Cats are predators, and insects make up to 60% of their prey. Cats have about 300 taste receptors on their tongue and mouth, which means they can detect the proteins, fats, and sugar in insects that provide nutrients.
Cats are opportunistic hunters who typically eat whatever is available at the time. They will hunt birds, squirrels, mice, rats, raccoons, frogs and even lizards to satisfy their hunger when food is scarce.
Dietary preferences vary among individual cats however as some cats like to eat more insects than others. Some cats also have a predilection for a particular type of insect such as crickets or mosquitoes while still others may only eat one type of insect.
Cats are known for their love for eating insects and other small animals that digest food very fast. Scientists think that this behavior is due to cats having a lowered sense of smell.
What we know about the cat’s instinct to eat bugs is that those with a heightened sense of smell do not share the same affinity for bugs, so it seems unlikely that this particular taste preference has anything to do with smell. The less-than-happy prey includes ants, crickets, flies and mosquitoes while they also enjoy mice and small birds.
Cats don’t need as much energy as other predators because they have a low-rabbit blood type which means they digest food more slowly than other animals. This also means that they can sleep up to 20 hours in one day!
Cats aren’t picky when it comes to eating insects. They’ll eat anything that’s not part of their usual food.
5 Reasons Why Cats Eat Bugs
Cats are known to be carnivores but what makes them eat bugs? Cats are generally curious and sometimes they can seem to be trying to collect the things that their owners don’t want them to have.
To start off, cats are natural hunters, with an instinctive desire to chase and catch their prey. They also tend to hunt for mice, slugs, and insects just for the sake of hunting.
Cats eat bugs for a variety of reasons. These include eating the bugs to ward off parasites, hunting and killing prey, or just for fun. Cats always hunt and kill their prey so if you have a pet cat, it is important to find out where and how often it hunts.
Cats eat small insects all day long to keep from becoming prey themselves, but sometimes they will also eat larger insects like crickets. They usually hunt at dawn or dusk when their eyesight is sharpest, but sometimes can be seen hunting during the day too.
The 5 reasons why cats eat bugs are:
1. Cats are omnivores like humans
Cats need protein in their diet, so eating worms and other bugs provides them with the nutrients they need. This is probably one of the most common reasons why cats consume bugs without any problem at all.
2. Cats are crepuscular ( Read here for more)
They may be more active during the night and day when other animals are less active, making them more vulnerable to being eaten by predators, who know not of their taste for bugs.
3. Bugs are easily accessible
Bugs may make up a significant part of their diet as “bird and mouse kibble” can be expensive for a cat owner. In developing countries, where food is scarce and sometimes unsafe, cats may eat bugs due to lack of other food sources.
4. Cats love the taste of bug
Sometimes, when they’re hungry, they’ll eat anything that is available to them – and for some kitties, that includes bugs.
Cats have natural abilities to hunt and paw at small objects with their claws, which is great for catching food such as insects or mice.
They can also get a lot of protein from eating these creatures, in addition to filling them up with important nutrients such as calcium, zinc and iron.
5. Cats are known to be picky eaters
Cats may only eat a specific kind of food and yet, bugs. One reason why cats might like bugs is that they can sense electric signals which makes them a target for attack. Cats also like to hunt rodents which are more commonly found in the garden than in your house.
Cats have an appetite for insects, but not just any. When they hunt down and eat bugs, they do it in a way that is full of vigor. When it comes to eating food, cats are meticulous in their approach and would rather inspect what they are about to eat thoroughly before turning it into a meal.
How Do Cats Detect The Taste of Insects?
Cats smell their food with their whiskers, and they use the taste to determine if it is safe. They can also detect the presence of insects in a meal and avoid it.
A cat’s whiskers serve as the main sensory organ for detecting and tasting food, including insects. A whisker consists of 50 to 100 fibers that are embedded in a membrane called the vibrissa.
These sensor hairs are spaced about 1 mm apart from each other on each side of the head, with one hair being about 2mm long. When a cat smells or tastes something, these sensors move in time with airflow through the nose or mouth.
Cats have a remarkable sense of smell that enables them to detect the taste of insects. And some studies show that cats are likely to eat more bugs when they can smell them better.
Cats have a keen sense of smell, which makes it easy for them to detect the taste of insects. Cats also hunt more when they can pick up their prey’s scent over a wider area.
Insects are eaten by cats for their protein and nutrients, so it is likely that on a day-to-day basis, these animals choose to hunt more when the scent is stronger.
When cat sense an insect they make decision either to eat or flee. However, the cat’s sense of taste may also play a role in insect-hunting behavior; therefore, most experts believe that cats use both senses together when hunting and avoid eating prey that they know are too bitter.
How to Stop Your Cat From Eating Insects
If your cat is a hunter, there is a high chance that they might eat insects. If you want to prevent this, try using anti-insect guard. This can keep your house safe from the pests and make sure your cat doesn’t ingest them.
Some pets are more susceptible to eating bugs than others because of their natural instincts. Luckily there are ways to prevent it by using anti-insect guard.
If you want to prevent your cat from eating any insects, getting an anti-insect guard is the best option. It is an attractive design made of many small holes that prevents your cat from eating any bugs and other insects.
Aside from preventing your cat from eating any insects, these products are also good for cats who are bored or frustrated in their surroundings. The openings on the anti-insect guard will make them explore and hunt for new objects to chew on and keep them entertained for a long time.
If you don’t have time to get an anti-insect guard, you should try some other ways to prevent your cats from eating any bugs, such as spraying insecticide in the area where they spend most of their time or using a repellent collar with a taste deterrent.
