Food safety

Can Cats Eat Bugs?

Not recommended — Bugs for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Most small household insects are not poisonous, and cats have hunted them forever — but some are dangerous (fireflies/lightning bugs are toxic to cats), and insects can carry parasites or pesticides. Bugs are not a food, so there is no reason to offer them.

If your cat ate bugs: One small house insect is usually harmless — watch for drooling or an upset stomach. If your cat ate a firefly, or many insects, or the insect may have been sprayed, call your vet.

Related: Silverfish, Slugs, Scorpions

Why this verdict

Most small household insects are not poisonous, and cats have hunted them forever — but some are dangerous (fireflies/lightning bugs are toxic to cats), and insects can carry parasites or pesticides. Bugs are not a food, so there is no reason to offer them.

If your cat ate bugs

One small house insect is usually harmless — watch for drooling or an upset stomach. If your cat ate a firefly, or many insects, or the insect may have been sprayed, call your vet.

Related foods

Silverfish, Slugs, Scorpions

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.