
    P.S.  Did the vet have any 'home' remedy for insect bites on animals?
          Somehow, I don't think so!
    

    Marilyn, how are the wasps getting in the house?  (I had some that
    regularly came down thru the chimney until I blocked it off -- there's
    no damper to keep closed.)
    

    re: allergies - Humans who are severely allergic to bee stings go into
    anaphalactic (sp?) Shock..  Part of that reaction involves swelling
    of the throat to the point that it stops the breathing.  Usually a
    shot of adrenalin is given to counteract the reaction. 
    
    If a cat was going through the same reaction, CPR would do NO GOOD
    at all since the airway would be blocked.  If you think your cat is
    having a severe reaction to a bee or wasp sting then don't dawdle.
    Take him/her to the vet immediately.  Better to over react a little
    than for the cat to die.
      My $.02
       Nancy DC
    
    p.s. I have no idea what percent of the human population is that
    sensitive to bee stings.  Anyone have any idea??
    

    Re:  Wasp 'entering' my home.
    
    I had had the windows opened and was washing them - taking out the
    screens and hosing them down.  I never saw one fly in - but apparantly
    one *did*.  It wasn't til later that I saw Otis playing with it.
    
    My place is a new condo and pretty tight - so this had never happened
    before.  I will be VERY careful - from now on - when I take off the
    screens and open the French doors in the living room (off the deck).
    My daughter said the bees and wasps are terrible there (a lot of
    flowers and flowering trees nearby)...she doesn't even want to sit out
    there because of them.
    
    Apparantly the maintenance people are supposed to 'spray' or watch for
    nests - so I have no idea where they come from.
    
    Another reason we don't want to sit out there is - ticks!  Blecch!
    
    Marilyn
    

    My Kitty was stung by a bee quite a few years ago.  His paw doubled in
    size.  It looked so funny - but frightening at the same time.  We never 
    went to the vet - as they didn't recommend a visit unless he seemed ill 
    - which he wasn't.  Later on (weeks later), I was cleaning the window 
    sills and there she was - a HUGE bee lying dead!
    
    Sonia
    
    Great topic - we have tons of wasps where we live now.  I was curious
    about how they would affect our kitties.

    I keep a tank of epinephrine on hand at home to administer in the
    case of anaphalactic shock after a vaccine.  That would be what
    the vet would give a kitty that was having an allergic reaction
    to a bee or wasp sting, I would imagine.  I had never considered
    this subject before, but since you brought it up, I am glad that
    I have the epiephrine in case something ever happens to one of my
    guys.
    
    Jo

    Epinephrine is another word for Adrenaline.  That's exactly what
    they give humans who are suffering from anaphalactic shock.
      Nancy "x-nursing student" DC

    Hi Jo!
    
    I also keep epinephrine at home "just in case" after a vaccine.
    I've never had to use it.  Have you?  I used to take it out, put
    it and an extra needle right next to the vaccine...then the vet
    told me that in the rare event of a reaction, there would be 5-10
    minutes before it might even become obvious...so now I don't worry
    about split second timing!
    
    	Pennie

    No, I have never had to use it either, but a friend on mine did
    once.  Saved her kitten's life by having it there.  That was when
    I decided that I had better keep some in the house for emergencies.
    
    Jo

    How much epinephrene would you give a full grown cat?

    It would depend on the weight.  I would call my vet's emergency
    number if I ever needed to know, and tell her what happened, and
    let her advise on the amount according to the size of the cat.
    
    Jo

    I have two syringes filled with an amount of sterile saline,
    with instructions from the vet that if I need to use the 
    epinephrine, I add a specified additional amount of epinephrine
    and inject into the kitten/cat having a vaccine reaction.
    
    I agree with Jo...check with your vet.  But I might suggest
    checking in advance.  Having a cat with an emergency is no time
    to find out that the vet is out to dinner, etc.!

    The bottle of epinephrine I have come with dosage and weights.
    I have, in the past, had two cats react VERY severely to their
    vaccinations.  Both are ok, but when I give shots, I , too,
    make sure I have a tank of epi close by with instructions just
    as close by !  The first cat reacted about 20 minutes after
    he was injected, and the second cat reacted a few  days later.
    It was hard to understand, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
    
    E.

    Hello!
    
    This is my first time in notes and felt compelled to add my experience.
    Also, hello to Penny, I met you at Cats Plain N' Fancy in Boston. I had
    my little girl Ruby there (Blue-eyed White Oriental).
    
    Stinky (Chestnut Oriental, and he doesn't smell)  got stung one day in
    the paw which swelled to the size of a cat's baseball mitt.  The vet I
    called at 9:00 pm on a Saturday nite suggested Chlortrimetron.  If I
    remember correctly, the normal dosage of the pill is 40mg and he said
    to either give him half of it or a quarter.  It worked almost
    instantly, saving him what appeared to be alot of pain.  I myself will
    take this for allergies (it's an antihistamine) and now make sure it is
    always available for cat emergencies.
    
    Good luck!
    Karen
    Moonsta Cattery

    Come to think of it, one of our kittens once had his face swell
    up on him.  We assumed that he had chewed on a plant, and since
    it was the middle of the night, I gave him a 4mg chloropheniramine
    tablet (antishistamine).  I always have them on hand since Joui
    takes one tablet three times a day for her skin allergies.  The
    swelling on the kittens face went down in about 20 minutes.
    
    Jo

    Hi there!
    
    Just want to be sure that everyone understands that the
    cat (and people) dose of chlortrimeton is 4 (FOUR) milligrams
    per 4-6 hours.  There are 8 and 12 mg pills also, which are
    usually long-acting (8 and 12 hours, respectively).
    
    Try the SHORT acting first (*after* checking with a vet, of course).
    That way, if there is a bad reaction, it will be a shorter time
    until it is out of the system!
    
    	Pennie

    I never thought I'd be glad to go home from work sick, but today
    I certainly was!!
    
    Tabitha had been playing in the bathroom window when I got home. She
    usually greets me at the door, so I thought it was strange. I went in,
    said, "HI! BABY GIRL!"  and left the bathroom. A few minutes later, she
    came out into the living room as if nothing was wrong, and she was
    holding her right front paw up. I looked closer, and the darned thing
    was soooooo puffed up & swollen, it looked like she double pawed on one
    foot!!! I thought I was going to start crying, she didn't even seem
    phased by it!!
    
    I am a VERY nervous mom, so without a second thought, I ran for the
    kitty carrier & the checkbook, and off to the vets I went! I've NEVER
    had this trouble w/ my girls, (they're young, so i guess it was just a 
    matter of time) so I was pretty green about the whole thing. The doctor
    checked her over, and said they'd give her a shot of benadril to take
    down the swelling & give me some to take home, in liquid form. Tabitha
    was sucha GOOD GIRL for the doctor, I was shocked! She's a shy girl,
    and only lets US touch her, when SHE wants...he commented on how well
    handled & receptive to treatment she is! I laughed!! I told him that if
    *I* have to administer the med, instead of him, she won't come NEAR me
    for weeks after the treatment of done!!!
    
    He told us to keep her quiet for the day, and thatthe med may make her
    drowsy. He also said we should keep an eye for a few hours & make sure
    she wasn't struggling for breath. turns out, she's fine. about 12 hours
    later, now & the swelling's almost gone. MOMMY'S RELIEVED! and glad she
    was home to be sick w/ her little girl! Once I got home, we crashed out
    together & gave each other 'get well lovin'!! ;*)
    
    I don't think Tabitha will forget this...she's like that!
    
    Bonnie

    Poor Tabitha...or should I really say poor Mom.  Glad she's
    doing fine....and glad Mom can calm down.
    
    Sandy

    Poor Tabs.  how did she do it, do you have any idea?
    

    Sorry about that, I realized I didn't put that part in after I entered
    my note. 
    
    When I went into the bathroom, she was playing w/ the bee in the
    bathroom when I got home, I didn't realize that that was what she
    was doing, I just figured she was playing.
    
    Then she came out to say "HI" in the livingroom, & I noticed she was 
    holding her paw up (like she wanted to shake hands). This is quite
    odd..she doesn't *DO* that. I went over to have a closer look, and it
    was puff-city! I couldn't believe how big it was! someone said it looks
    like they're wearing a kitty baseball mitt! It certainly did!
    
    I went into the bathroom where she was playing & there he was...the big
    old hornet who stung her! I HATE bugs, esp. bees!! I got the raid &
    killed him, but good! Took the little sucker to the vet so they'd know
    what stung her & they could check to see if it still had the stinger or
    if it was in Tabitha's paw. 
    
    Turns out, the vet was glad we brought the bee...I thought I'd get one
    of those.."what are you lady? WHACKED?!" looks, but he said they looked
    at the little sucker, and he still had his stinger, so Tabs' swelling
    should go down soon! 
    
    This morning she was fine. (and so was I!)
    
    Bonnie

    About a week ago one of the kittens (the folded red & white boy) got
    stung out on the deck.  I was there at the time and didn't realize
    he was playing with a bee but when he went running across the deck
    pawing at his head I figured it out.  I kept an eye on him and 
    pretty soon his head started to swell. Turns out he'd gotten
    stung on the forehead between his eyes.  
    
    I called the vet, and asked them about it.  He was in no apparent
    pain or discomfort and the swelling wasn't involving the eyes so
    I wasn't too worried.  They suggested a paste of baking soda and
    water (just like for humans) which is also what my vet's home care
    book recommends.  SInce the sting was on the face and since he
    didn't seem bothered by it I opted to just keep an eye on him for
    the rest of the evening.  He was quiet and slept on the couch with
    us and by the next morning the swelling was totally gone.
    
    According to my first aid book (vet home care book) only bees leave
    their stingers.
      Nancy

    I had a kitten get stung on the face once too.  The vet had us give him
    a 1/4 tablet (5mg tablet) of chlorapheniramine to help with the swelling. 
    Chlorapheniramine is an antihistamine that you can buy over the
    counter.
    
    Jo

    I had one of my cats get stung somewhere around the
    face or in the mouth.  His head swelled up and he
    had difficulty breathing.  Off to the vet we went,
    and he was given a shot to counteract the venom and
    keep fluid from building up in his lungs.
    By the time we arrived at the vets, he had already
    started to show symptoms of getting better.
    (I was told the fluid thing was a normal reaction to a sting)
                                
    On the way home, the poor guy "pooped" diarrhea in the
    box he was in.  Wow!  In a pickup truck, the smell can get
    pretty bad!!! :-)                                  
    
    Lynne 

    I just want to warn folks that if you ever notice that your
    cat is having difficulty breathing following a insect sting
    or following ingesting an insect or other foreign substance,
    DON'T WAIT - GET TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY.  Its better to be
    safe and have what happened in .30 happen (where the cat is getting
    better when you get there).  So you feel silly.  
    
    The alternative is to lose the cat.  Difficulty breathing is
    a symptom of anaphalactic shock - a SEVERE allergic reaction.
    It is fatal and requires an injection of epinephrine (adrenalin)
    immediately.  
    
    Nancy DC
    

    The other morning, one of my cats was chasing after a wasp in my
    apartment.  I got up, killed it with a magazine, then went to get a
    tissue to pick it up.  Before I could get it, my kitten ate it.  
    
    Is there anything I should be looking for?  I got nervous after reading
    the last note.
    
    michele

    I remember when Shelby, my first Ragdoll cat, died and the vet
    attributed his death to an acute allergic reaction (from an insect bit
    or bee sting) prior to the necropsy.  Shelby developed difficulty
    breathing one morning very suddenly and his signs mimicked those of
    anaphalactic shock.  It wasn't until the autopsy was performed that the
    cardiomyopathy was discovered.
    
    Whatever the case, difficulty breathing is, like Nancy said, VERY
    serious and it's better to be safe than sorry.  Usually, the cat will
    sit hunched up with his neck extended trying to draw in air and you can
    see the diaphram rising and falling rapidly.  It's a VERY scarey thing
    to witness.
    

    That was the reason we didn't wait around for symptoms to show up.
    We got Tabitha into that box as soon we realized what had happened.
    She never did start breathing heavy or anything like that, but we
    wanted to be safe. As a matter of fact, she didn't even seem to be 
    bothered by any of it, except for a boo-boo paw.
    
    I wouldn't worry if your cat doesn't show any symptoms in the first
    fews hours after the sting. But it's important to know that a cat can
    get parasites & worms from eatinf insects. Not to worry you further,
    your cat probably won't get them from *A* wasp, but I was surprised
    when my indoor cat got tape worm. I guess it doesn't take much to 
    get them. Chances are tho, that if the kitten is not showing any signs
    of trouble, and it's days later now, then he/she should be fine.
    
    Bonnie

    If that cat is going to have an allergic reaction it will happen
    fairly quickly - within a few minutes to a few hours.  If there's
    no reaction after say 8 hrs I would worry at all.  When I do shots
    I keep an eye on the kittens for about 1/2 hr.
      Nancy