My cat has eaten a bee...

Goliathe3

03/09/2021, 18:59

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Hi everyone,

I’m new to the forum and I’m posting tonight because I’ve got a bit of a problem...

So, my family and I adopted a four-month-old female kitten, and we’ve had her for nearly two months now.

Earlier on, she was playing with a bee in the garden and put it in her mouth. She spat it out straight away and ran off...

A few minutes later, she started being sick (this has never happened before). She vomited several times, making a horrible noise and panting...

She then came back inside and barely made it a few steps before she lay down on the floor. She’s since moved to the bottom of her cat tree and we’ve given her a bowl of fresh water. She’s been sleeping ever since, and her breathing speeds up occasionally. She’s got up to drink twice.

I’m so worried because she’s hardly reacting when we call her...

If anyone could give me some advice on how to soothe her, or if you think an urgent trip to the vet is a must, or if it’s not worth the worry?

Thanks for reading.

Have a good evening.

Translated from French

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Expert verified

04/09/2021, 17:49

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Hi there,

You really should have seen a vet straight away to get her some relief, as she must have been in quite a bit of pain.

Now that she’s on the mend, it might not be strictly necessary anymore. However, if you see her playing with a bee again, do stop her; it can be really dangerous. Especially for a kitten so young.

I think it’s still worth getting her checked over just to make sure everything is okay with her.

Kind regards,

Cyanne – Vet student, project manager for the ProVéto Junior Conseil student enterprise

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Goliathe3

03/09/2021, 20:49

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Thanks so much for your reassuring messages! I’ve put out some extra water bowls around the house for her, and the cat flap has a curfew set for 9 pm, so she’s staying in tonight. Have a lovely evening and thanks again.

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Del2244

03/09/2021, 20:42

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Good news 😊 If she’s got a burning sensation in her mouth (take it from me, I know from personal experience that a bee sting really burns! 😁), it’s only natural that she’s gone off her food. The burning should wear off in a few hours; if she eats during the night or tomorrow morning, you can completely stop worrying. But do be careful—another sting could be fatal given that she reacted so badly to the first one. Have a word with your vet, as there might be an emergency treatment available to keep on hand, similar to what’s available for humans.

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Mike64

03/09/2021, 20:33

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If she were struggling to breathe because of swelling in her throat or mouth... you’d definitely notice; it would be very obvious. If her breathing seems normal, just leave her be... keep her indoors tonight at the very least, and don’t worry if she isn’t eating. Her throat might still be a bit sore... just make sure she has plenty of water available. A cat can easily go a full day without food.

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Goliathe3

03/09/2021, 20:27

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I’ve checked her gums and they look normal. Her breathing is back to normal now and she’s even got up to have a wander outside... Should I stop her going out in the garden until she’s fully recovered?

For now, she seems to be improving, so I hope she stays on the mend.

Mind you, she’s drinking a lot but isn't asking for her evening wet food. I tried putting her bowl in front of her; she has a sniff but then just walks away without eating anything...

Thanks a lot for your replies.

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Del2244

03/09/2021, 20:04

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The oedema could be in the tongue or the throat, without any visible swelling.

Keep a close eye on her breathing; if it’s rapid and/or her mouth is open, she’s struggling for air. If her gums are pale, it could be a sign of poor oxygenation. If you can, take her temperature—it should be between 38 and 39°C.

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Goliathe3

03/09/2021, 19:13

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Good evening,

thanks for your reply.

For the moment, she hasn’t got any swelling anywhere. She seems fine physically and has stopped being sick.

She’s sleeping and gets up every now and then for a drink.

My parents told me that if anything else worrying happens, we’ll go straight to the vet.

Have a good evening.

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