Pet-food manufacturers have looked at using insect protein as an inexpensive and sustainable addition to cat foods and treats. A recent survey done in Chile looked at how acceptable feeding insect proteins is for cat lovers. Results appeared in The Journal of Insects as Food and Feed.
The survey was done online and had 1,684 respondents. Most of the cat owners were women and over half were omnivores (eat both plants and animals). Most of the households had multiple cats, and these were indoor cats. Over 60% of the owners surveyed found insect protein acceptable, with a couple of caveats. They preferred cat treats that were made of insect meal to whole bugs. Cricket meal was the insect meal of choice by the owners, and crickets seen to be popular with cats, too.
The most common insect proteins currently used or considered for pet foods include crickets, mealworms, and black soldier fly larvae. On a purely nutritional basis, these can be excellent protein sources. Research into whether these could serve as more sustainable sources of protein for pet foods than conventional sources is ongoing. In the meantime, if your cat catches a fly or cricket and eats it, consider that she is simply supplementing her dietary protein.ν
Villanueva, V., et al. Perception of cat owners on the use of insects as feed ingredients for cats. 2023. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 9(11), 1431-1443. https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-20220106
