Typically cats don’t eat bugs but you might find your pet eats insects in the house. Bugs are not amongst the animals cats eat. But remember that felines are carnivores and more importantly hunters. So, domesticated cats may hunt bugs and other insects they find in their environment. Sometimes, your cat may eat the bugs she kills. That may happen out of boredom or stress. It is important to monitor your cat to ensure that she doesn’t eat bugs or any substance that can be detrimental to her health.
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Why Do Cats Eat Bugs?
In the wild, felines are predators. Hunting is one of their instinctive characteristics. They hunt for their food but sometimes, they hunt smaller animals just for sport. In that instance, they kill the animals without eating them. Domesticated cats don’t have so much of this privilege that wild cats have. And since hunting is an instinct for them, they’ll chase and kill pretty much any small animals they find in the home including bugs.
If you don’t monitor your cat, she might eat whatever she kills out of boredom or stress. Additionally, stray cats are usually left to fend for themselves. If a cat is starved and deserted, she might settle for insects such as bugs.
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Is It Bad For Cats To Eat Bugs?
It is bad and unhealthy for your cat to eat bugs. Your cat’s diet should be primarily meat-based protein. However, bugs are not the best animals to provide enough protein for cats. But that is not what makes them bad for your cat. Bugs are bad for cats because they are often known to contain parasites that may be harmful to your pet’s health. For instance, they may carry the Physaloptera parasite that resides in the stomach of animals.
In cats, the Physaloptera causes gastritis which also causes your pet to vomit persistently. Also, beetles and fleas carry parasites such as tapeworm. Your cat shouldn’t eat bugs because she could get infected with these parasites if she eats them.
Moreover, even when these insects are not infected, your cat shouldn’t eat bugs because they could upset her stomach. If your cat eats bugs, you might notice symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting.
Bugs are bad for cats because they are often known to contain parasites that may be harmful to your pet’s health. For instance, they may carry the Physaloptera parasite that resides in the stomach of animals.
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Do Cats Eat Cockroaches?
Cockroaches are one of the most common insects that invade people’s homes. If you have them in your home, your cat might eat cockroaches after hunting and killing them. However, this is a bad habit in felines and must be corrected. Cockroaches are unhealthy for your pet. They may carry parasites such as roundworms and infect your pets. Besides, your cat could experience some GI problems such as stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea if she ingests these insects.
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Do Cats Eat Bugs In The Wild?
In the wild, cats don’t eat bugs. The wild is the natural home of felines. They usually have a variety of animals to hunt for food and sport there. They are typically known to hunt rabbits, birds, and rodents such as; squirrels, rats, and mice. Some veterinarians have tagged insect-eating as a behavioral problem in felines and should be corrected.
However, feral cats that are starved may eat insects. Be careful to low these kinds of cats into your home or mingle with your other pets. They may be carriers of parasites and diseases and can infect both you and your pet.
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Do Cats Keep Bugs Away?
In homes, cats help to keep bugs away. With their hunting instinct, they can hardly ignore moving insects. They will chase and kill bugs they find around the house. However, their influence in reducing their population may not be very effective.
If you have insects in your home, it’s better to control them with pesticides. In fact, you should keep these insects away from your cat since they pose health risks to her. Some insects such as fleas and lice are parasitic and may live on your pet’s skin. As much as possible, ensure that your home is bug-free to provide a healthier environment for your pet.
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Related Questions
Is it Ok For My Cat To Eat Spiders?
Cats may eat spiders after hunting them. But is it ok for your cat to eat a spider? There is no yes or no answer to this question. But what you should know is that most cats are fine after eating the common spiders found in homes. When cats eat spiders, their venom doesn’t affect them because they neutralize when ingested. However, some spider species are notoriously known to be poisonous to felines. One of such is the Black Widow Spiders.
Is It Ok If My Cat Eats A Fly?
It’s not ok for your cat to eat flies. Flies may pose little to no health issues to your pet’s health. But they also can cause diarrhea, stomach upset, or vomiting in your pet. Nevertheless, chasing flies may prove as a form of exercise for your pet. So, if your cat merely chases them to kill them, that’s okay. But once your cat begins to eat flies, you should discourage such behavior.
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Can Cats Smell Spiders?
Cats can smell spiders. Cats have an impressive sense of smell. They can detect animals without seeing them with their scent. And spiders, like most insects, have a distinctive smell. So, your pet can tell whenever spiders invade your home. But asides from their sense of smell, they also have impressive eyesights that help them detect spiders even in the dark.
Can Cats Eat Mosquitoes?
Cats shouldn’t eat mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are also bug insects. They are more of an irritant to your pet, and they pose few health risks to felines. Additionally, they are carriers of heartworms. Your cat can get infected with this parasite if she eats mosquitoes.
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Final Thoughts
Your cat shouldn’t eat bugs. They have little nutritional value to your pet. Also, they may be carriers of parasites and can cause GI problems for your pet. So, it is essential to keep your environment free of insects. Your cat shouldn’t eat bugs, flies, spiders, and even mosquitoes.
If you notice that your cat enjoys and frequently eats these insects, she might have a behavioral problem that must be corrected. Remember to deworm your cat regularly to keep her healthy. Whenever your cat shows any symptoms of illness, consult a veterinarian for medical help and advice.
