Can My Cat Eat a Lizard? Do This, Don’t Panic

Cats are predators, as we know, and even though they have been domesticated for literally thousands of years, cats have still managed to retain pretty much all of their hunting instincts. If you have an outdoor cat, chances are they’re going to spend a lot of their time chasing small animals and potentially eating them. Can my cat eat a lizard?

We’ll take look at not only whether or not your cat can eat a lizard but should your cat eat them.

Can my cat eat a lizard?

It’s generally not a good idea to let your cat eat lizards, or any other wild animal for that matter. While technically it is usually safe for cats to eat lizards, there is still some danger involved; some can carry a parasitic liver fluke that can seriously harm your car if they eat it, or they might be carrying diseases like salmonella that can be dangerous to cats.

Today, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about cats and lizards, including what the signs of poisoning are in cats and what you can do to prevent your cat from eating lizards.

Can Cats Get Sick from Eating Lizards?

Yes, cats can get sick from eating lizards. While lizards aren’t poisonous, as we’ve mentioned, they can sometimes carry diseases and parasites that can potentially be fatal to your cat.

Many lizards, particularly those that live in the southern United States and Hawaii, are host to a parasitic liver fluke called Platynosomum fastosum. P. fastosum is not harmful to lizards but can be very harmful to cats when eaten.

If a cat eats a lizard infected with Platynosomum fastosum, (read more here) the parasite will travel to the cat’s liver and make itself at home while it matures. This can cause a potentially fatal inflammation of the liver, and may also block your cat’s bile ducts.

Lizards often transmit Salmonella bacteria, which isn’t as dangerous to cats but can still present a bit of a risk. Healthy cats don’t usually get infected when consuming Salmonella-contaminated meat, but it can sometimes happen nonetheless.

What Are the Signs of Poisoning in Cats?

The signs of poisoning in cats can vary, depending on what kind of poison it is and how your cat managed to come into contact with it. In any case, however, it’s usually pretty obvious if your cat has been poisoned.

Some of the symptoms of poisoning in cats include:

• Excessive drooling
• Excessive urinating or thirst
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Trembling or seizures
• Loss of appetite
• Physical weakness
• Unsteady movement
• Coma

If you think your cat is displaying any of the signs of poisoning, take them to an emergency vet right away.  Read can read more about symptoms of cat poisoning here.

What Lizards Are Poisonous to Cats?

We’ll be getting a bit technical here, but it’s necessary for you to have the correct information. There aren’t actually any poisonous lizards that exist, although there are plenty of similar animals that are indeed poisonous.

It’s important to note here that “poisonous” is not the same as “venomous”, although the two terms are often used interchangeably. “Poisonous” refers to toxins that are introduced into the body by eating the thing that is poisonous, while “venomous” refers to toxins that are physically injected into the body via a bite or a sting.

While there aren’t any poisonous lizards, there are a few venomous ones. It was recently discovered that Komodo dragons actually possess venom, although unless you live in Indonesia you’ll never encounter this fearsome lizard.

Do Cats Die After Eating Lizards?

Always keep in mind that it’s always possible for your cat to get very sick and possibly die after eating a lizard.

Keep this in mind;

Whether or not your cat will be affected can depend on the species of lizard, how toxic that lizard is and whether or not there are any parasites that the lizard may be carrying.

Get to know what lizards lurk in your area.

If you live in the southwestern States or Mexico, however, your cat might be at risk of running into a Gila monster or a beaded lizard. While these lizards aren’t generally found in urban areas, you or your cat might end up coming into contact with one if you live out in the country.

While the venom of these lizards isn’t usually fatal to humans, it is incredibly painful and will almost certainly be deadly for an animal like a cat.

There are also plenty of animals similar to lizards that are in fact poisonous when eaten. Salamanders and newts are not technically lizards, but do resemble lizards pretty closely and are small enough to potentially be eaten by a cat. Most salamanders and newts have poisonous skin and eating one can lead to pretty serious illness.

Many frogs and toads also have toxic skin, so if you live anywhere near a place where you might regularly encounter these amphibians, it’s probably best to keep your cat inside.

Is It OK for Cats to Eat House Lizards?

Odds are if a lizard actually makes its way into your house, your cat will probably not suffer if it ends up eating it. Any lizards or other cold-blooded animals that decide to enter your house are probably not going to be poisonous, so you don’t have to worry about your cat being poisoned from eating a lizard that happens to get inside.

That being said, there is always the risk that your cat will pick up a liver fluke from eating a lizard, as we’ve mentioned. If you suspect that your cat has eaten a lizard, it’s probably best to call your vet and let them know; they might want to give your cat a checkup, just to be safe.

How to Prevent Your Cats from Eating Lizards

It can be tough to stop your cat from trying to eat lizards, especially if you live in an area where lizards are plentiful. However, there are several things you can do to prevent this.

Here’s a quick list of things you can do:

• Keep your cat indoors
• Secure your patio or porch
• Teach you cat to ignore it
• Close doors and windows
• Is your cat on the hunting and stalking? Distract them
• Pet lizard? keep it out of reach

Firstly, consider keeping your cat strictly indoors. While a lot of people think that keeping a cat indoors is “cruel”, in truth it’s actually a lot better for your cat’s health for them to remain indoors. Indoor cats are less likely to be hit by cars or attacked by other animals, and they’re also less likely to eat things that aren’t good for them.

If you have a pet lizard aside from your cat, take care to make sure it is secured inside its cage at all times, and keep its cage out of your cat’s reach. 

Finally, if you find that lizards keep getting into your home, you should try and keep your windows and doors closed as much as you can and look for any gaps around your home that lizards could potentially get in from.

Can my cat eat a lizard… Summary

Can my cat eat a lizard? In most cases, if your cat eats a lizard, there isn’t really a huge cause for concern. However, eating a lizard can potentially cause some serious health problems for cats, so you should do what you can to prevent this from happening. If your cat does eat a lizard, have them checked out by a vet just to be on the safe side.

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