Cats love hunting insects, including flies. When they see flies in their territory, they stalk, chase, and catch the bugs. And sometimes, they eat their prey.
If your cat ate a fly, don’t worry; felines can’t die from consuming flies.
However, these bugs carry harmful bacteria, pathogens, and fungi that cause infections and diseases. Additionally, they help parasitic worms enter the body.
Still, they’re a good source of protein, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Below, I will share my findings about cats eating flies and more, so let’s jump right in.
Why Do Cats Eat Flies?
Although we domesticated cats, they’re still skillful predators. In other words, they have a hunting instinct, which is why they sometimes display hunting behavior.
Wild cats hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects for food, as they all have the protein necessary for survival.
Most domestic cats don’t have to hunt other animals and insects like wild or feral kittens because their owners provide their food, but that doesn’t mean their hunting instinct just vanishes.
That’s good because cats should know how to survive if left alone for whatever reason.
Additionally, you should know that cats don’t necessarily hunt for food. Sometimes, cats hunt for the thrill of it. So, a cat that’s been recently fed can still hunt a fly and eat the fly. Some cats even make specific noises during hunting.
Experts associate these sounds with the anticipation of a killing bite; however, they’re not entirely sure of this assumption’s reliability.
Lastly, cats hunt and eat flies because they only attack smaller animals and insects, but I’ve discovered that eating flies isn’t harmless.
Before explaining why flies don’t make a healthy cat snack, let’s discuss their nutritional value.
Do Cats Eat Flies?
About 1/3 of a cat’s diet consists of flies. Therefore, consuming flies isn’t something you should worry about. Most felines consume bugs because they’re rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the nutritional value of flies.
Protein
Many insects, including flies, make a great protein source. The fly’s larvae contain 45% protein, but cats must still eat many flies to meet their protein needs.
However, some protein is better than no protein. That’s why kitties consume flies when they can’t find other, more nutritious foods.
Cats need protein for building the body’s tissue, blood, tendons, skin, hair, muscles, and organs. Also, protein fuels vital processes within the body, keeping the animal healthy.
Lastly, if your kitten lacks certain amino acids, their body won’t work properly. In severe deficiencies, various problems, such as blindness, develop.
Calcium
Plos One says a housefly larvae meal contains high levels of calcium. (*)
Calcium should comprise about 0.6% of a kitten’s total dietary needs. So, they can meet some of these needs by consuming flies.
Calcium, together with phosphorus, improves a cat’s overall health.
The National Animal Supplement suggests that cats intake 1.2 parts of calcium for one part of phosphorus. (*)
Additionally, calcium, as both a nutrient and electrolyte, plays a key part in the following processes:
- Contracting muscles, such as the heart
- Managing fluid concentration in the cells to control energetic impulses inside the body
- Coagulating blood
- Improving bone and teeth structure
- Sending and receiving neurotransmitters
Calcium deficiency can cause lethargy, increased injuries, convulsions, limping, muscle twitching, panting, restlessness, and stiffness.
Although flies can’t resolve calcium deficiency in cats, they can give a little boost.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a vital role in the secretion of hormones, healthy teeth and bones, and enzyme function. It also helps animals absorb calcium, potassium, vitamin C and E, and sodium.
Magnesium deficiency isn’t common; cats can develop health issues over time if they don’t absorb these necessary vitamins and minerals.
Iron
Most flies contain iron, which helps prevent iron deficiency in cats. Felines need iron to create red blood cells, remove carbon dioxide, and carry oxygen inside the body.
Cat food provides the necessary iron amounts for cats; however, stray cats can become deficient if good food isn’t available, so they occasionally consume flies, crickets, etc.
What Will Happen if My Cat Eats Flies?
If your feline occasionally eats flies, nothing bad can happen. Hunting insects, including flies, isn’t anything new for cats. On the contrary, it’s a natural cat behavior.
So, if your kitty occasionally eats flies, don’t worry; hunting insects helps stimulate their brain and sharpen their eye-paw coordination.
However, if your feline’s consistently eating flies, you should take preventive measures, such as keeping your house fly-free.
Otherwise, your cat can develop health issues like gastrointestinal upset, infections, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite.
Moreover, daily fly consumption can cause serious health conditions in cats.
Cat Eats Fly Eggs: What Happens if a Cat Eats Fly With Eggs?
If your cat has a sensitive stomach, flies can cause health issues like diarrhea, disease, or even poisoning if your kitten has eaten a fly treated with insecticides.
Cornell University says flies carry and pass over 100 human and animal diseases. (*)
So, although eating fly eggs or a fly now and then won’t cause health issues, it’s best to keep your house fly-free.
Otherwise, your cat can develop serious health conditions over time.
Now, let’s discuss some of the possible dangers of eating flies and fly eggs for felines.
Insecticide Poisoning
Many homeowners keep flies and other insects at bay with toxic insecticides. The worst part? Insects, including flies, don’t always pass away immediately.
The slow death of insects increases the risk of animals in the household eating the flies and getting sick.
The Cat Protection Society of NSW says that permethrin poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning in felines worldwide. (*)
Most insecticides have permethrin. When cats ingest this toxin, they can’t metabolize it; hence the poison affects their nervous system, causing a shutdown.
Signs of insecticide poisoning include diarrhea, tremors, vomiting, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, drooling, twitching, seizures, etc.
Luckily, if you act immediately, you can save your poisoned cat. Otherwise, your feline will pass away.
Dangerous Transmissions
Flies don’t have teeth, so they can’t chew their solid food. That’s why they land on food, release digestive juices, and liquefy the contents into a soup they can swallow.
That’s how they collect, carry, and pass different bacteria, pathogens, and fungi that can cause cat sickness.
Here’s a list of bacterial houseflies carry that can make your cat sick:
- Escherichia
- Campylobacter
- Bacillus
- Helicobacter
- Salmonella
- Listeria
- Staphylococcus
These insects also carry fungi, such as the following:
- Rhizopus
- Microsporum
- Scopulariopsis
- Moniliella
- Rhodotorula
Since you can’t tell if a fly carries something dangerous that can make your cat sick, you should take preventive measures against flies, just in case.
Diarrhea and Vomiting
Cats with sensitive stomachs or underlying health conditions can vomit after ingesting a fly. They can also experience watery diarrhea because of the pathogens flies carry.
In most cases, the sickness goes away within 24 hours. However, if your kitten acts sick for over 24 hours, you should visit the local vet clinic immediately.
Can My Cat Get Maggots From Eating Flies?
Cats rarely get maggots from consuming flies; however, felines that chase flies outdoors can suffer a fly bite, especially if they have long fur.
When some types of flies, like blowflies, bite, they also lay eggs in their bites, then those eggs turn into larvae, consuming the cat’s decomposing fresh.
Moreover, the saliva of maggots contains a specific enzyme that infiltrates the skin and causes bacterial infections.
Symptoms include white worms on the skin, raised, pus-filled sores, inflamed or oozing skin, biting and scratching at the affected areas, and difficulty sleeping.
Call your vet immediately if you notice these symptoms in your cat.
Can Cats Get Parasites From Eating Flies?
Although flies rarely cause parasites in kittens, sometimes, consuming flies can result in GI parasites, such as Isospora, a common species of coccidia.
Coccidia, a one-cell organism, causes coccidiosis in kitties. The most common cause of this intestinal tract infection is a fly that carries Isospora cysts.
Typically, Isospora gets mistaken for worms, as both reside in the intestinal tract. That’s why Isospora is hard to diagnose.
Symptoms of this intestinal tract infection include watery diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting, dehydration, and inflammation of the uvea.
This infection affects young cats badly. The worst part? The infected cats can infect the rest of the litter.
Schedule a vet appointment immediately if you notice any of the symptoms above.
Can Cats Get Worms From Eating Flies?
Unfortunately, cats can get worms from eating houseflies.
Once worms enter your cat’s system, they feed off nutrients in the stomach, basically depriving your kitten of the necessary nutrients for survival.
That’s why cats with worms lose weight and get seriously ill.
Let’s review some of the parasitic worms houseflies transmit:
Roundworms
Flies consume feces with roundworm larvae. If your feline swallows a fly that carries this larva, they will get roundworms.
They’re brownish-yellow worms and round shapes. Once these worms enter your kitty’s stomach, they will survive off the nutrients inside and grow up to 4 inches long.
Moreover, they lay eggs in the intestines, which go through the animal’s feces, infecting them.
Symptoms of roundworms include bloating, weight loss, dull coat, diarrhea, adult worms in the stool or vomit, and coughing as the worms move through the lungs.
In severe cases, roundworms cause stomach blockages, which results in vomiting. The good news is that your vet can prescribe medications for this infection.
Physaloptera
Houseflies can also transmit stomach worms, such as Physaloptera.
When these worms enter the body, they survive off nutrients by consuming the flesh—or surviving off the blood vessels.
The worst part about these worms is that they take over other body parts, like the lungs and GI system, but they usually reside in the stomach and intestines.
Moreover, they’re pink and can become up to 2.5 inches long.
Common symptoms of these worms include anorexia, vomiting, and adult worms in the stool or vomit.
Treatments for these worms include surgery or drugs.
Hookworms
Hookworms have hook-like mouths, hence the name. They latch onto the lining of the intestinal walls, feeding off blood and fluids.
They’re small and difficult to detect; therefore, they’re also hard to diagnose. The worst part? When these worms move places, they leave sore ulcers behind.
Symptoms of hookworms include pale gums, anemia, black stool, weight loss, dull coat, and aching feet and toes.
Your vet can prescribe deworming medications for these worms.
Tapeworms
Although unlikely, your kitten can still get tapeworms by accidentally ingesting one while grooming. Also, infected flies can pass tapeworks to your cat.
The good news is that they’re small worms that don’t cause serious damage to a cat’s digestive system.
Symptoms of tapeworms include pieces of tapeworms in the stool, scooting, and weight loss. In severe cases, animals can vomit live tapeworms.
Your vet can prescribe a dewormer for tapeworms.
How to Stop My Cat From Eating Flies?
You can prevent your kitten from eating flies by providing interactive toys and treats and chasing the flies out of a window.
Avoid using insecticides; if your pets eat the toxic flies, they can develop serious health issues.
How to Keep Flies Away From Cats?
You can keep flies away from your home and pets by applying the following tips:
- Use citronella candles
- You can also spray peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus, or lavender around your home
- Avoid using rodent or mouse traps because the dead bodies attract insects
- Install mesh screens or fly traps on your doors and windows
- Keep your cat’s wet food covered up in the refrigerator
- Clean up wet food and drink spillages immediately
- Remove your cat’s poop from your outside areas as soon as possible
Final Thoughts
So, can cats eat flies? In short, healthy cats eat flies; it’s a natural cat behavior.
However, if your kitty hunts insects daily and shows other signs of agitation, it’s possibly a sign of boredom.
In this case, buy interactive toys for your furry friend and spend more time playing together.
See more: Do cats eat roaches?
*image by [email protected]/depositphotos