Black Widows and Cats!

I have a problem around my house - SPIDERS. I've had the exterminator come out and treat the joint over and over according to their proper intervals, but they keep coming back. Mostly Orb Weavers (the ones that hang between trees and near lights, non-poisonous) and Wolf Spiders (the biggest spider next to a turantula, also non-poisonous). However, I've spotted three large black widows in the last month - and they all hang around right where my cats do. Blacky the 3yr-old female) is bad about getting in wood piles, lumber, under dark placed in and around the garage. The last sighting was not good at all: Blacky came trotting out of the garage with cob-web all over her whiskers, and it was very strong, silky webbing like a black widow weaves. Not long afterwards I found a wounded black widow crawling across the floor! This was tonight and so far, she's not showing any illness. THe thing that worries me is that these cats are all outside cats (three in all) and they love chasing anything that moves and playing with it. I've seen Gray play with a huge Wolf spider then eat it! Do cats know a poisonous spider when they see one? Also, if they get bitten, will it have the same effect it has on a human? Black Widows cause extreme flu-like symptoms in people, with some resulting in death in people who have a weak immune system. Please advise! Thanks!

Ask the vet ... widows can kill a "normal" human if not treated so a cat i would imagine would be no different

I also have a problem with black and brown widows (called button spiders over here) at my home. I did a lot of research and both bites would, in all likelyhood, be fatal to a cat. The poison acts the same way for both cats and humans.

Juli

I took her in for a checkup today, and PRAISE THE LORD she's bite-free. I'm gonna invest in some dust to put around the garage to try and thwart those eight-legged freaks' attempts on taking up residence in my stuff. Thanks for the replies!