My cat licked a centipede. Is it dangerous? What symptoms to watch?

Question

I know this is a centipede, I'm sorry the pics not good. But I was trying to keep my cat away from it as I read some can cause cardiac arrest. So how concerned should I be if my cat was licking her mouth and its back end didnt seem to work (where the stingers are and a few legs?) Being three in the morning I have no way to get off the island where I live and we have no ER vet. Cant go anywhere til the morning at 9. What's the signs she was bit by a deadly one? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 7 years and 2 months old | 7 lbs

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

This looks like a house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). If so, it is not deadly. House centipedes do their hunting via a set of venomous front legs. The good news is that they are usually unable to bite/sting through skin. If they are successful, it is not life-threatening, it's supposed to feel a lot like a bee sting. Usually if cats lick/ingest something toxic they will foam at the mouth - if you notice that all you need to do is rinse out her mouth with tap water. Don't shove or force the water down her throat or she could aspirate the water into the lungs. If she was stung by some chance it will likely resolve on it's own. I would only be worried if she actually at the whole thing and even then, it's not toxic; it just may upset her stomach. Hope this helps. If you have more questions please post again.

My cat licked a centipede. Is it dangerous? What symptoms to watch?

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