Help! Marvin may have eaten poisonous spider!

[Puppylucky]

Hello! apologies for hitting the alert button, but I'm panicking slightly here. Last night I found a false wolf hunter spider in the kitchen - apologies, but picture attached. It was late and I didn't really know what to do, so I just left it to it's own devices. Marvin did his own thing overnight and came to bed for cuddles as usual in the early hours. However all day to day he's been off colour. No poos or wees and very subdued. He's eating ok but just not himself. I've since read that wolf hunter spiders can bite if menaced so I'm now panicking that he's been bitten - can anyone help?

Argh spider picture didn't attach but not really relevant

There are no dangerous spiders in the UK so I think he’ll be fine. It’s likely totally unrelated.

A cat not weeing all day is serious. I would
contact a vet.

It’s been full on spring with high pollen levels for the past couple of days so it could just be an adjustment to the environment, and also this is the time of year when cats are grooming their winter fur all over the house and ingesting it so he might have a sore tummy.

Sorry - should have been clear I’m only talking from the spider perspective - if your cat is under the weather, consider the vet. But it won’t be related to a spider. I keep spiders as pets - including ones that could put me in hospital - and there’s nothing in the UK arachnids to fear. You’ve got to get more exotic before there’s any concern from spider venom!

I don’t know anything about spider breeds but our cat frequently hunts spiders and then pukes them up very quickly if he eats them - I think they are possibly bitter?

Thank you all. He's risen from the dead and had a massive pee. Still no poo but he's eating ok so hopefully that will come 🤞

Hi yes we do have insurance. There is definitely something wrong. He has now done a poo as well as a wee (good), but keeps approaching his dry food and not being able to eat it, although he's nibbling at his wet food. He is also making odd shapes with his mouth - sort of stretching it. My thought is obviously something dental but would that have come on so suddenly? We will take him to the emergency vet first thing tomorrow if he doesn't improve but just wondered if anyone has any initial thoughts?

That's a good idea will try

Merlin was probably up all night terrified of the spider and plotting to burn the house down to vanquish it.
If he seems ill I'd call the vet but it sounds unrelated. Glad he's peed now

It wasn't that helpful to be honest. She made me lift Marvin's lip to see his gums, which were a healthy colour. She also tried to get me to open his mouth which kind of half worked, but by the time we'd moved onto palpitating his tummy, he'd had enough and smacked me so the examination was aborted. All she suggested really was some bland food (chicken or fish) and take him to the vet if he doesn't improve. He has stopped drooling and is eating wet food and some nibbles of dry, and weeing / pooing ok which is an improvement, but is clearly irritated by something. His tongue is poking out and he is pulling faces and licking fabric. His breath isn't particularly smelly though. He is still very sorry for himself, but is wanting to cuddle up rather than hide, so I'm hoping it's nothing too serious. I'm away for work tomorrow afternoon until Tuesday evening, but we will try and get the vet to see him first thing and hope Marvin lets himself be examined. Thanks for following up with me - very kind of you!

I wonder if he tried to eat the spider and it bit back which would explain his sore mouth. Spider bites are similar to ant bites - not toxic but definitely itchy and sore and some people/animals have a reaction to it. A human would normally put insect bite cream on or take an antihistamine but it's more difficult with a cat/mouth.

As long as he's eating and using the litter tray it might just be time he needs. But watch his breathing.

Emergency vet can't see him unfortunately. We will get him into the vet first thing tomorrow morning . He has perked up considerably now after another sleep but we will follow it up to make sure there is nothing wrong with his teeth. My husband will be here for him while I'm away.

Good luck puppy, let's us know what the vet says. I'm hoping they say it's just a reaction to him trying to munch on the spider and it responded like a toad or ladybird so it tasted nasty.

Got him in to the vet today finally, as he was clearly in a lot of discomfort. Unfortunately he was far too stroppy for her to examine his mouth properly, so we all stood around guessing what it might be - anything from a spider run in to a chipped tooth apparently. Anyway I have some heavy duty painkillers for him now which will hopefully tide him over the next few days and if he doesn't get better I will get him to our usual vet. I do feel sorry for the little boy as he's very sad and just wants to sleep on my lap but he doesn't make it easy for me to help!

Poor baby 😞 Hopefully the painkillers help for the next couple of days.

Just an update - after a day on the Gabapentin Marvin is very mellow 😊. His mouth seems to be healing - no drooling and eating well so I'm not convinced it's a dental issue. We have him booked into our regular vet on Wednesday where hopefully they can get a better look as he'll be off his tits.

I'm not surprised he's mellow 😂 Good to hear he's eating at least.