redbacks (the spiders, not the cricket team) and cats

[Footy Chick]

Before I start - no dead cat jokes please...

I'm somewhat confused about conflicting stories I'm reading about how cats react to redback bites.

I saw Fat Cat pawing a redback today and I told him off but he did it again and suddenly pulled his paw away, he seems to be fine though. With the amount of redbacks I have in the backyard I'm surprised this is something I hadn't thought about sooner.

Anyhoo, so I googled redback bites in animals and some say they don't react and some say get them to a vet straight away.

I don't want to ask my vet because no doubt they'll be thinking with their cash registers.

So if anyone here does personally know a vet and can ask the question, that'd be grand.

If anyone here has had experience in this I'd been keen to hear your stories too...

[Q.]

Still haven't cleaned up that backyard, eh?

[Footy Chick]

Errr..no

But the next week or so will see the start of operation backyard blitz

[dedja]

I wouldn't worry too much ... the cat will only do it once.

[Q.]

My offer is still there if you wanna take it up.

And on your cat, no spider bite could penetrate deep enough through the flub to cause a problem

[Footy Chick]

Don't worry - offer WILL be taken

My cat fat? What makes you say that??

[Booney]

My offer is still there if you wanna take it up*.

Don't worry - offer WILL be taken

Guys, please. There is a "Private message" function available you know.

[Wedgie]

If it was bitten get it to a vet asap. Some more info here.
http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Small_Pets&story_no=279

I had a sick puppy once, only found out after he died he was probably bitten by something.
(and dogs are more resistant than cats)

[Footy Chick]

FYI - he's fine but it obviously does make one think about it more.

[Psyber]

My understanding is that spiders, like snakes, don't automatically inject every drop of venom they have when they nip. But I'm not an expert in the field.
According to a Vet I knew some years ago cats are more sensitive to the venom of red-bellied black snakes than that of other snakes.
I rang him when our cat brought a recently dead one home and I wondered whether I should take her in to see him.

He wasn't thinking with his cash register.
He said their was no need if she was able to bring it home as if she'd been bitten she wouldn't have been able to do so..

[Choccies]

Before I start - no dead cat jokes please...

I'm somewhat confused about conflicting stories I'm reading about how cats react to redback bites.

I saw Fat Cat pawing a redback today and I told him off but he did it again and suddenly pulled his paw away, he seems to be fine though. With the amount of redbacks I have in the backyard I'm surprised this is something I hadn't thought about sooner.

Anyhoo, so I googled redback bites in animals and some say they don't react and some say get them to a vet straight away.

I don't want to ask my vet because no doubt they'll be thinking with their cash registers.

So if anyone here does personally know a vet and can ask the question, that'd be grand.

If anyone here has had experience in this I'd been keen to hear your stories too...

Otherwise you may have to visit a vet yourself and that could well end up TWO GRAND....

[woodublieve12]

Don't worry - offer WILL be taken

My cat fat? What makes you say that??

[Sky Pilot]

I just buried my much-loved Burmese cat called Hirdy. I suspect he ate a rat or mouse that had taken a bait that I had put out because we here in the bush are enduring a mouse plague. Some say he might have eaten the bait itself, others say he was probably bitten by a snake although I have not seen a brownie or mulga here in two years. Does anyone have a theory on this? Do cats eat rat baits? It is very upsetting although I know cat haters will be rejoicing - that is their choice.

[Booney]

I just buried my much-loved Burmese cat called Hirdy. I suspect he ate a rat or mouse that had taken a bait that I had put out because we here in the bush are enduring a mouse plague. Some say he might have eaten the bait itself, others say he was probably bitten by a snake although I have not seen a brownie or mulga here in two years. Does anyone have a theory on this? Do cats eat rat baits? It is very upsetting although I know cat haters will be rejoicing - that is their choice.

A cat wont eat a rat or mouse that is already dead, no fun. If it by chance does, the bait ( and this is from a pest control expert ) once digested and the active ingredient absorbed by the rat/mouse will not hurt the cat or dog that eats it.

In turn, I doubt a cat would eat a bait.

[OnSong]

I just buried my much-loved Burmese cat called Hirdy. I suspect he ate a rat or mouse that had taken a bait that I had put out because we here in the bush are enduring a mouse plague. Some say he might have eaten the bait itself, others say he was probably bitten by a snake although I have not seen a brownie or mulga here in two years. Does anyone have a theory on this? Do cats eat rat baits? It is very upsetting although I know cat haters will be rejoicing - that is their choice.

A cat wont eat a rat or mouse that is already dead, no fun. If it by chance does, the bait ( and this is from a pest control expert ) once digested and the active ingredient absorbed by the rat/mouse will not hurt the cat or dog that eats it.

In turn, I doubt a cat would eat a bait.

We've had a cat on the farm for a long time and used baits the whole time for rabbits, foxes etc. Still alive so it's either Chuck Norris as a cat or hasn't eaten them.

[Sky Pilot]

I just buried my much-loved Burmese cat called Hirdy. I suspect he ate a rat or mouse that had taken a bait that I had put out because we here in the bush are enduring a mouse plague. Some say he might have eaten the bait itself, others say he was probably bitten by a snake although I have not seen a brownie or mulga here in two years. Does anyone have a theory on this? Do cats eat rat baits? It is very upsetting although I know cat haters will be rejoicing - that is their choice.

A cat wont eat a rat or mouse that is already dead, no fun. If it by chance does, the bait ( and this is from a pest control expert ) once digested and the active ingredient absorbed by the rat/mouse will not hurt the cat or dog that eats it.

In turn, I doubt a cat would eat a bait.

We've had the Gestapo from the National Parks and Wildlife mob up here saying (a few years ago) that bating rodents is causing a decline in kookaburra and snake populations. It was a public meeting and many people sniggered and went out and bought more baits. I hate to see native species killed off so I desisted but if baited rodents can kill off a snake or kooka then perhaps a cat too? We have a very small colony of pygmy death adders just emerging after it was thought for many years that they were almost extinct and since they hunt at night I feel maybe Hirdy came across one and came off second best.

[Gingernuts]

Hirdy takes the bait and ends up dead. Could be a sign from the footy gods SP.

[Sky Pilot]

Hirdy takes the bait and ends up dead. Could be a sign from the footy gods SP.

How the f***k could you make light of this?