Cat dies after receiving venomous snake bite in family back yard

A beloved family cat has died after he was bitten by a snake in the family back yard where children were playing.

A cat has died after he was bitten by a venomous snake while protecting his family from the reptile in their Sunshine Coast back yard.

Domestic short-haired Arthur was playing in the back yard with his family when he spotted an the snake.

“An eastern brown snake, one of Australia’s top 10 highly venomous snakes, had entered the backyard right where the children were playing,” Animal Emergency Service said on social media.

Arthur died protecting his family from an Eastern Brown snake. Photo: Animal Emergency Service

“Arthur jumped into action protecting his young family by killing the snake.

“Unfortunately, in the process, Arthur received a fatal envenomation snake bite.

“In the chaos of getting the children out of the yard, no one saw the actual bite, but Arthur collapsed and quickly recovered like nothing was wrong not long after.”

They said collapse events were a common symptom of snake bites that was not commonly known by pet owners.

Eastern brown snakes are one of Australia's top 10 most highly venomous. Picture: Animal Emergency Service

“The next morning Arthur’s hoomans (sic) found him collapsed again and unable to get up.

“They rushed him to our Tanawha hospital.”

But unfortunately the family pet’s symptoms were too severe for him to recover.

“It was with the heaviest of hearts his owners had to leave Arthur after he gained his angel wings,” the service said.

“His family, understandably devastated, remember him fondly and are forever grateful he saved the children’s lives.”