Cats have an inherited curiosity that keeps on urging them to eat different foods as much and as frequently as possible. This is a normal phenomenon and it is completely safe if your cat is eating food. As we love our cats and consider them as one of our family members, we make sure that they only have access to food that will bring health benefits for them or at least don’t bring any harmful effects.
With this thing in mind, cat owners frequently ask questions like, can cats eat crickets? Are crickets bad for cats? Are there any nutritional benefits of eating crickets? Sure, all these questions should be answered and you should only let your cats eat anything after you have the proper knowledge. This article is a comprehensive source of information related to cats and their behavior after eating crickets.
Table of Contents
Can cats have crickets?
Yes. Cats eat crickets and they are safe for them as well. Crickets are often found in outdoor environments, especially if you have a small green area in your house.
Cats will sometimes bring crickets to you after hunting them while they may directly eat them without our knowledge as well. There is no harm in eating crickets as long as they are not eating too many or too frequently.
Can cats eat dried crickets?
Yes. Cats can eat dried or frozen crickets but eating live or fresh crickets is more appreciated by cats and considered good as well. The fact is that dried or frozen crickets tend to have a bad smell which may urge the cats to not like it or may even avoid it at all.
Can cats eat live crickets?
Cats can eat live crickets as they are not toxic or poisonous to them. They usually love to eat crickets when they are in an active or fun mood. In such moods, they like to chase and hunt down crickets so that they can enjoy playing with their prey. As their prize of all efforts, cats will simply eat the hunted crickets and shall not face any health issues as well.
Are crickets good for cats to eat?
Yes, crickets are considered and have been proven a healthy snack for cats to eat. Many experts claim that eating 1-2 crickets once in a while is not only safe but helps gain a lot of minerals, nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids as well. Some of the major nutrients which have put crickets on the list of good foods for the cat to eat include the following:
- Vitamin B12
- Iron
- Omega fatty acids
- Calcium
These are the major nutrients while the crickets are filled with many other minerals and vitamins that are non-toxic and beneficial at the same time for cats.
What happens if a cat eats crickets?
In most cases, nothing can happen to cats if they eat one or two crickets, once in a while. The high probability is that cats will remain as fresh and healthy as they were before eating the crickets. However, pesticides and pathogens that may come with crickets can cause some health issues mainly including:
- Oral irritation
- Minor illness
- Vomiting
- Lethargic
- Upset stomach
- Disturbed digestive system
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
What to do if cats get sick of eating crickets?
Minor symptoms of illness can easily be treated by normal medication that you do very often.
However, if you feel that symptoms are extreme and normal medications are not showing any improvement, taking help from vets on a call or taking your cats directly to their clinic would be a great decision.
This will not only remove the cat’s sickness but will give you the satisfaction that your cat does not have any major health hazards.
Can cats get worms from eating crickets?
In most cases, the answer will be No. Almost all the insects contain different kinds of parasites in their body which are transferred from their body to the cat’s body.
Crickets are one such insect and ingesting them will take the practices into the cat’s body as well.
Don’t worry much as cats’ immune system is extremely powerful as compared to the strength of parasites which means that getting ill effects of ingesting parasites are really low.
What are the health benefits of feeding crickets to cats?
As crickets are given in small quantities, they will not bring any major health benefits but the minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids that come with crickets are capable of providing nutritional benefits to cats.
- Helps in weight loss or keeping the weight at a maintained level.
- Satisfy protein requirements.
- A huge amount of iron helps in keeping red blood cells healthy, carrying oxygen, and removing carbon dioxide efficiently.
- Improve digestive system.
- Strengthen the immune system.
- Cognitive functions work properly.
- Improve skin health due to fatty acids.
- Improve hair follicles.
- Strong bones, joints, and muscles due to calcium.
What are the drawbacks of feeding crickets to cats?
Just like benefits, drawbacks are also very rare as the cats will only face health issues if they eat a lot of crickets in a single sitting or keep on eating crickets regularly. Some of the major risks or disadvantages of feeding crickets include the following:
- Irritation in mouths.
- Upset stomach.
- Disturbed digestive system.
- Parasites can cause worms or issues in the intestines.
- Pesticides can cause harm if ingested with crickets.
The most common and minor health issues that may result after eating crickets include the following:
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Breathing difficulty
- Loss of appetite
- Water eyes
- Dilated pupils
How many crickets can I feed my cats?
There is no exact amount of how many crickets are safe for cats and when you exceed the limit. These things depend on the health conditions and stomach of the cat but it is good to just feed 1-2 crickets, once in a while.
Ensure that cats eat crickets just as a snack or treat because it is not a proper diet and cannot be included as a cat’s food. Cats should only eat crickets when they hunt them. Still, if the frequency is high, you should take precautions to prevent cats from eating crickets more often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cats chase crickets?
It can be said that chasing crickets is just an inherited habit, an instinct, or an essential part of cats’ genes. Cats are predators and they fill their bellies by chasing, haunting, and then eating their prey. The probability may be less when you are developing your cats at home but still, they will run after crickets whenever they see them in the house or outdoor environment.
Can crickets bite cats?
Small cricket does not usually bite big cats but some species of cricket that are large in size such as locusts do bite cats. Cats can get red sores and a small bump as well if bitten by cats. If your cats are allergic or have sensitive skin, they may get results in terms of bad allergic reactions to the skin.
Can eating crickets kill cats?
No, cats can never die after eating crickets, even if they eat a lot of crickets in a single sitting, the upset stomach or related factors may cause huge illness but crickets themselves don’t have any nutrients or ingredients that can lead cats to death. So, it is clear that cats can get ill but won’t die.
References
- https://www.terro.com/crickets
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eating-crickets
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20180813/can-eating-crickets-boost-your-health
Curious to know can cats kill centipedes or are tarantulas dangerous to cats?
The unique literary talents of Dr. A. Barton are well known throughout the veterinary profession. He is a regular contributor to the New York City Veterinarian and his professional articles have also appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Veterinarian and Philadelphia Medicine. He is the only veterinarian ever to have had an article published in the human medical publication, What’s New.
