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Cats love to chase bugs around! They may be sitting in the sun, enjoying the view from the window. However, the cat may glance down and see a cockroach roaming on the flooring. She may become intrigued by the roach and jump down to chase it! In some cases, cats even eat the roach! But what happens if a cat eats a poisoned cockroach?
Has your cat eaten a poisoned cockroach? Are you worried the poisoned cockroach will make your cat sick? If so you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary if your cat eats something like this.
We’ve gathered information about poisoned cockroaches and whether they can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is a Poisoned Cockroach?
First, a cockroach is an insect that’s common around the world. These bugs have been around for over 320 million years! That’s amazing, and they can survive just about anything except being eaten by a cat or being poisoned.
When people have cockroaches in their home, one of the most common remedies are cockroach traps or bait. These traps and baits use a mix of food blended with an insecticide. These work to kill roaches.
But what happens if a cat eats a poisoned roach? Can she become sick?
Poisoned Roaches & Cats
If your cat has eaten a roach poisoned by a bait trap, chances are she will be OK. The poisons used in these are not usually harmful to cats.
And the roach should pass through your cat’s digestive tract like any other normal protein. You may find parts of the bug’s exoskeleton in your cat’s poop! Otherwise, she should be OK.
Even so, it’s still possible a cat could develop some digestive issues from eating the roach.
Symptoms of Roach Ingestion in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten a roach:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
If you notice these symptoms in your cat and they last longer than 12 to 24 hours, it’s best to call the vet. The concern is that your fur baby could become dehydrated from diarrhea and vomiting.
Treatment of Roach Ingestion in Cats
Treatment of diarrhea and vomiting in your cat may involve medications to stop these symptoms. The vet may also treat your kitty with medication that protects her gastrointestinal system.
In some cases, it may be necessary to withhold food for a time and then slowly reintroduce it again in small servings until your cat is feeling better.
The prognosis is excellent for most cats who require treatment after eating a cockroach! In the future, it’s a good idea to keep cockroach traps and bait out of your cat’s reach. And try to keep her from chasing and eating cockroaches. That can be difficult; however, if you see her chasing a bug, try to distract her with a toy and some warm cuddles. We’re pretty sure she’ll coming running!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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