Food safety

Can Cats Eat Silverfish?

Not recommended — Silverfish for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Silverfish are not venomous, but they are not a food for cats. They live in damp places and can carry bacteria, and they are often found where insecticides have been used. A cat that hunts them is usually fine, but do not offer them.

If your cat ate silverfish: One silverfish is usually harmless. Watch for an upset stomach. If the area was recently sprayed with insecticide, call your vet.

Related: Bugs, Slugs, Scorpions

Why this verdict

Silverfish are not venomous, but they are not a food for cats. They live in damp places and can carry bacteria, and they are often found where insecticides have been used. A cat that hunts them is usually fine, but do not offer them.

If your cat ate silverfish

One silverfish is usually harmless. Watch for an upset stomach. If the area was recently sprayed with insecticide, call your vet.

Related foods

Bugs, 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.