It can be hard to believe that our cats would be interested in cockroaches. Compared to our lovable felines, cockroaches are a world apart and generally considered an unpleasant nuisance. Our cats, however, find them interesting enough to chase and sometimes, eat.
Nasty though they may be, cockroaches aren’t toxic to cats. That isn’t to say that they’re a healthy snack for your cat, though. The insect’s hard exoskeleton, pesticides, and even bacteria, parasites, and viruses they carry can all cause issues.
Do Cats Eat Cockroaches?
While cats can eat cockroaches, it doesn’t mean they will. Some cats always eat their prey, and others prefer not to bother. They’ll play for a bit and then leave their prize as a gift for you or simply because they’re not hungry. Your cat may also find cockroaches too crunchy to be an enjoyable snack. It’s a matter of personal preference.
The same can be said about chasing cockroaches. Even if your cat sees one, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll chase it. Cats are notorious for knowing our expectations and taking pleasure in going against everything that we expect. If your cat is comfortable, they might not care enough to get up and chase the interloping cockroach.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Are Cockroaches Dangerous for Cats to Eat?
It’s cringeworthy to think of our cats eating something as icky as a cockroach. When all is said and done, though, cats can eat many things that we might find unbelievable.
The Ancient Egyptians even used cats to control pests like scorpions. Unlike scorpions, though, cockroaches aren’t venomous and won’t poison your cat if they’re eaten, but they can cause a few health issues.
Exoskeleton
Like most insects, cockroaches have a hard exoskeleton. It’s the biggest problem when it comes to cats eating them. The tough shell can be difficult to chew, swallow, and digest. This can lead to stomach upset and possibly choking if your cat swallows a piece that’s too big.
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Infections
Cockroaches can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites such as Salmonella and Hookworm which can be a risk to humans and cats.
Pesticides
The cockroaches alone aren’t toxic to your cat, but the pesticides that you use to kill them can be. Usually, the biggest issue arises from your cat coming into contact with the pesticide itself.
Most of the time, though, the amount of pesticide residue remaining on or inside a cockroach isn’t enough to cause a big problem with your cat. That said, it’s still recommended to find pet-friendly alternatives.
Symptoms of pesticide poisoning can vary depending on severity, but they generally include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Seizures
Drooling
Increased heart rate
Trouble breathing
You should get your cat to the vet straight away if you suspect insecticide poisoning.
Image Credit: Kachalkina Veronika, Shutterstock
What Do You Do When Your Cat Eats a Cockroach?
There isn’t much that you can do once your cat has eaten a cockroach or any other insect. Monitor your cat for at least 24 hours to make sure the cockroach doesn’t cause any digestive upset.
The symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, if your cat has these, should subside within a day or two. If they don’t, consider contacting your veterinarian.
How to Stop Your Cat Hunting Cockroaches
Cats are hunters through and through. Convincing them to stop hunting altogether is a bit like getting blood out of a stone. It isn’t possible and is part of their normal behavior.  Your cat’s instincts will always prompt them into hunting whatever catches their keen eyes.
Despite their interest in cockroaches, most cats won’t go out of their way to hunt them. They are, however, opportunistic. If a cockroach scuttles too close, it’ll more than likely end up batted around the floor.
Since stopping your cat from hunting cockroaches is next to impossible, the solution lies in ensuring that your house is roach free and providing engaging toys to entertain your cat.
Image Credit: Kapa65, Piqsels
Bait
One of the most common attempts to handle cockroaches or ant infestations is bait. These can be difficult to use around pets, though, because they don’t know to leave them alone. Fortunately, most cockroach bait isn’t toxic to your pet in small doses, though it can cause stomach upset.
Pet-Friendly Roach Sprays
Pesticides are the first things that many people think of when they find that they have an infestation of any critter, cockroach or not. Both chemical and natural remedies can be toxic to our pets, though.
If you do choose to use pesticides, you must check all the ingredients before using them around your cat.
Target the Source
Cockroaches don’t show up without a reason, and infestations are notoriously difficult to get rid of if you don’t target the source. It isn’t always easy to determine why cockroaches have decided to invade your home, but keeping your home clean is usually a good deterrent.
Common reasons for cockroach infestations are:
Dirty dishes
Food crumbs or leftovers
Garbage
Spilled pet food
Standing water
Cockroaches are also more common in humid places. In these cases, dealing with infestations can be more challenging.
Image Credit: Henrik Veres, Pixabay
Ultrasonic Pest Deterrent
If you have an outdoor cat you can try electronic pest deterrents in the house. They use ultrasonic sound waves to repel a variety of pests, from cockroaches to mice and rats. Each pest has a certain frequency that wards them away. The sound can still be heard by your cat although reportedly not bothering them but we would suggest not using them where your cat is to be on the safe side.
Final Thoughts
Whether we like the thought or not, cats can and do eat cockroaches on occasion. Bugs of all kinds are especially interesting to our cats due to their darting movements, enticing the feline hunter instincts to come into play.
Fortunately, cockroaches aren’t toxic to cats, though they can cause stomach upset and are a potential choke hazard due to their tough exoskeleton. The pesticides used to stop infestations can also cause vomiting and diarrhea and they can carry several important diseases.
It isn’t always possible to stop your cat chasing or devouring insects, though. The best way is to prevent cockroach infestations by regularly cleaning dirty dishes and food spills, vacuuming and keeping drains clean. Call a reputable pest control company to help you if you are having trouble with roaches.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
