Black Widow

I had four cats up until this past Winter. My cat, Poop, passed away shortly before Christmas. Complications due to Feline Leukemia. That left, Bart, Oliver, and Emmie. Today I lost Oliver and I'm not sure if Emmie will make it or not, but it doesn't look good.

This time, its not due to Feline Leukemia, but to a Black Widow spider.

I know this because I found the bite marks. I thought maybe it was a snake that had gotten into my house, but it wasn't. Further investigation and a call to the vet confirmed it was some sort of insect bite. The only insect it could have been...black widow.

My cats live in my Grandmother's old house. The same house that I am fixing up so I can move in as soon as possible. For now though, just my cats stay there. I'm rarely over there for more than a few minutes at a time, unless its the weekends. I wouldn't have noticed any spiders hiding away. But Emmie and Oliver are best buddies, so they sleep together. The only thing I can figure, is the spider was in the bedding and bit them both while they slept.

Nothing can be done for that. Not even at the vet. Hospitals have anti-venom, but vets don't keep it because typically, there is no reason to keep it...small animals (like cats) don't usually survive the bites regardless.

So we buried Oliver this evening. Emmie is still hanging in there, but out of all the cats, she suffers from Feline Leukemia the worst. So I am afraid its only a matter of time for her. If she makes it through the night, I will be impressed.

Bart is fine. He's now my only cat left. He's already suffering from loneliness. I set off a fogger in my house this evening and I hope that will kill any spiders that I can't see.

But I am NOT a happy camper. I have raised those cats since they were two weeks old. I fed them every two hours. I bathed them. I took them to the vet. I pampered them to ridiculous levels, especially after I found out about the leukemia. And a spider bite takes them away from me.

Its not a good day on Nunn Road to say the least. :-(