I recently moved into a new apartment, and I have seen a few centipedes. I recall reading that centipedes are poisonous, and I'm worried that one of my cats might eat one. Are they poisonous?

(I'm equally worried about what a pesticide spray might do to my cats)

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Answers

I think some are poisonous and some are not, and it depends on where you live. I tried to do a web search and it was useless. Maybe someone else has more info.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Okay ... second search was better. See here if you live in the U.S., because this is probably the type of centipede you have in the house. That page and a few others suggest that the bite hurts but isn't dangerous.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Oh, fuck me - like I needed to read this from that link, Beth!

"They are sometimes seen running rapidly across the floor with great speed, stopping suddenly to remain motionless and then resuming fast movements, occasionally directly toward the homeowner in an attempt to conceal themselves in their clothing."

Thanks so much!

My husband picks these things up in his hands and puts them outside and he has never even been bitten. And centipede bites are poisonous, but in the same class as things like mosquitos - itchy bump.

Eating centipedes won't kill your cat - unless you live in Texas, where the centipedes are 7 inches long, kind of blue in colour, and have a protective chemical in them that makes them rather unedible - not killer poisonous, more like, puking poisonous.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I have wondered for years if those things could actually bite. Yecch.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I am not ever turning the compost heap again.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

I don't know exactly what kind of centipedes you have, and that might make a difference. Also, some cats may be allergic and others more tolerant.

I would ask your veterinarian about getting a prescription for an "epi-pen". An "epi-pen" is a special syringe and needle filled with a single dose of epinephrine. If your kitty has an anaphylactic reaction, inject the epinephrine using the "epi-pen" and seek emergency veterinary assistance immediately.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

This is the best topic ever.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Don't cats and dogs and animals in general have instincts about what they can safely eat in nature? I've seen Raven the Cat kill bugs for fun but not eat them, I figured she's just smart enough to know.

I'd be more worried about a curious toddler scarfing down a centipede. Of course that worry is entirely the fault of Phil & Lil of Rugrats and their love for worms.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

oh god, centipedes and millipedes scare me more than anything except potato bugs. Thank GOD I've never seen one in the house (running toward me to hide in my clothing, of course.)

We get a lot of spiders in the house - I mean, like three in an evening - and we usually spot them because we notice the cats staring at something. But since they walk around up high, the cats never get them.

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001

Lizzie, I am seriously squicked out by spiders and before I owned my cat, I used to drown them in Raid. But ever since the kitty became my housemate, I'm much more environmentally friendly. I just sic the cat on them. If they're up high, I lift the cat up so she can knock it down, then let her get it from the floor. Two nights ago I came home to find she had killed a HUGE spider for me. That sucker was as big as a quarter all curled up and dead. *shudder* She got extra treats for that one.

She kills potato bugs too. The last one that dared enter my house got to be her playtoy for an hour and a half.

Bless that bug killing kitty!

-- Anonymous, July 23, 2001