Will my cat survive after eating a frog?

Question

My cat ate a frog yesterday and he is not eating anything now. I have the following concerns:

1. Will he survive?
2. Is the frog poisonous?
3. Why is he not eating anything now?

Answer 1

Yes, your cat will survive, my cat has eaten lots of frogs, toads, and salamanders and sometimes she loses her appetite for a few hours after eating them.

If your cat shows signs of poisoning, stop reading this and get your cat to the vet now.

Symptoms to look for can be found in the article "How Can I Tell If My Cat Has Been Poisoned".

Frogs will be poisonous if their diet contains poisons but normally the levels are low, toads are often more poisonous than frogs living in the same area. (See also "Do Cats Eat Frogs?)

Most amphibians, reptiles, and birds carry salmonella and this can make your cat feel bad for a few hours, if your cat stops eating for more than a day it is an emergency and you need to get your cat to the vet.

A couple of things to think about:

If your cat eat amphibians, reptiles, or birds it will get internal parasites (worms) so you will have to treat your cat against this at regular intervals.

Amphibians/reptiles/birds are protected species in many areas so by letting your cat hunt you might be breaking the law.