Do Cats Eat Bees? What You Need to Know
By Ed Malaker
Updated on
As cat owners, we know our furry felines can get into quite a bit of mischief, as they like to chase around anything, including dangerous animals like snakes and even bees. What happens if your cat catches and eats a bee? Can they eat them safely? The short answer is yes, it’s safe for cats to eat bees, but keep reading while we discuss any nutritional benefits and consider potential dangers to help you make an informed decision about allowing your cat to go after these insects.
Are Bees Good for Cats?
Natural Instinct
Cats love to chase around just about anything, including toys, animals, and insects. In fact, some experts consider them the most dangerous predators on Earth and recommend you keep the cat indoors when possible. However, chasing after insects, including bees, activates your cat’s natural hunting instincts, which can help relieve stress and make them feel more comfortable, especially if you have an indoor cat that doesn’t get much opportunity to get outdoors.
Activity
Allowing your cat to chase after bees and other insects can help them get plenty of exercise, which can help them maintain an ideal weight. Many cats in the United States suffer from obesity. Some experts say as many as 50% of cats over the age of five need to lose a pound or two. Obesity leads to several significant health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease that can shorten your pet’s life.
Digestive System
Your cat’s digestive system is well equipped to handle most of food that they eat. Feeding on bugs will not cause your pet any difficulty with digestion and should not lead to constipation or diarrhea. Cats have larger problems when they eat food that isn’t meat, like corn and soy products.
Protein
One of the advantages of eating bees for your cat is that bees contain protein, which is essential for building strong muscle. Protein also helps your cat have the energy it needs to play and hunt. It helps the cat stay fuller longer, so it’s not looking for food as frequently.
Are Bees Bad for My Cat?
Stings
The biggest problem with allowing your cats to chase and eat bees is that these insects can sting. Depending on the type of bee, it can be quite painful, resulting in swelling and other health issues that your cat may wish to avoid.
Parasites
Another problem with allowing your cat to eat bees is that they might contain parasites that could get transferred to your cat. These parasites can cause several problems, including heartworm, which can be deadly to your pet. Other parasites include hookworm, tapeworm, and more that can interfere with your cat’s digestion.
Summary
Your cat can eat bees, and it’s actually healthy to do so because they receive plenty of protein. You don’t need to worry about their sensitive digestive system because it’s perfectly set up for eating bees and other insects as long as they don’t have a hard exoskeleton. Unfortunately, there is some risk that the cat will get stung by a bee, so we recommend discouraging your cat from chasing them and allowing it to eat other insects instead.
We hope you enjoyed reading over this short guide and found the answers to your questions. If we have helped improve your pet’s diet, please share our article on whether cats can eat bees on Facebook and Twitter.
See also:
- Can Cats Eat Crickets? What You Need to Know!
- Do Cats Eat Bugs & Insects? Is It Healthy for Them? (Vet Answer)
Featured Image Credit: hansbenn, Pixabay
