Do Cats Eat Scorpions – Safety Concerns & Considerations

While cats are loving little animals, they typically have a natural urge to hunt and sometimes eat their prey. Scorpions are one of the main insects to be cautious about when it comes to your cat. So, do cats eat scorpions?

Cats do eat scorpions. Eating scorpions is not harmful to most cats and will not cause allergic reactions. A scorpion sting can be poisonous to cats and requires veterinarian assistance.  

The most common hunting we associate with cats is hunting mice, but scorpions are just as entertaining to them. While most cats are agile enough to not get stung by a scorpion, it is always a possibility. In this article, we’ll share some facts about what happens when your cat eats a scorpion and ways to limit that behavior. 

What Happens If My Cat Eats A Scorpion

If your cat is the type that likes to kill and eat their prey and you live in an area with scorpions, you may run into the situation where your cat eats one of them.

It’s usually nothing to worry about if your cat eats one of them. Most of the scorpions that your cat will encounter aren’t going to be dangerously venomous. Because of this, it isn’t harmful to your cat to eat them. 

If your cat eats an extremely poisonous scorpion, it would be good to keep an eye on them. As long as they weren’t stung, there’s typically nothing to worry about, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Giving a quick call to your Vet to check-in is always a good option in this scenario. 

Are Cats Immune To Scorpion Stings

There are many rumors out there floating the idea that cats are immune to scorpion stings. This is not true. Cats are not immune to being stung by a scorpion. If a cat gets stung by a scorpion, they can be in a lot of pain and potentially get very sick, depending on the type of scorpion. 

In reality, it is just less likely that your cat gets stung while playing with the scorpion. With cats being so quick, they’re able to bat the scorpion around without getting stung. A lot of times, humans get stung by scorpions due to stepping on them. Cats will typically spot the scorpion before they come close to stepping on them accidentally. 

Cats also have their own type of body armor when it comes to scorpions. Their fur is an excellent protectant from their sting. The stingers aren’t typically very big, so unless they get them at just the right angle, the fur blocks their stinger from getting to their skin. 

Will Cats Keep Scorpions Away

Having a cat in the house won’t specifically keep scorpions away. If you live in an area where scorpions are common, there’s a chance they will still get into your house regardless of your furry family. 

However, if your cat is an avid hunter that eats their prey, it may seem like you aren’t getting scorpions in your home. When in reality, you’re just not seeing the scorpions in the house because your cat is your own personal exterminator. 

Scorpions typically don’t come into your home looking for a fight. If they see your cat charging towards them, they will most likely try to scurry away as fast as possible. The last thing they want is to get in a war with such a large animal. 

Overall, I wouldn’t suggest relying on your fur family to keep the scorpions away. You’ll want to look into other means of pest control if that’s a concern throughout your area. This will help keep you and your animal family safe from these sneaky creatures. 

Can A Cat Kill A Scorpion

A cat can undoubtedly kill a scorpion if they’re given a chance. Most cats can’t resist the sight of one of these quick little creatures scurrying across the floor. Although scorpions are extremely fast, cats are agile, quick, and much larger than their scorpion intruders. 

If you’ve ever seen your cat play with a little toy mouse, you have a good idea of how your cat will act with a scorpion. Cats love to bat around their prey like they’re playing with them. The difference is unlike their toy mouse; this creature will certainly be trying to escape. While they try to escape, your cat will get more aggressive in their efforts to beat their prey.

Another reason a cat is good at killing scorpions is that they’re awake. Scorpions typically like to roam around in the dark. Since it’s common for cats to walk around the house while you’re sleeping, they have a good chance of seeing these scorpions while they’re scurrying around. 

Now, if you have a cat that tends to be on the lazy side, I wouldn’t rely on them to kill a scorpion. Some cats just aren’t in to playing with critters, and the sight of a scorpion won’t make them get up from their cozy spot. 

What Happens When A Cat Gets Stung By A Scorpion

As discussed before, cats are not immune to scorpion stings. One wrong move by your cat and the scorpion could potentially pierce their skin. The reaction from a sting will depend greatly on the type of scorpion and your cat in general. 

A highly venomous scorpion could certainly kill your cat if it stings them. Luckily, there aren’t as many of those around. The one scorpion you’ll want to be aware of in the United States is the Arizona Bark Scorpion. That scorpion can be deadly to humans and animals. 

If you have the suspicion that your cat has been stung by a scorpion, it’s important to immediately contact your Vet to provide the proper care to your cat. Your Vet may want you to bring your cat in urgently, or they may give you an idea of how to keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get much worse. 

Knowing the type of scorpion that stung your cat will help your Vet decide the best treatment and urgency level. Many times cats that get stung will recover and be back to themselves in about 24 hours. 

How Do I Know If My Cat Was Stung

There are a few different ways you can tell if a cat has been stung. One of the most obvious ways to know if your cat was stung by a scorpion is if the stinger was left in your cat. You’ll want to remove that from your cat’s skin and be sure to keep them from licking their wound.

You may hear your cat cry out in pain if they’re stung by a scorpion. It’s said that the sting of a scorpion is comparable to how it feels being stung by a bee. If they were stung in one of their paws, you might notice they start to limp around the house due to the pain. 

If your cat is having some sort of reaction to the sting, you’ll want to reach out to your Vet as well. Some cats will react by having some trouble breathing, tremors, drooling, generally being lethargic, and many more. 

While cats are typically extremely good at preventing themselves from getting stung, it is still a possibility when they choose to play with one of these creatures. 

Overall, cats will eat scorpions, so keep an eye on your furry friends. While they’re quick and typically don’t get stung, you don’t want to risk it. You can also take other precautions throughout the home to prevent scorpions from getting in there in the first place.