Are my Burmese sisters at risk of Anaphylactic Shock ?

Question.
I was devastated last week to find my beautiful Burmese boy Sami dead in my garden. He was fit and healthy and only 22 months old. My vet could find no injuries, and no signs of bleeding or poisoning.

However, his tissues were swollen all over his body. The vet said the most likely cause of death was anaphylactic shock, possibly resulting from a sting. He was unable to give me any further information. Is it something which commonly happens to cats?

I'm concerned about the safety of my other two Burmese who are half-sister and half-brother to Sami. Can you help?

Answer.
Anaphylactic shock is an overwhelming allergic reaction that simultaneously affects many body systems. It develops very suddenly and can have catastrophic consequences in a very short space of time. This certainly sounds like a possibility in Sami's case, and if it was the explanation for his loss then there was really nothing that you could have done to predict that it would happen, or to protect him from it. These reactions can occur in response to many things; but we most commonly think of them being caused by bee or wasp stings, adder bites, or possibly some insect bites. While it is not impossible that one of your other cats might have an unknown allergy to something, it is very unlikely that the same fate would befall either of them. Anaphylaxis does occur, and can be devastating when it does, but it is relatively uncommon many, many cats get bitten or stung each day, and very few of them suffer any adverse reaction at all. Those that do may develop less severe signs - itchy skins, or local swelling in the area that was stung by no means all affected animals suffer the devastating reaction that Sami did.

Nevertheless, if you are aware that one of your cats may have been bitten or stung you should watch him or her very carefully, and ring your vet for advice.