Insects may be frightening to us, but they provide a fun hunt and great snacks for our cats. Grasshoppers are no exception, despite their robust exoskeleton. So, while we’d prefer to stay away, our favorite felines are drawn to their rapid, darting movements.
Grasshoppers aren’t harmful to your cat’s health, but their exoskeleton might be tough to digest, especially if they consume a lot of them. While grasshoppers, roaches, and beetles aren’t typically part of our cat’s diet, don’t be alarmed if you find your feline eating a freshly caught insect.
Seeing your cat eat a grasshopper or any other bug might be alarming – and downright unpleasant – so we put together this guide to answer some of the most common queries.
Can cats eat grasshoppers?
If your cat eats a couple of grasshoppers while hunting, that’s acceptable. Hard-bodied insects, such as grasshoppers, don’t faze cats. On the other hand, consuming their exoskeletons might cause mouth and stomach irritation. It’s also possible that they’re carrying parasites that are hazardous to cats.
Although grasshoppers should not be used to replace a cat’s regular diet, it wouldn’t hurt if your cat ate one whenever it had the opportunity.
Make sure it doesn’t eat any brightly colored ones, as they are toxic and can harm it. The brown and green ones, on the other hand, are perfectly safe for your cat.
Grasshoppers nutritional content
The table below breaks down the nutritional content of a grasshopper when consumed:
| Components | Amount |
|---|---|
| Proteins | 36-40% |
| Fat | 41-43% |
| Carbohydrates | 2.5-3.2% |
| Dietary fiber | 11-14.5% |
Are grasshoppers toxic?
Although grasshoppers are harmless to cats, there are a few typical concerns about our cats eating these insects. Grasshoppers can make your cat uncomfortable in several ways.
First, despite your cat’s enthusiasm for the pursuit, their prey doesn’t always sit well in their stomach.
When your cat eats a grasshopper, it may have the following issues:
Exoskeleton
Cats enjoy chasing insects, although they aren’t typically bug eaters. Unfortunately, the exoskeleton of a grasshopper is challenging to swallow and digest. Unless your cat has a sensitive stomach, a single grasshopper may not be an issue, but the more they eat, the more likely the hard exoskeleton will cause belly pain.
Insecticides
The insecticides used to limit the proliferation of creepy crawlies are the main issue about your cat eating insects, not simply grasshoppers. Because there is usually little residue on the bug itself, your cat is more at risk when they come in direct touch with the pesticide.
However, this third-hand interaction may cause discomfort while your cat digests the insect.
Intestinal Parasites
Although parasites are a prevalent dread, they aren’t as dangerous as you might assume. For example, grasshoppers can carry parasites like tapeworms, but they aren’t a severe hazard to your cat.
There’s a potential your cat will develop an allergic reaction to the parasites carried by the grasshopper, but this will usually pass in a few hours or days. If they have an adverse reaction, it will almost certainly be vomiting or diarrhea.
Visit your veterinarian for a checkup if neither symptom disappears within a few days. They’ll be able to ensure that your cat is in good health.
Bites or stings
Many insects bite, including some grasshopper species. After being stung or bitten, your cat will usually learn to avoid the insect now and in the future. However, there’s still the bite (or sting) to deal with.
Cats, like people, can have allergic reactions to stings or be harmed by the venom of some insects. Therefore, taking your cat to the vet is recommended if they respond severely to a bug bite or sting.
What insects are toxic to cats?
It’s not uncommon for a cat to hunt and eat insects. Although many common insects are innocuous to cats, some are poisonous or can cause injury. If too many non-poisonous bugs are swallowed, they might cause vomiting or other gastrointestinal problems. Pesticides that control insect infestations are often more destructive than the insects themselves.
1. Poisonous Spiders
Cats are mainly unaffected by most spiders, tiny house spiders. Any deadly spider that can injure humans can, however, also damage your cat. If you think a toxic spider has bitten your cat, you should take him to the clinic immediately.
If your cat eats a house spider, the venom is unlikely to harm it as its stomach acids tend to neutralize it. However, you should watch your cat for a day or two to see if any signs of the disease emerge.
2. Wasps, Bees, and Other Stingers
Cats are unaffected by most spiders including the tiny house spiders. Any deadly spider that can injure humans can, however, also damage your cat. If you think a toxic spider has bitten your cat, you should take him to the clinic immediately.
If your cat eats a spider, the venom is unlikely to harm it because stomach acids tend to neutralize it. However, you should watch your cat for a day or two to see if any signs of the disease emerge.
3. Butterflies, Moths, and Caterpillars
Most moths and butterflies do not harm cats. This is great since cats adore chasing these exotic fliers. Some caterpillars will sting your cat, causing discomfort. Caterpillar stings are rarely severe, although some large, exotic caterpillars can be poisonous.
4. Centipedes
Cats are generally unaffected by small house centipedes. You might be relieved to discover that your cat has gotten rid of the creepy crawlies in your house.
Centipedes, on the other hand, have venom and can bite to grab prey. Centipedes with larger bodies may be able to bite your cat. This could result in a localized reaction or more severe complications such as fever and weakness.
If you think a centipede has bitten your cat, keep an eye on the area. If your cat displays any disease, you should take him to the veterinarian.
5. Scorpions
Your cat is likely to be stung if she plays with a scorpion. A scorpion sting will be uncomfortable for your cat at the very least. It will almost certainly result in a localized reaction. Cats can suffer vomiting, difficulty breathing, or other strange behavior in more severe cases.
6. Ants
Cats are often unaffected by ants. Cats may be bitten by giant black ants, although the bites are harmless. On the other hand, they’re at risk from fire ants. Their venomous bites are painful and can trigger a severe allergic reaction, the worst of which can result in anaphylaxis. It’s recommended to take your cat to the vet if fire ants have bitten your cat.
7. Roaches, Beetles, Crickets, and Grasshoppers
Cats are usually unaffected by hard-bodied insects. However, ingesting their exoskeletons can induce oral discomfort and gastrointestinal distress.
Roaches are known to have parasites that can harm cats. This is just another incentive to keep your cat on a monthly deworming preventative.
Conclusion
Nonetheless, more often than not, it isn’t easy to conceive that our gorgeous felines would like snacking on anything creepy-crawly.
Don’t be alarmed if you see your outdoor-loving cat devouring a grasshopper. They are not toxic to your cat and will not harm them if they consume the grasshoppers they catch. However, eating too many grasshoppers might upset your cat’s stomach and create discomfort, mainly when the exoskeleton is being digested.
After a mentally exciting chase, a crunchy snack is a good reward for your cat’s efforts. It also means one fewer grasshopper will eat your crops or destroy your garden.