Florida woman feeds stray kitten. Then an uninvited guest pulls up—he’s poisonous: ‘Dear lord he’s huge’ 

A Florida woman trying to make sure her neighborhood's stray cats didn't go hungry appears to have attracted a far less cuddly creature—a cane toad.

A content creator (@skinny*ssc*nt) pans her camera toward a stray cat hanging outside her home. Then she turns toward the food bowls, only to reveal two large toads sitting in the bowls.
“I couldn't believe my eyes,” text over the video reads.

“I feed these stray cats … I'll be [expletive] if this big [expletive] back,” she says, cutting herself off. “I know you're lying,” she continues. “Are you serious? Really?” 

While the smaller toad hops away almost as soon as she approaches, the larger one takes a bit more time to hop out of the food bowl. 

“Is this only a Florida experience?” she asks in the caption of her video, which has amassed more than 180,000 views. 

It's probably not only a Florida experience. But the Sunshine State does happen to have a very large toxic toad problem.

What Kind of Toad Is This?

The animal in the video appears to be a cane toad, an invasive species also known as a bufo, giant, or marine toad.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the invasive cane toad “is a large, nonnative amphibian that has been introduced into Florida.”

It describes cane toads as “reddish-brown to grayish-brown with a light-yellow or beige belly,” noting that unlike the southern toad, which is native to the area, they range in size from 6 to 9 inches in length (as opposed to a maximum of 3 to 4 inches), have flat foreheads (instead of ridges, or crests above their eyes), and most worryingly, “are poisonous to most animals that try to bite or consume them.”

This is due to the prominent triangular glands behind their eyes which “secrete a potent milky-white toxin” known as bufotoxin “as defense against predators including domestic pets.”

Though the size of the second toad is a further indication it is a cane toad and not a southern toad, the FWC urges residents to properly identify any toad before taking action.

While cane toads “compete with native frogs and toads for food and breeding areas,” the southern toad is “a beneficial part of the Florida ecosystem.”

The FWC says cane toads “can be removed from private property and humanely killed year-round.” It warns residents not to relocate and release them.

Why Is the Toad Sitting in the Cat's Food Bowl?

The food that attracted the stray cats also caught the attention of the two toads.

Cane toads are not picky eaters. They are omnivores that will chomp on just about anything, including “vegetation, insects, small birds, other toads or frogs, lizards, small mammals, and snakes.” The FWC specifically notes that cane toads eat human scraps and food.

It encourages residents to “Never leave pet food outside to avoid attracting cane toads and other animals.”

Cane toads also love moist spots like water bowls because “they hydrate by bringing water in through the skin on their stomach,” according to the Northampton Reptile Center.

So it's unsurprising that the content creator's setup attracted the toads. It's basically an amphibian pit stop with free food and water.

“I had to relocate so many of those toads because they are poisonous to the cats and dogs,” wrote one viewer under the video.

“Cane Toads LOVE kibble absolute trash goblins,” a frog rescue TikTok account chimed in.

Are Cane Toads Dangerous to Cats?

Yes. They're also dangerous for dogs and other pets.

The Animal Emergency Service says, “If a cat licks, bites, or paws at a cane toad, it may be exposed to the toxic secretion released by the toad's glands.” The cat may absorb the toxic secretion, which “[impacts] the nervous system and heart.”

It categorizes cane toad poisoning as a medical emergency and urges pet owners to immediately seek veterinary care. 

“The toxin acts fast, and in severe cases, death can occur within 15 minutes in dogs,” it writes. “Given that cats have smaller bodies, time is critical in ensuring their survival.”

As for people? Cane toads are only dangerous if a person swallows their toxin or gets it into their eyes. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says, “humans can get incredibly ill if the toxin is ingested and if sprayed with it can cause intense pain, temporary blindness and inflammation.” The FWC advises washing one's hands thoroughly after coming into contact with a cane toad.

Florida Isn't the Only State With Huge Toxic Toads

Floridians aren't alone in discovering giant amphibians hanging around bowls of water.

In a different TikTok filmed in Arizona, another TikToker films a massive toad sitting in an outdoor water bowl. Imabeeleever (@imabeeleever) identifies the amphibian as a Sonoran Desert toad. Her video has more than 399,000 views.

Native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Mexico, these toads can reach 7 inches or more, according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Much like the cane toad, they are also dangerous to pets. The Sonoran Desert toad has “extremely potent, defensive toxins that are released from several glands.” The museum specifically notes that “Dog owners should be cautious: the toxins are strong enough to kill full grown dogs that pick up or mouth the toads.”

It is important to note, however, that while the cane toad is an invasive species native to South and mainland Central America, the Sonoran Desert toad is native to Arizona, where Imabeeleever filmed her video.

@skinny*ssc*nt

Subplot News reached out to Skinny*ssc*nt and Imabeeleever via TikTok direct message.

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