Answer: Yes, occasionally it is. Cats who try to catch these insects may get bitten inside or around the mouth. This will result in pawing at the mouth and increased salivation. Attention is usually drawn to sting on the skin by a cry a pain followed by continual licking of the site.
Multiple stings can result in severe illness, but the most serious consequences occur if either the tongue is stung or if the individual animal is allergic to the sting and goes into state of severe shock and collapse. Both of these latter conditions demand immediate veterinary attention.
If the sting is still present at the site looking like a large black splinter, it should be carefully removed with a pair of tweezers. Then antihistamine cream should be applied to the stung area. If that is not available, or if sting is in the mouth, the area should be bathed with a 2% sodium bicarbonate solution (one level teaspoonful bicarbonate of soda in a tumbler of warm water). This solution can be introduced into the mouth in the same way as for a liquid medicine and the cat allowed to spit it out.
If there is considerable swelling in the mouth and breathing proves difficult, the cat should be laid on its side and the tongue pulled well forward out of the mouth. Artificial respiration should be applied if necessary and treatment for shock given. Unfortunately, where there is severe obstruction at the back of the throat, artificial respiration will not be sufficient to overcome the blockage and it is imperative to get the cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
