The Puffer Forum

Hi,

I'm sorry I'm barging in here without proper introduction but I'm despairing. I have what I suspect is a red-eye puffer (thumb size, red eyes, yellow with darker round specks). Yesterday she jumped out of her tank and landed in front of my 13-year-old blind cat. The puffer is unharmed but since then my cat is very lethargic and dehydrated and growls in her sleep. Something is very wrong. Did my fish poison my cat, and if so, what do I do?? Please help! Thanks so much!

I believe this is unlikely unless the cat took a bite of the puffer

The cat would have to eat the gall bladder or something, the poison is not external. Many people have to handle their puffers to trim their teeth. 16 is kind of up there, have him/her tested for renal failure, something. It's just a coincidence on the timing imo, but something is wrong so take the kitty to the vet

Good lord, I am SO relieved right now. I've read on Wikipedia that the poison is also on the skin. But Wiki isn't always right, right? So I'll just keep force-feeding her water, that seems necessary either way.

Her kidneys and stuff are fine, she has just had a blood screen which had a big fat grad A

Thanks so much guys!

By the way, the fish is named Pauline and she is fine, except that she hasn't taken one bite of her cockroach yet.

EEEEWWWW!
Ok, the poison isn't on the outside, but fish do carry bacteria.
Did she lick him? I'd still take her in, she might need antibiotics, I personally wouldn't take a chance, I like to err on the side of caution.

If she's dehydrated, take her to the vet ASAP!!!!! Cats can get very sick very fast without humans noticing. Once they start showing signs of illness, it's usually pretty bad. Something new could have developed between the screening and the new symptoms.

Treating a dog or cat for an undiagnosed problem is NOT a DIY thing.

Quite a few FW puffers have their toxin in the skin, among other locations. Many of those are carrying saxitoxin/

How long have you had the fish? They do lose their toxin in captivity over time, but it is not fast.

RTR wrote:Quite a few FW puffers have their toxin in the skin, among other locations. Many of those are carrying saxitoxin/

How long have you had the fish? They do lose their toxin in captivity over time, but it is not fast.

Which species have their toxins in their skin? Is it enough to just come into contact, or does it still require ingestion?

All toxins require ingestion, or to be in solution which would be absorbed through the skin - which would be unlikely. Cats do lick things and if the cat ate any part of a relativeli new wild-caught puffer it could be highly dangerous to the cat.

I do not find this amusing at all. Very poor post Walrus Head. That is criel and thoughtless.

I agree, it worries me that she didn't post an update! I hope her old kitty is ok.

i have on 2 occasions found my cats (1 each time) in my fahaka tank. if i have the lid open doing w/c leave the room with bucket splash ( my cats sleep on the hood) they have jumped up hood open lol.the second time this happened my cat had recently been hit by a car (apparently no evidence, rear claws ripped out and bleeding from the head, vet reckoned fought with car and car won). first panick was blood in tank so did 80% wc second thought what if toxins entered through wounds however cat is fine. just thought i would share cat related incedent .oh puffer also fine i assume he thought wtf r u doin in here tho lol

Oh no!
I came home once to see the grate on the 75 gallon pushed through into the water and cracked slightly. No one jumps up there anymore, so I'm assuming someone fell in and went swim-scrambling out. No harm done though, I kind of wish I could have seen it happen though, I bet it looked funny!

Hi all,

sorry I didn't reply sooner but I lost the link and with what happened, I honestly didn't care much either.
On July 12, my lovely old Mii-Cat died. However, according to the autopsy, it was a congenital heart condition, triggered by old age, and had nothing to do with the fish, which is fine by the way.

Thanks for your input.

sorry to hear that

I'm so sorry!!!