# Cats and scorpions
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766 "2010-08-01T03:11:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dragoncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragoncat)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/1 "2010-08-01T03:11:59Z")
Do cats really deter scorpions?
I didn’t believe it, but since I’ve gotten rid of my cats, I’ve had two scorpions in my house (one I saw, and one stung me). On the other hand, I also saw one earlier when I did have cats, and their presence didn’t seem to make a difference. Is it that the cats chase the scorpions? I guess if so it would depend on the temperament of the cat.
BTW, I’m in the Phoenix area and I’ve lived here for three years. It’s only in the past month that the scorpions have been showing up.
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/2 "2010-08-01T03:43:06Z")
It would depend on the cat. Like with mice, some cats are absolutely terrific mousers. Others could care less about a mouse.
For everything I’ve heard about cats controlling mice and/or scorpions or other critters, you can also find cats that can’t be bothered to chase and/or kill such things
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### Author:  [@\_xiao\_wenti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_xiao_wenti)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/3 "2010-08-02T00:00:41Z")
In my student days, my wife and I lived in a cottage in the woods in Alabama. We would have critters come into the house from outside frequently.
One evening, my wife’s maine coon found a bark scorpion scurrying across the floor. She proceeded to play with it, batting it about the floor.
Every third bat or so, the scorpion would prick her paw (no poison to speak of). She would back up and look at the scorpion.
Then the scorpion would start moving and the cycle would continue. It continued until scorpion found refuge under the couch.
So, possible.
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### Author:  [@dragoncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragoncat)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/4 "2010-08-02T01:18:58Z")
Thanks! I guess I assumed venom would act the same on anyone but apparently not. 🙂
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### Author:  [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/5 "2010-08-02T02:42:24Z")
We don’t have many scorpions where I’m from, but my cat did eat a wasp… _once_.
The fur on her face grew back after about a month.
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### Author:  [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/6 "2010-08-02T22:00:51Z")
Some animals are just human enough to be stupid.
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### Author:  [@dragoncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragoncat)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/7 "2010-08-04T01:04:54Z")
Ouch! I mean Meow! 😉
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/8 "2010-08-04T01:15:44Z")
If scorpions are anything like giant flying cockroaches, hells yeah. But then they throw up the remains and it’s like a 3D cockroach puzzle.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-scorpions/548766/9 "2010-08-04T02:13:36Z")
> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> If scorpions are anything like giant flying cockroaches, hells yeah. But then they throw up the remains and it’s like a 3D cockroach puzzle.
Yes, my Bengal is death on those. I’d be worried about scorpions.
However, cats do eat bugs. Scorpions eat bugs. Perhaps now that there’s no cat to eat the bugs, the scorpions have moved in?