Can black widow spider bites make a cat sick or kill it?
The short answer seems to be yes, death is common. From http://www.utextension.utk.edu/…/PB1193.pdf: Only four human deaths were officially attributed to black widow spider bites in the United States from 1960-1969. However, cats are exceptionally sensitive, with fatality rates estimated as high as 90 percent. From http://maxshouse.com/Poisons+Toxins.html: Cats are extremely sensitive to Latrodectus bites: severe pain, salivation, restlessness, and early and pronounced paralysis are seen. Death is common. From http://www.vin.com/…/PR00395.htm: Latrodectus spp. or black widow spiders are globose black spiders with an hour-glass red-orange abdominal pattern. They are widely distributed in the
