Bug Question

Today I have seen two bugs that I have no idea what they are! I think one might have come off Marlee......? I found it beside her on the bed. I KNOW its not fleas, I know what they look like. They were a little bit bigger than a flea, like just barely. Looked hairy, sorta like those hairy catterpillars (how it looks furry, but not soft). Anyone know what they could be? Bugs gross me out, I'd really like to know! By the way, the other one I found beside her food bowl. Just noticed them like today, maybe yesterday. I'd appreciate any ideas!

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Today I have seen two bugs that I have no idea what they are! I think one might have come off Marlee......? I found it beside her on the bed. I KNOW its not fleas, I know what they look like. They were a little bit bigger than a flea, like just barely. Looked hairy, sorta like those hairy catterpillars (how it looks furry, but not soft). Anyone know what they could be? Bugs gross me out, I'd really like to know! By the way, the other one I found beside her food bowl. Just noticed them like today, maybe yesterday. I'd appreciate any ideas!

Click to expand...

Could it be a tick???

ticks aren"t hairy

Hmm.. I don't think so. It's been a while since I've seen a tick up close, but I don't think this is it. Plus when I've picked them up, they haven't tried to stick to the surface they were on, or to me (thank goodness). Its starting to freak me out a bit. If I see many more I'm going to be getting a bug bomb!

A mite maybe?

I'll look up some mite pics. I just did a quick search, haven't seen any pics that look like it so far. It sounds like the mites would be too small for me to see so good with my eyes, but I could be wrong.

Tiger had mites on his ears and sounds just like what you described..

Can you post a picture...or is it too small to photograph without a special lense?
Or (not sure if this is even possible) could you scan one of them, enlarge it and send to where ever you send your pic and post it??? I MIGHT be able to tell you what it is...or maybe someone else can. (Bugs don`t gross me out...except I don`t like spiders)
Linda

Oh I wish I could do the pic thing! Right now the two I've found are smooshed and down the toilet. They would be big enough to photograph with a zoom probably, but I don't have a digital camera yet (thats why there's no photos of Marlee yet). Thank you so much though! Marlee was just at the vet last thursday, and I watched the vet check her ears. Is it possible he would have missed them? So the mites will come out of the kitties ears and into your home? How gross, I never knew they would do that! If I find another one, I'm gonna put him on a piece of white paper and sit here to compare him with some pics.

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Oh I wish I could do the pic thing! Right now the two I've found are smooshed and down the toilet. They would be big enough to photograph with a zoom probably, but I don't have a digital camera yet (thats why there's no photos of Marlee yet). Thank you so much though! Marlee was just at the vet last thursday, and I watched the vet check her ears. Is it possible he would have missed them? So the mites will come out of the kitties ears and into your home? How gross, I never knew they would do that! If I find another one, I'm gonna put him on a piece of white paper and sit here to compare him with some pics.

Click to expand...

They aren't ear mites!!! Ear mites are white and you can barely see them with the "naked eye"!!!

So how big is this bug? As big as one of the periods on your screen....or as big as the wiggly top on your pumphkin on your post...or bigger?
Linda

I'd say a little bigger than the wiggley thing on my pumpkin. [ -- ] Close to as long as the line I just made, but a little bit thicker. Before I saw the post about it not being ear mites, I checked her ears just in case (which she did NOT like) and I didn't see anything, so pretty sure its not that anyways. You guys are so nice to try and help me like this, I LOVE THIS SITE!!

OH, don't get a bug bomb - it could be toxic to Marlee & the rest of your family!! :yikes: you could save a *sample bug* and take it down to the farm advisor's office - they can ID it & offer tips on preventing an invasion. They don't sound like anything I'd like to find.... hope that you figure out what they are soon!BTW, they don't sound like ear mites to me - just give Marlee a good petting about the ears & watch for obvious signs of discomfort, such as her ears staying down flat & shaking her head violently, although I'm sure that your vet would've seen them.

Originally Posted by catsknowme

OH, don't get a bug bomb - it could be toxic to Marlee & the rest of your family!! :yikes: you could save a *sample bug* and take it down to the farm advisor's office - they can ID it & offer tips on preventing an invasion. They don't sound like anything I'd like to find.... hope that you figure out what they are soon!BTW, they don't sound like ear mites to me - just give Marlee a good petting about the ears & watch for obvious signs of discomfort, such as her ears staying down flat & shaking her head violently, although I'm sure that your vet would've seen them.

Click to expand...

I was thinking there were bug bombs that were okay to use in pet households, you just had to stay out for several hours. Was I wrong? But I've only found two so far, hopefully it was a fluke

Can`t believe an ear mite would be that big. Mites are smaller usually than fleas.
I wonder if its some sort of tiny centipede.
I doubt it was on your cat...usually ticks and fleas and worms are what are attracted to animals....they could have come in on someones shoe. It does`nt sound like a blood sucking sort of bug.
It does`nt have a sort of 2 pronged tail does it? (I ask because we get some critters up here that like to get in and hang out where there is water like in bathrooms and kitchens...and you found one near the cats dish) These bugs are usually bigger than you are describing though....3/4"-1" long.
Try typing in "view Tenn Insects" on your puter and see if you can find it. If you do it should tell you about it. Might just put your mind at ease....then again...if you get too creeped out at bugs maybe you`ll want to wait til the light of AM so that seeing the pics does`nt cause bad dreams.
I`m sorry you are freaked out. I sort of like insects....my Dad and Grandma were both nature lovers...and they showed and explained a lot about bugs to me when I was growing up. But I do know what` it`s like to be afraid of something.
Linda
I`d not panic unless you find several of them.

Thanks Linda! Thats a good search term. Haha, I was searching for furry black bugs, and not getting much obviously. I'm not too terribly freaked out yet, since there has only been two. And I have light blue sheets on right now, so I can take off the comforter to check for black spots before going to bed! I'll probably wait and do more searching on the web tomorrow...I've got a long week in school, starting with a big test tomorrow . So I'll be heading to bed soon, hopeing to get a good nights sleep!

Good night Ashley.
Let us know if you find out anything tomorrow.
If your cat food is in a bag...you might dump a bit of it out and check there....some bugs are attracted to mealy substances...and could even have come in the bag...or have gotten in there if you don`t keep the bag sealed up good. Hopefully this was just a wandering pair and the 2 you found were all there was!
Linda

Her food is in a tubberware container (easier to keep fresh). I'll still keep an eye out there though. Any chance they came in the litter (I just bought a bag of Swheat Scoop not long ago)? I kinda tried to look through her box, but with all the pieces, it would be hard to see anyways, even though it would be black! Anyways, thank you and good night to you! I'm sure I'll post back tomorrow as soon as I can!

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Today I have seen two bugs that I have no idea what they are! I think one might have come off Marlee......? I found it beside her on the bed. I KNOW its not fleas, I know what they look like. They were a little bit bigger than a flea, like just barely. Looked hairy, sorta like those hairy catterpillars (how it looks furry, but not soft). Anyone know what they could be? Bugs gross me out, I'd really like to know! By the way, the other one I found beside her food bowl. Just noticed them like today, maybe yesterday. I'd appreciate any ideas!

Click to expand...

Sorry to ask this kinda late, but could it be something she brought in from outside? Do you live in a house or apartment? (I ask because it could be that someone in an apartment by you has a pest prob, and they are travelling to your apartment now.) Also, how does this thing move? Does it wiggle like a caterpiller, or crawl? Can you see legs? Was it moving at all, and dead or alive?

I might be able to find it pretty simply online, when you answer the above questions.

Originally Posted by maherwoman

Sorry to ask this kinda late, but could it be something she brought in from outside? Do you live in a house or apartment? (I ask because it could be that someone in an apartment by you has a pest prob, and they are travelling to your apartment now.) Also, how does this thing move? Does it wiggle like a caterpiller, or crawl? Can you see legs? Was it moving at all, and dead or alive?

I might be able to find it pretty simply online, when you answer the above questions.

Click to expand...

K, lets see. By she did you mean me? (Marlee doesn't go outside.) If so, then yes, I possibly could have brought them in. I do live in an apartment, so that is a possibility. Honestly, I didn't see it move too much. The one I found on my bed I just thought was a speck when I first saw it. Then a bit later it was on a book in my lap, thats when I realized it was a bug (I don't have great vision, hehe). Its legs weren't very big, it almost looked like it was scooting if that makes sense, cause the body didn't really move I don't think. It was moving slightly, but it couldn't move fast enough to really get away. Hope this answers everything!