My cat just ate a bug. Is it safe for her, or should I be concerned?

It is not uncommon for kittens or cats to occasionally eat a bug. As long as she didnt get stung, she should "bee" fine. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite vomiting or diarrhea. These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Kalli will be fine from eating the big. She may vomit it up because it may not digest well but it won’t harm her. I would leave her alone and it should pass. Kisses to Kalli!

The main insect to be concerned about would be a venomous spider like a black widow or brown recluse. Bites from these spiders can cause large wounds and tissue necrosis and can be very complicated to treat. Other insect bites will be a nuisance but should not cause any major problems. Additionally, if your cat eats the bugs, the only symptoms you may see are those related to GI upset. These symptoms would include drooling excessively, inappetance, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Or you may not notice any symptoms at all. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend that you monitor her for signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, nausea and/or abdominal pain. If any of these are observed, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, she could be just fine. Have a great day!

Some parasites and insects can be carriers of bacteria as well as other infectious agents. However this is not an uncommon behavior in cats and certainly not every cat that eats a bug will get sick. Keeping Pearl on a flea/tick preventative will help prevent some of the more common infections. Be careful about applying any agent to prevent bugs as they can be toxic to cats.

Mmmm, protein! Catching insects is all part of a cat's prey drive, and it is normal for them to hunt and eat their prey, even creepy-crawlies. If she eats too many cockroaches at one time, it is possible that she could get an upset stomach. I would also be a little concerned if the cockroaches have been exposed to any pesticides, so use of pet-safe cockroach traps would be smarter than a spray or chemical.

Poor Charlie! Monitor her for signs of an allergic reaction, such as facial swelling, redness, itching, other abnormal behaviors, etc. If you notice any of these signs she should be seen by a veterinarian for treatment with an injectable anti-histamine. If she continues to act like her normal self, probably nothing to worry about. It is possible that she may have some gastrointestinal upset. Also, I would not be wrong to have the vet give her an anti-histimine just to be on the safe side. I hope Charlie doesn't experience any signs and doesn't eat any more bees!