Introduction:
Cats are hunters by nature & unfortunately not able to
discriminate between harmful prey & non harmful prey. There
are poisonous snakes throughout the world & it would be too
hard to list poisonous snakes country by country so this article
will aim to provide general information on snake bites, but not
snake species specific to any one country.
Some snakes are non venomous, but will still bite a cat, causing
pain & possibly infection. Others are venomous, and if
bitten this can result in death. Immediate veterinary attention
is vital.
The majority of snake bites occur on the cat's head, neck &
legs. Bites on the body can happen, and tend to be more
dangerous.
What is venom?
Venom is a toxin which is secreted from animals. This is used as
a defensive mechanism against predators & also it is used to
kill prey.
Symptoms of a
snake bite
-
Dilated pupils
-
Muscle weakness
-
Drooling
-
Vomiting
-
Diarrhea
-
Rapid pulse
-
Laboured breathing
-
Coma
What to do if
your cat is bitten by a snake?
If possible, try
to identify the snake. However, don't waste time trying to
locate the snake. If the snake is still in the area, do not
approach it. Have a look at it from a distance, and make a note
of it's appearance including colour, patterns & length. Even
if the snake is dead, do not touch it as a dead snake can still
retain a reflexive action for up to an hour after death.
Get your cat to
the veterinarian immediately.
On the way to the
veterinarian do the
following:
-
Remove the cat's
collar
-
Keep the bitten
area lower than the heart.
-
Keep the cat quiet
& calm.
-
Immobilise the
area if possible.
-
Apply
a pressure bandage between the bite & the heart.
-
If
there is no heartbeat or pulse, administer CPR.
What NOT to
do:
-
Do NOT allow your
cat to walk.
-
Do NOT cut the
bitten area.
-
Do NOT attempt to
suck the venom out of the bite.
-
Do NOT apply a tourniquet.
There seems to be
conflicting advice on washing & applying ice to wounds, so
speak to your veterinarian for advice on this.
Keeping snakes
out of your garden:
The best way to
avoid snakes in your garden is to provide an environment which
isn't attractive to snakes.
-
Keep the garden
free of long or overgrown plants.
-
Keep the garden
free of debris, such as corrugated iron, building materials, old
junk etc.
-
Keep your lawn
short.
-
Don't leave
containers of water lying around.
-
If you have a
shed, keep it free or rodents.
-
Remove fallen
fruit from the ground as this encourages rodents, which will in
turn encourage snakes.
-
Avoid wood piles,
especially in the summer months. If you do have a wood pile,
make sure it is well away from your house & not accessible
to your cats or children.
-
Avoid rockeries,
which provide an excellent habitat for snakes to hide.
