How to Treat a Cat Bitten by a Snake

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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Elliott is a veterinarian with more than thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and pet treatment. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary surgeon. She has worked at a veterinary clinic in her hometown for more than 20 years.

There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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Cats are rarely bitten by snakes, but if they do, the consequences can be quite serious. Because of their small size, cats can be infected with snake venom in quite high doses. A cat’s bodily response to a snakebite wound depends on many factors, such as the amount of venom injected, the location of the bite, and the type of snake. ^{[1] X Research Source} If your cat has been bitten by a venomous snake, you can increase their chances of survival by taking them to the vet right away.

Table of Contents

Assess situation

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Check the wound area. Most snake bites occur on a cat’s mouth or feet. ^{[2] X Research Source} If bitten by a venomous snake, one or more fangs may appear on the skin of the cat at the site of the bite. ^{[3] X Source of study} However, these indentations are usually completely covered by hairs. ^{[4] X Source of Research} In addition, snake bites can be so painful that the cat will either feel very pain or be too excited and won’t let you touch the bite.

The bite of a venomous snake also causes the skin to become red and swollen. Snake venom affects blood clotting, so the wound will bleed. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
The closer the bite is to the heart, the faster the poison penetrates the body and spreads to the lymphatic and circulatory systems. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
If the cat is bitten by a healthy snake, there will be teeth marks on the skin, but no fangs. In addition, the wound has little or no swelling, redness, or bleeding. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Note the cat’s clinical signs. After being bitten by a venomous snake, the cat will fall into a lethargy and may vomit. They will weaken very quickly and collapse. In addition, the muscles twitch and the pupils begin to dilate. Later in life, cats develop more severe symptoms such as convulsions, paralysis, and shock. ^{[8] X Research Sources}^{[9] X Research Sources}

Signs of shock include rapid and shallow breathing, hypothermia, and tachycardia. ^{[10] X Research Source}
When the cat feels pain, the cat will meow louder.
You should not wait until you notice snakebite symptoms in your cat. If you see a snake bitten by a cat, or see a wound on the cat’s body, you need to take him to the veterinarian immediately.
The onset of clinical signs after a snake bite is usually quite fast, within a few minutes. If the cat does not show any clinical signs after 60 minutes, it is possible that the snake venom did not penetrate their body. ^{[11] X Emergency Veterinary Confidential Research Source : Rattlesnake Venom. Hackett & Winfield. Hanley and Belfus.}
Cats may not show clinical signs in the event of a venomous snake bite. However, you should still take them to the doctor for treatment and monitoring.

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Identify the type of snake that attacked the cat. In order to choose the right snake bite medication, your veterinarian needs to determine the exact type of snake. In the United States, the most common venomous snakes are rattlesnakes, water snakes, cobras, and coral snakes. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If you clearly witness the attack, you should stay calm and keep in mind the color, length, and pattern of the snake’s skin. For safety, you should not approach the snake to observe closely.
Do not kill the snake. Otherwise you will put yourself in danger of being bitten by snakes due to the act of approaching to get rid of them. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Venomous snakes have closed pupils (like a cat), while healthy snakes have round pupils (like a human). ^{[14] X Research Sources Illustrated Guide to Vipers. United States Department of Defense. Lyons Press.} However, there are still some exceptions. For example, poisonous coral snakes have round pupils.
If you can’t identify the snake or you can’t determine if it’s venomous, you can assume it’s venomous. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Negative effects on the cardiovascular system can cause shock in cats.

Take your Cat to Veterinary Examination

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Reassure the cat. When a cat is bitten by a venomous snake, calming the cat is the first aid measure before taking them to the vet. The more agitated and moved the cat is, the faster the venom spreads throughout the body and makes them sicker. ^{[16] X Research Source} Reassuring your cat is recommended as the only first aid you can do yourself. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Do not allow your cat to walk or run around as this can increase the heart rate and speed up blood circulation.
Note that cats may bite or bite you because they are feeling pain. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

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Do not administer first aid other than gentle pressure. This will help control blood flow from the wound. For example, the first aid measure that you should not conduct is to open the wound to suck or withdraw the venom. ^{[19] X Source of Research}^{[20] X Source of Research} Not only will this not work, you may also cause more pain to your cat. In addition, the venom can also harm you. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Do not apply a tourniquet or compression bandage to the area near the wound. ^{[22] X Research Source}
Do not apply ice to the bite. ^{[23] X Research Sources} Stones do not slow the spread of venom but can cause skin damage. ^{[24] X Research Source}
Do not wash the wound if it is caused by a poisonous snake. This can cause the venom to penetrate faster. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Take the cat to the vet immediately. The best thing you can do to save their life is to get them to the vet as soon as possible. If possible, put your cat in a large crate or crate so it can lie down comfortably and take it to the doctor. ^{[26] X Source of Research} To reassure and keep your cat lying down on the way to the doctor, you can wrap a towel or large cloth over their body, but it should not be too tight.

The effects of snake venom are irreversible and usually begin shortly after a snake bite forms. ^{[27] X Source of Research} In order for your cat to have a high chance of survival and complete treatment for snake venom, you need to take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

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Provide detailed information regarding snake bites. Veterinarians have a snake bite detection kit that helps identify the type of snake that attacked the cat. ^{[28] X Research Source} However, in case the doctor does not have specialized equipment, you should provide as much information about the wound as a description of the snake’s appearance, from the time the cat was bitten How long so far, and what clinical signs appear after the cat is bitten by a snake.

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Let your doctor diagnose your cat’s condition. While the clinical and superficial signs of the bite may be used to initiate treatment, veterinarians usually conduct further diagnostic testing to fully assess the severity of the bite. For example, your veterinarian will do a blood test to see how the blood clots. Your doctor will also take a urine sample (a snake bite can cause blood in your urine). ^{[29] X Research Sources}

Depending on your veterinarian’s equipment, your veterinarian will take an electrocardiogram to look at your cat’s heart rate. ^{[30] X Research Source}

READ More: How to Deep Clean the Body

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Approve the treatment plan as recommended by your veterinarian. Because snake venom has the potential to spread very quickly and cause damage to your cat’s body, your veterinarian will recommend some immediate treatment to stabilize the cat’s condition. You shouldn’t be surprised that the vet needs immediate treatment to stabilize your cat before asking you to ask for more details. One immediate treatment is intravenous fluids to restore the cat’s blood pressure (very important if they are in shock). ^{[31] X Research Source}

Snakebite pills work by neutralizing the venom and usually work best within six hours of the accident. ^{[32] X Research Source} This drug helps prevent blood clotting disorders and reduce swelling in the wound. ^{[33] X Research Source} Remember that snakebite is not a vaccine and will not protect your cat from future problems. ^{[34] X Research Source}
Your veterinarian will administer steroids to minimize tissue damage arising, control shock, and prevent possible allergic reactions from snakebite medications. Steroids are usually given for the first 24 hours after a snake bite. ^{[35] X Research Source}
Cats may need additional oxygen and respiratory support, depending on the level of respiratory distress when you bring them to the doctor. ^{[36] X Research Source}
If the cat has severe circulatory problems (little or no clotting, low blood cell counts), the cat should be treated with blood replacement products and other appropriate treatment. ^{[37] X Research Source}
Antibiotics are not necessary, as snake wounds rarely become infected. ^{[38] X Research Source}

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Ask your veterinarian about your cat’s prognosis. The diagnosis for a cat’s condition varies depending on the amount of venom injected, the species of snake, and the length of time from the time of the accident to the present time. Fortunately, about 80% of pets survive the crisis if they are treated by a veterinarian in time. ^{[39] X Research Source} If cats have a good prognosis, they will recover within 24 to 48 hours. This process will take longer (at least a few days) depending on the extent of tissue damage). ^{[40] X Research Source}

Your veterinarian may recommend that your cat stay in the hospital overnight to monitor progress. They need to be hospitalized for one night in case they need to continue intensive treatment. After the veterinarian concludes that the wound has recovered well, the cat can be discharged home. ^{[41] X Research Source}

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Caring for cats after discharge from the hospital. When your cat’s health is better and you can go home, you need to proceed with home care. Your veterinarian will prescribe pain medication to control the pain caused by the snake bite. In addition, the cat may need additional medication, depending on the clinical signs as well as the results of diagnostic tests. ^{[42] X Research Source}

Prevent Snake Bites

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Learn the effects of snake venom on your cat’s body. Snakes often use venom to catch prey. However, you need to be aware that snakes often hide instead of resisting / biting if they come into contact with people or pets. If a cat is bitten by a snake, they may be biting in self-defence, rather than seeing the cat as prey. ^{[43] X Research Source}

Snakes have the ability to control venom when biting. If they don’t inject venom, the bite is also known as a ‘dry bite.’ ^{[44] X Research Source} Snakes do not inject venom if they have just killed an animal and have used up all the venom.
Snakes can also control the amount of venom when biting. For example, small snakes that are afraid of being threatened will inject more venom than large snakes that do not feel threatened. ^{[45] X Research Sources}
Snake venom spreads very quickly through the lymphatic system and circulation in the body and can have a major impact on all systems in the body. Usually the venom attacks the nervous and circulatory systems. ^{[46] X Research Sources}^{[47] X Research Sources}

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Clear the area where snakes can hide. Snakes often hide in tall grass, overgrown leaves and under piles of wood. ^{[48]X Research Source}^{[49] X Research Source} In addition, they often hide under rocks and logs. ^{[50] X Research Source} If cats are indoors/outdoors or just outside, you should clear the bushes so snakes have nowhere to hide and cats are not at risk of coming into contact with them.

You can keep cats indoors. ^{[51] X Research Source}

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Buy snake repellent. You can spray snake repellent on your yard so they don’t get close to your area. ^{[52] X Research Source} Visit your local pet store to find out what medication to buy. You can buy snake repellent online.

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Eliminate the snake’s food source. Rodents are often the prey of snakes. They may be attracted to your house if there are mice in the house. ^{[53] X Research Source} You can place rat traps in and around the house. Alternatively, you can hire a pest control service to get rid of mice in your home.

Advice

You should be mentally prepared in case the cat does not survive. Veterinarians will do their best to save them, but the bite may be too severe.
You should not clean a venomous wound, but you can still wash a common snake bite with cold water and antibacterial soap. ^{[54] X Research Source} You should still take your cat to the vet for treatment.

Warning

Do not go near dead snakes. Because after about an hour of death, they still have reflexes to grab and bite if touched.
Because of its proximity to the heart, wounds to the abdomen or chest have a worse prognosis than injuries to the head or extremities. ^{[55] X Research Source}

Steps

Assess situation

Take your Cat to Veterinary Examination

Prevent Snake Bites

Advice

Warning

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