Can Cats Eat Grasshoppers?

Grasshoppers are not a good snack for cats. One grasshopper is unlikely to be an emergency, and none of the vet sources we read call grasshoppers poisonous. But bugs can carry stomach worms, and bugs from a sprayed yard can carry poison. Stopping your cat from eating them is the safer choice.

Why are grasshoppers a problem for cats?

We did not find a veterinary source that talks about grasshoppers on their own. So we can’t say they are harmful or that they are safe. Here is what the sources do say about bugs in general.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says cats can get stomach worms (called Physaloptera) by eating infected beetles, cockroaches, or crickets. Cornell’s Feline Health Center says the worm’s eggs are eaten by a bug, often a cockroach or cricket. The worm grows inside the bug. A cat gets the worm by eating that bug. Grasshoppers are not on these lists, but they are also bugs that live outside. Ask your vet if you are worried.

Cats can also pick up worms from mice and frogs that ate an infected bug. Cornell says this kind of infection can be prevented by limiting your cat’s contact with bugs and rodents.

What are the signs of stomach worms in cats?

Often there are no signs. Merck says that when worms do cause trouble, the stomach becomes inflamed. You may see:

• Throwing up
• Not wanting to eat
• Dark or black stool

In bad cases, cats can have low red blood cell counts (anemia) and lose weight. Merck says worms can leave bleeding sores on the stomach lining. Both Merck and Cornell say vets can treat the worms. Merck also says the worm is hard to find in a stool test, so your vet may need to use a special test.

Cornell says this worm does not cause disease in people.

Can grasshoppers carry poison?

They can if the yard was sprayed. We did not find a source about cats eating sprayed bugs. But Pet Poison Helpline says cats can be poisoned by walking on treated lawns, swallowing bug spray, or touching a dog that was just treated for fleas. The ASPCA says bug spray is most risky while it is still wet, and less risky once it dries.

Pet Poison Helpline lists these signs of bug spray poisoning in cats:

• Throwing up and weakness
• Heavy drooling
• Shaking or twitching
• Fast or hard breathing
• Wide pupils and watery eyes
• Seizures or collapse

Pet Poison Helpline says most cats recover with quick vet care.

What should I do if my cat ate a grasshopper?

1. Take away any bug parts you can see in your cat’s mouth. Don’t force your cat’s mouth open if it fights you.
2. Think about where the bug came from. Was the lawn or garden sprayed lately?
3. Watch your cat for the next few days. Look for the signs listed above.
4. Tell your vet at the next visit, or call right away if your cat seems sick. Many worm infections show no signs, so mention it even if your cat seems fine.

If the lawn was sprayed, call a poison hotline or your vet now. Don’t wait for signs.

How can I keep my cat from eating bugs?

• Keep your cat indoors, or let it outside only in a catio or on a harness.
• Keep window screens in good repair so bugs can’t get in.
• Follow the ASPCA’s advice to keep pets away from treated areas until the spray has dried.
• Play with your cat every day so the urge to hunt has somewhere to go. A feather wand or a puzzle feeder is a better target than a live bug.

Cats love to chase things that move. That is normal, and it isn’t a sign that something is wrong. Cats that hunt outdoors can also pick up worms from mice, as Cornell explains. For a look at other things your cat might nibble outside, see our guide to cats eating grass. For a list of foods to avoid, see foods toxic to cats.