My local small bumblebees are my favorite bees. They are fuzzy and cute, for an insect anyway, and are more docile than regular bees. If you followed my blog last year you may remember me posting about them here and here. The bees arrived this spring and have been busy visiting all my flowers and plants, but I am not sure where they are actually living. I have not been able to trace them back to their hive. I am just happy they found a new home after last year’s upheaval. I have never been stung by one ... ever.
Cute fuzzy Bumblebee on left, regular honeybee on right. |
As you know Little Guy Noir has been growing quickly and had figured out that the Big Cats were going outside. Not wanting to be left out, he had been trying all sorts of escape methods to join them. I finally caved in and brought out the cat harness we had purchased for Dot when we first got her. It was too small and we eventually had to order another larger size for her online in the chubby cat section.
Dot with new harness. FYI harness is called Come With Me Kitty Harness + Bungee Leash. |
Anyway after a lot of wriggling and squirming by Guy not me, well actually there was some squirming by me, I finally got the harness on him. Guy loves going out and has gotten used to the harness and behaves pretty well.
Guy Noir a day before the incident! |
On about his third trip out, he started batting something about and I thought it was a leaf or a bit of bark. Then I noticed Guy stopped abruptly and ran about a foot away, looking back with fear in his eyes. I then noticed a small bumblebee come staggering out of the grass and after a moment gathered its strength and flew away. Then Little Guy started licking his right foot and I knew he had been stung. Bumblebees do not have barbs on their stingers like honeybees, so they actually can sting multiple times. They also do not die or leave their stinger in their victim. Luckily this bee only stung in self defense when he was being mashed by a paw and then left to go about his business with no ill will.
After Guy was back in the house, I consulted my cat care books and they suggested putting ice on the sting or soaking in water and baking soda. I opted for the ice pack and Guy sat on my lap with the ice pack for about ten minutes. I didn't get any pictures of his foot, but it did swell up some, otherwise he seemed alright. By the next day the swelling was almost gone and by the third day you would never know he had been stung.
Guy a few days after the sting, all well now. |
When we went outside the next day he saw another bee and actually made a move on it. I could almost see the little wheels whirling in his head as he remembered, "bee….. foot… hurt!" He decided to leave the bee alone. Another lesson learned!
Doing what cats do best. |
I don't ever remember any of my other cats ever being stung before. Even though Guy had this unfortunate accident, I do not blame the bee. It was trying to protect itself as is natures way.
I Still See Beautiful When I See A Bee.
I Still See Beautiful When I See A Bee.
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