Can cats get high from licking/eating frogs?

June 8, 2004 2:12 AM

Can cats get high from eating frogs? My mom just moved to a new house by a fishpond where a family of frogs also lives. Her cat seems to have grown addicted to the frogs - he eats one and then gets lethargic and glassy-eyed and just generally weird. Is this dangerous for him or just harmless fun? Well, not harmless for the frogs, of course.
posted by hazyjane to pets & animals (13 comments total)

some frogs can secrete a toxic substance to protect themselves from predators. house pet / frog encounter are not that rare -- vets know all about it, dogs especially eat lots of frogs. just ask your vet, frog-eating could be toxic in the long run
posted by matteo at 3:21 AM on June 8, 2004

I thought that was mainly tropical frogs? The regular temperate zone standard-frog (requests for replacements with form 32.913-b) is fairly non-psychoactive (and non-poisonous) as far as I know, though I'll (happily) admit I've never eaten one.
We have a cat who gets very nauseous and lethargic after eating mice (and eventually throws up in inconvenient places), but still does it a lot if mice are available.

Still, checking with your vet might not be a bad idea. Also, your mother might want to actually keep the frogs in her pond (depends on how much of an effect on their numbers he's having I suppose).
posted by fvw at 3:41 AM on June 8, 2004

though I'll (happily) admit I've never eaten one.

You don't know what you miss: take frog legs, add garlic and butter, fry and enjoy. Cuisses de grenouille is one of the best meats available (bit like chicken or quail, but finer).
posted by NekulturnY at 5:19 AM on June 8, 2004

Just because they have no effect on humans (presumably) that doesn't mean they won't affect cats in some fashion.

For example, catnip has a psychoactive effect on most cats, but nada for people.

I third the "ask the vet" sentiment.


(But I also tend to think that most animals will figure out what they can and cannot eat safely on their own. Maybe those frogs are really, really tasty and have some trace minerals that is good for the cat?)
posted by yesster at 6:11 AM on June 8, 2004

...some frogs can secrete a toxic substance to protect themselves from predators.

Like licking a Cane Toad, right? (Scroll down for the fun picture of the kid holding strings of eggs.) Wow, and the Ozzies brought that one on themselves... and some people make boots out of them, maybe as revenge...
posted by Shane at 6:21 AM on June 8, 2004

I think animals sometimes can figure out for themselves what is safe to eat, but not always. After all, cats and dogs will drink antifreeze. They also tend to not be able to associate their actions with being ill, I think. My cat will eat a plant or flowers, and a few hours later, she pukes. But when we're cleaning it up, she's fascinated - she doesn't seem to really realize that it's her mess. And if there's still the same greenery around the next day, she'll eat it again. I don't think they're stupid, per se, but just that they don't make good long-term associations.

In summary, ask ye olde vet if you should be doing anything to keep the cat away from the frogs.
posted by livii at 7:19 AM on June 8, 2004

livii: your cat probably has a hairball, and is trying (and apparently failing) to get rid of it.
posted by aramaic at 8:07 AM on June 8, 2004

My cat will eat a plant or flowers, and a few hours later, she pukes.

You probably know this, livii, but some plants are poisonous to cats. Here is a list, just in case. Some, like philodendron, are very common house plants.

livii: your cat probably has a hairball, and is trying (and apparently failing) to get rid of it.

You can buy a tube of stuff at the petstore that will lube your cat's tract and help with hairballs. It's usually really sweet stuf so the cat will eat it, so I don't know if it's good for the cat's teeth, but it should be a temporary measure anyway. SOmetimes changing food is good too.
posted by Shane at 8:48 AM on June 8, 2004

I live in lizard country, and I've heard that cats can actually get addicted to eating lizards...maybe something similar is going on with the frogs.
posted by gokart4xmas at 9:25 AM on June 8, 2004

As noted, throwing up in cats isn't always bad, and yes, cats generally know what they should and shouldn't eat, as far as biological things go anyway (our cats love water with chrysal (the stuff used to keep cut flowers healthy longer) for some reason). Goats on the other hand...
posted by fvw at 9:26 AM on June 8, 2004

If they are Bufo toads, well, there's your answer: Bufotenine.
posted by luriete at 9:59 AM on June 8, 2004

one of the most entertaining movies I've ever had to watch in class (I've actually seen it in two classes now) is Cane Toads: an Unnatural History. My favorite part is watching drivers swerve wildly across the road in order to hit toads.
posted by rorycberger at 10:36 AM on June 8, 2004

Cane Toads: an Unnatural History - the part where the toad eats the mouse - aaaaaaaa!!!!! So horrifying but you can't look away!
It is definitely something worth watching!
posted by batgrlHG at 7:16 PM on June 8, 2004