Marcia,

There is a popular urban legend that skinks are toxic for cats to eat. This is usually associated with the bright blue tail in juvenile skinks.

Here is a link that addresses the issue:

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20osearch=Eumeces+inexpectatus&guide=Lizards

"Five-lined skinks have blue tails as juveniles and many people believe they are poisonous, some even calling them scorpions. Of course they are not poisonous and there is no evidence that cats are poisoned by eating them."

FWIW, we had a five-lined skink get into our house once and my indoor cat pounced on it and ate it before I could save the lizard. I was dismayed for the lizard. My cat was, of course, fine.

Just as I suspected, Wayne! Thanks. I have since found that SOME vets even think they are toxic but others don't agree, so I guess there is a reason folks are confused. But frankly, I don't see how eating a skink can cause nerve damage in a cat or dog if it doesn't in foxes, raccoons, etc. I have a lot of them in my yard (and LOVE them...they are my favorite lizards!) so I'm glad you agree that they aren't a problem. And I will check out the link.

Thanks for the info! Sorry it took me so long to get back over here to check for your response. A lot going on down here.

Marcia

Cats and dogs often get reptile scales stuck in their mouths and in the backs of their throats when they eat a reptile, causing them to gag or even vomit. It's not due to the helpless prey being toxic.

I do know of a group of herpetologists who tried eating various reptiles as part of a project. (the animals had been humanely sacrificed for genetic studies previously).

Some of them cooked and tried a large specimen of Broad-headed Skink and those who did were violently nauseous afterwards. Those that ate the other species in the study (turtles, a few snakes, etc) were fine. Anecdotal evidence, yes, but the only evidence I have seen one way or another about their toxicity.

Dogs and cats aren't stupid (generally). If skinks taste bad, they eat one and avoid them thereafter.

We live in the woods and my family own two dogs and a cat that I found in the woods.

We also have a garden and that is where my cat hangs around every day my cat has one or two every day she does not get sick or anything.

Too bad, I can't save them because as soon as you open the door to get it she runs off with it in her mouth.

My grandmother has a dog as well and he is obsessive with trying to catch one and neither of them have died or gotten seriously sick.

My cat have been eating shinning lizard for sometime now without my notice . Now the cat is weak with a lot of bruises on the skin. Is there any cure? My German shepherd 7month old died of eating shinning lizard even the vet couldn't save it