Why does a cat catch and eat flies? How is this dangerous for your pet?

From time to time, our cats may surprise us (or disgust us) with what they consider a treat. But why do cats eat flies, especially considering how little food they provide?

Cats eat flies because of their natural instinct to hunt and play. Cats are predatory animals that will try to hunt down anything smaller than themselves as soon as they are instinctively aroused. The age of the cat will determine whether it hunts or plays.

Flies are not the only victims of a cat's desire to hunt. Any insect that seems reachable and is sporadic will be fair game. Whether it's crawling, jumping or flying, fast, snappy behavior will get the cat's attention and put its gear into play or hunting mode.

How to protect an animal

It is impossible to prevent a cat from catching flies, so it is best to prevent their appearance and spread in the house. This can be done using:

Sticky tapes. Such “traps” will reduce the number of insects in the apartment, thereby preventing the pet from catching them.
Fumigators. The device repels pests, preventing them from entering the room.
Folk methods. It is best to place basil or cloves throughout the rooms. Thanks to the aroma of plants, flies will leave the apartment.

To avoid the appearance of helminths, pets need to be vaccinated 2 times a year. You should also periodically show the animal to the veterinarian, even if it is healthy.

Why do cats hunt insects?

Cats love to chase insects. This is due to the fact that pets exhibit an innate hunter instinct. Even if an animal lives a domestic life and eats well, it does not miss the chance to have a race with insects.

It is impossible to call your pet while hunting. He does not respond to his favorite toys or screaming. This applies to even the laziest cats.

Important: if a cat catches a fly, it will definitely eat it. Thus, the pet demonstrates its strength, agility and hunting skills.

Many pet owners get scared when their pet eats a pest. Before you run to the vet, you need to understand what the danger is and whether the problem can be eliminated on your own.

Feeding a cat after poisoning

In case of poisoning, the first 24 hours give nothing but water, except that the animal is given small pieces of honey as a feed under the tongue. For the next three days, you can feed your pet only liquid food, so as not to injure the stomach; many breeders recommend porridge made from ground elm bark - it stimulates digestion.

In small quantities you can give liquid semolina porridge in broth, boiled eggs, chicken meat, kefir. After poisoning with rat poison or phosphorus, you should not give your pet fatty foods, since this will increase the load on the liver, and you should also not give milk for the first time. It is better to give water, a little kefir, and generally make sure that the animal consumes more liquid. You need to switch to the previous diet gradually, adding pieces of your usual food to liquid porridges and pureed soups. It is advisable to visit a veterinary clinic after treatment to make sure that the poisoning has passed without serious consequences. Take care of your pets!

Cats are natural hunters, so they love to track, catch and chase potential prey, which can often be an insect. Sometimes an owner may notice that a cat is eating flies and begins to worry about the health of their pet.

Not only cats with free access to the street can hunt for flies and other insects, but also apartment animals that are less often allowed outside. Eating flies is the logical end of the hunt itself. After all, having caught prey, the animal must swallow what it has caught, guided by its instincts.

General clinical picture

Unfortunately, as such, the overall clinical picture is either absent or very blurred. This is due to the incredible variety of potential toxins and poisons, the clinical manifestations of poisoning with which also vary significantly. Since many toxins enter the animal’s body through food, responses from the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting and diarrhea) are typical. The problem is that the first signs of neurological pathologies often develop (tremor, wooden gait, seizures, excitability, depression or coma). All of them are characteristic of many viral and parasitic diseases, and therefore it can be extremely difficult to suspect poisoning in time.

Possible manifestations of damage to the respiratory system (coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing). When toxins penetrate through the skin, a response develops in the form of inflammation and swelling of the skin. They can easily be confused with symptoms of allergic reactions. The development of liver failure (jaundice, severe vomiting) and/or kidney failure (sharp increase in thirst, lack of appetite and weight loss) is very typical. Considering that the effect of many toxins is complex, all the symptoms described above can be combined and very blurred, which makes diagnosis extremely difficult.

It is important to remember that even stopping all signs of acute intoxication by administering an antidote (if it exists at all) does not guarantee a complete recovery of the affected animal. Moreover, in some poisonings, the liver and kidneys are irreversibly damaged (for example, due to improper treatment with antibiotics), which dooms the animal to constant treatment throughout its entire life. Let us also note that if the nervous system is damaged (which also happens quite often), the cat will almost inevitably develop various neurological disorders in the future, including seizures (reminiscent of epileptic attacks).

The fun process of catching rodents

This cute, fluffy, affectionate creature is a natural enemy of field mice, house mice, and rats. Pests cannot even stand the smell of cats; they avoid their property and fear for their lives.

In cats, the huntress instinct is genetically embedded. Even when well-fed, she will not miss the moment to chase a mouse that suddenly appears. The process itself gives pleasure - to catch, not to miss. But whether to kill, eat or not depends on other factors.

A study was conducted in the USA. They crossed purebred cats and yard cats with one cat. The kittens were swapped after they were born. Purebred cats were raised by yard cats. As a result, it turned out that everyone had developed hunting skills. Mothers regularly brought small rodents to their kittens. But further actions were different. The yard worker killed in cold blood, showed how it should be done to the kittens, and gave them to them to eat. The thoroughbred was limited to playing. The conclusion followed was that in order for kittens to start catching mice and eating them, an example is needed. Instinct alone is not enough; skills are also required.

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Veterinary Directory of Animal Diseases For animal owners

Diseases and treatment of cats
Cat breeds
Sterilization of cats
Castration of cats
Cat at home
Cat vaccination
Treatment of cats for fleas, worms and ticks
Feeding the cat
Kittens
Cat health diagnostic service

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Is it possible to stop eating mice?

Modern cats (with the exception of those who sit on pasture) have stopped eating caught mice: they are brought to their owners as proof of their dexterity and diligence, often in gratitude for human care. In addition, a cat will not eat a mouse if it has had enough to eat. If you don’t want your pet to eat rodents, watch the energy value of its usual food.

There is an option - to put on a collar with tiny bells: this way the cat will not only not eat, but, above all, will not catch the mouse. A side effect is the annoying rattling of the bell, which not everyone can withstand. If your cat starts chasing mice at your dacha, build her an enclosure where she can frolic until the evening: in this case, all the day’s prey will remain in the enclosure, and you will take the cat into the house in the evening. This method is also not flawless - most personal plots are not designed for unplanned structures.

This is interesting! The most ingenious development is considered to be the development of one meticulous programmer, who came up with a compact automatic door for his cat named Squirrel. The guy got tired of bumping into cat trophies (strangled mice/birds in different corners of the apartment) and he designed a door that opened in front of the “empty” cat and did not open if he was holding something in his teeth.

The programmer taught the camera standing at the entrance to analyze the image (which was simultaneously broadcast to the web server), comparing it with a template, and make a decision about allowing the object into the house.

It will also be interesting:

Mycoplasmosis in cats
Dysbacteriosis in cats
Cystitis in a cat
Distemper in a cat

Those who are far from the world of computer technology can cope with the problem in a radical, albeit not entirely humane way, by once and for all banning their cat from going out into the yard.

What could be the consequences?

Eating flies in itself is not harmful to cats. Moreover, the animal is not able to eat a large number of insects in order to fill its stomach with chitin. But the danger still exists and it lies not in the flies themselves, but in the process of catching insects.

Cats are unusually concentrated during a hunt and do not notice dangers. Thus, cats living in apartments and catching flies while sitting on the balcony run the risk of falling out onto the street and getting seriously injured. Additionally, your cat may not be able to tell the difference between a fly and another flying insect, such as a bee or wasp.

During the hunt, a pet may be bitten by a stinging insect and the consequences can be very different. If a bee bites a cat before it enters the oral cavity, the animal may end up with a slight swelling in the area of the injury. If a poisonous insect stings a cat on the palate or tongue, an allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock may occur, leading to the death of the pet.

The owner’s task is to closely monitor his pet, trying to protect the home as much as possible from the penetration of various insects. Thereby protecting your pet from possible falls from balconies, injuries or bites of poisonous insects.

Cat owners whose pets persistently continue to hunt for flying animals are advised to purchase mosquito nets for their windows. Thereby preventing flies or other flying insects from entering the living space.

What happens if a cat eats a fly?

So far there have been no serious problems, so owners are wondering if there is anything to worry about?

As we said earlier, there are a few things to pay attention to.

Here are the main situations to worry about:

if the cat has eaten more flies than it should,
if the fly was infected with a harmful pesticide or insecticide,
if the insect carries active pathogens that could harm your pet

If the cat ate more flies than it should

Of course, it is difficult to determine how many flies eaten are considered unsafe. However, if your cat eats too much, a number of gastrointestinal complications can occur.

The most common symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain and fatigue.

This does not always mean that the fly carried toxins; it may simply be food that is unusual for the cat. People can also have such problems.

And even if your cat doesn't have any symptoms, you should all be concerned - it could mean she's not eating well.

If a cat eats an infected fly

In regions where flies cause epidemics, people use pesticides and insecticides to get rid of them.

Many pesticides are effective against flies, but unfortunately they are not safe for pets.

So if you treat your home or area with insecticides, you must ensure that they do not harm your pets.

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning range from nausea and diarrhea to weakness, increased salivation, loss of appetite, and more.

In the worst case scenario, the cat may die if the pesticides were very strong.

It is especially dangerous if you poison flies, there will be a lot of animal corpses around. A cat may even eat a few poisoned insects.

As a responsible pet owner, you should contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any symptoms.

If your cat ate a fly that carries pathogens

This is undoubtedly the biggest risk associated with eating flies.

One of the serious dangers is parasites. You may be wondering, can cats get worms from flies?

Yes they can. Some types of flies are known to carry dangerous parasites. These include tapeworms and Physaloptera nematodes.

Below are other pathogens that have been found in flies that may cause illness in your cat;

Bacterial pathogens
Bacilli (including anthrax)
Campylobacter
Escherichia
Helicobacter
Listeria
Salmonella
Staphylococcus
Fungal pathogens
Microsporidia
Moniliella
Rhizopus
Rhodotorula
Scopulariopsis
Parasitic infections
Roundworms
Cryptosporidium
Giardia
Metastrongylosis
Tapeworm
Whipworm

Also, you should consider, can cats get maggots from flies?

Essentially, maggots appear when flies lay eggs on open wounds. So it is unlikely that a cat can get larvae from a fly.

However, cats can become infected with myiasis, for example, if they eat the larvae.

What danger awaits

A cat hunts a fly
In itself, the fact that a cat catches and eats flies is completely safe. There is nothing in the body of insects that the body of a cat cannot digest. Even the dirt carried by the flies is not dangerous.

But this kitten’s hobby cannot be left without due attention. During the chase, the cat may be so carried away that he will not notice how the fly flies out through an open window or balcony. This is quite normal for a flying insect, but a pet can be seriously injured. This is especially true for residents of the upper floors. To prevent this from happening, there should always be reliable mosquito nets on the windows. They will save you from flies and prevent the animal from flying away.

Important!

Flies are carriers of helminth eggs. And if the cat swallows them, then there is a chance of infection. Therefore, veterinarians advise all owners of domestic cats to take preventive measures to combat worms. This should be done even by those who do not walk around and live in an apartment permanently. The difference between street and indoor cats is the frequency of worming. For domestic cats, it is enough to give an anthelmintic drug once every six months, for street cats every 2-3 months.

During the hunt, cats become simply uncontrollable, so they can easily break their favorite vase or scratch expensive furniture. Very often curtains or drapes suffer.

It will be unpleasant if the cat decides to catch a wasp, bee or bumblebee. It can sting an animal, and the consequences depend on the degree of endurance of the body. Some pets cope with swelling of the bite site, while others begin vomiting, diarrhea, and may foam at the mouth. The most dangerous bite is to the palate or larynx. It will cause swelling and the animal may well suffocate. If a dog or cat is bitten by a bee, immediate help will be required in the form of antihistamines.

Thus, a cat eating flies is a completely normal and natural phenomenon. The animal is just having fun. The pet owner’s task is to ensure the safety of his pet, and in the event of a fly or stinging insect bite, to monitor the body’s reaction.

Cats, regardless of their age, are playful. They try to catch everything that moves. Flies were no exception. Seeing a low-flying or crawling insect, pets attack it. In most cases, they eat the pest. The question arises, how harmful is this and what to do if a similar situation occurs? We will try to get answers within the framework of this article.

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Both houseflies and black soldier flies contain small amounts of iron, which helps prevent iron deficiency in cats. Iron is needed for:

creating healthy red blood cells
transporting oxygen throughout the body
removal of carbon dioxide

Cats get all the iron they need through their diet, but without high-quality food sources they can quickly become deficient. Therefore, periodic consumption of flies can increase the iron levels in the cat's body.

Calcium

Housefly larvae food is a good source of calcium, according to Plos One. Calcium is an essential nutrient for cats and should make up about 0.6% of a cat's total nutritional requirement.

Calcium along with phosphorus keep cats healthy. According to the National Animal Supplement Council, cats should have 1.2 parts calcium for every 1 part phosphorus. Calcium also falls into the category of electrolytes. It is required for:

regulating the concentration of fluid in the cat's cells to conduct energy impulses inside the body
muscle contractions, including the heart
send and receive neurotransmitters
blood clotting
Strong bone and tooth structure.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency include:

Muscle twitching
Anxiety
Stiffness
Lethargy
Dyspnea
Convulsions
Lameness
Increased morbidity

As a result, cats receive a small dose of calcium every time they catch and eat a housefly.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for hormone secretion, enzyme function, and healthy teeth and bones. It also allows cats to absorb vitamins C and E, potassium, calcium and sodium. Although magnesium deficiency is rare, cats are unable to properly absorb these vitamins and minerals, which ultimately leads to other health problems.

Hunting flies

Every cat, despite being kept at home, is a predator. And any quickly moving object can arouse her interest and desire to catch it. Even a kitten from a very young age will try to follow a moving target, even though no one taught him this. Hunting instincts are stored in the cat’s subconscious and appear almost every day:

playing with papers;
in catching insects;
chasing balls and bouncers;
chasing sunbeams;
trying to catch a person by the legs.

Important!

During an enthusiastic pursuit of insects, a cat may find itself in dangerous situations - jumping out of an open window after a fly, jumping onto a switched-on stove burner, falling unsuccessfully or hitting itself hard.

The buzzing and flickering of a fly on the window is a call from a small predator to catch its prey. But the representative of the cat family is so carried away by the process of capture that he can turn over everything in the house: flower pots, figurines, tear the curtains. A harmful fly will try to hide from the predator and fly throughout the apartment. And the cat will be hot on her heels.

Cat and fly

After the cat reaches its goal, it can play with its victim for a long time. The cat likes to release the caught fly and wait for it to fly or crawl again. Even when the insect no longer shows signs of life, the cat will nudge it with its paw to check its vitality.

Reasons for increased interest

If your cat often eats and tracks insects, then veterinarians recommend buying a ball or an artificial mouse at a pet store. Perhaps he suffers from lack of attention.

Representatives of the cat family, despite the fact that they have been domesticated for a long time, have retained hunting instincts, and therefore react aggressively to fast-moving midges. Cats are genetically ingrained with the habits of a predator, even if the pet is constantly indoors and not outdoors. Observations by felinologists have shown that cats that live in apartments react more aggressively to flies than street animals. This is due to the fact that with a sedentary lifestyle indoors, the pet has a lot of unspent energy. Hunting for insects - flies, mosquitoes, moths or butterflies - is a kind of training. Instincts also dictate to eat the prey to show dominance. In rare cases, a kitten is afraid of large midges, but this goes away with age and increasing size.

Recommendations from experts

It will not be possible to stop a cat from catching flies, so it is necessary to prevent the appearance of insects in the house. You can do this as follows:

Basil and cloves are good at repelling flies. To ensure that insects leave the house, it is enough to place aromatic herbs in all rooms.
Fumigators will help protect your premises from pests.
You can reduce the number of flies indoors using sticky tapes.

If a cat catches an insect and swallows it, it must be carefully examined for a bite. For an external wound, its surface is treated with a soda solution. For 0.5 liters of water you will need a dessert spoon of soda. Tavegil tablet – ¼ will help prevent the occurrence of an allergic reaction. If you are bitten in the mouth, it is recommended to immediately contact a veterinary clinic after giving your pet antiallergic medications. It could be:

Prednisolone.
Dexamethasone.

Typically, 0.06 ml of medication is used per 1 kg of live weight. To correctly calculate the dosage, before administering the drug, you must call the veterinary clinic and consult with your doctor. If the pet did not take anthelmintic drugs before the bite, they should be taken immediately after the swelling is eliminated.

Kittens are another matter

Kittens are at risk of getting sick from eating flies due to their incomplete and developing digestive system and because their immune system is not yet fully developed.

After a kitten eats a fly, the kitten's digestive system may completely reject it, causing the kitten to vomit and experience stomach discomfort. If a kitten does digest a fly, its organs are not yet able to do anything with the material, meaning it will cause problems wherever it goes until it has completely passed through the kitten's system.

A kitten's system is very different from an adult cat's. Some things that an adult can eat with no problem can end up killing a young, enterprising kitten.

For example, different contents in human food, in particular spices, come to mind. If eaten by an adult cat, it may not cause problems, but serious problems (even death) may occur if eaten by a kitten.