Flies are a summer problem for homeowners, but cats don’t seem to have the same issues. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see a cat “playing” with a fly or two. Can cats eat flies? On one hand, a cat can easily kill a fly. On another hand, however, you should know that flies have sharp stingers that can inflict pain on your cat’s mouth and tongue if she happens to try catching one.
If there’s one thing that bugs us more than flies buzzing around our food and drink during sunny days in the company of outdoor activities, it would be the sometimes-spectacular sight of cats “playing” with them.
Cats are viewed among many pet owners as de-facto fly exterminators (Homo sapiens notwithstanding). Not only do they eat a lot of flies, but they also appear to be able to smell them from a long distance away.
Poor little pests! They never think that the same cat’s on the prowl that’s looking for prey, and they just “fall into” an ambush. The problem is that cats really do enjoy eating insects, and contrary to what many people might think, they absolutely love fresh flies – and other insects as well.
Unfortunately, most cat owners are totally unaware of these facts.
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Can cats eat flies?
Although most people think that flies are unappetizing and disgusting, the truth is that they’re actually great food for many domesticated animals, including cats. Cats can eat flies at any time of the year, although they’re especially fond of them during fall and winter.
Cats like flies because they’re easy to catch and because they’re rich in protein. If cats manage to catch a fly, they usually eat it right on the spot. It’s only a matter of seconds before the fly is gone, and the only thing left behind is a little pile of velvety hair.
If there’s one thing that cats love to do more than eating flies, it would be playing with them. They’ll chase them for hours on end until either the fly is caught or until it manages to escape. They never give up easily, even though you’d think that their sensitive smell would lead them directly to their prey.
When that happens, they don’t mind cheating a little bit.
They’ll try to trick the fly into giving up by pretending not to see it or by walking away in an opposite direction, only to turn around often and make sudden moves towards the fly. That’s their way of trying to get the fly to move and reveal its location, but they’re usually very successful in convincing the poor creature that it’s lost the battle.
Although cats enjoy playing with flies, they don’t do it often, because they only eat flies when they’re hungry. And you know cats are always hungry!
Besides that, most cats are pretty smart and can tell the difference between house flies and those that come out of flowers. They don’t pay any attention to those silly insects at all. They’d rather go for those that jump around near their food or drinks.
However, if a fly happens to land on the top of your cat’s food or drink, then she’s going to be having a serious snack.
Is it okay for cats to eat flies?
It’s not uncommon for some people to say that it’s cruel for cats to eat flies. However, we believe that that’s pure superstition. We may have an unconditional love for all living things, but we also accept the fact that there are some flies that shouldn’t be killed or eaten by cats.
In fact, in some parts of the world, it’s actually forbidden to eat flies or other insects because they’re considered “pests.” But those are just human-made laws… Real laws should be made according to nature and the way things work.
You’ve probably heard about people who display their affection and care for their pets by giving them fruit in the morning to start the day off right. But there are also people who give their cats chocolate or other sweet treats, and they don’t mind doing so every once in a while.
We don’t know very much about the reasons why some people treat their pets differently than they treat their own children, but we assume that both sets of people have a certain level of empathy and compassion. We also assume that both types of behavior are healthy and good for the animal’s well-being.
What happens if a cat eats fly?
The problem for humans with regard to flies is that, unlike us, insects have no other choice than to survive and reproduce. If a fly can’t find a way to survive, it’s already dead. But cats need the same thing that flies do in order to live and reproduce, and we believe that feeding them with those flies isn’t cruel at all.
All living things have a very specific reason for existing, so it follows that there are certain rules and laws according to which they should be treated. The laws of nature determine how each creature should live and behave, but some people forget about them in times of distress.
Look around you. Don’t you see vegetables such as tomatoes or potatoes growing on trees? They’re not very pretty-looking plants, but they’re also not really harmful to anyone or anything else either.
Yet they’re edible and they can be consumed by dogs or cats, so humans decided to cultivate them in order to make it easier for their pets. So, why not trying to do the same thing with flies? Cats are certainly good at catching insects, but we believe that you should only feed them the ones that you really can’t stand.
Flies are just giving us a hard time each summer because they’re very good at what they do, and they need to get food just like we do.
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What are the side effects of cats eating flies?
Cats eating flies can be a problem for your cat, but it doesn’t mean that your cat will become sick because of it. But if you don’t know how to properly feed your cat, feeding it flies can become a problem.
If you recently took out a new shipment of food for your cat and he or she is eating flies, you need to re-think about the type of food you’re giving them. Cat food should be mainly high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fat. Cats prefer meat products, but they also require additional vitamins and minerals from vegetables such as fruits, greens, fish fillets and the like.
In most cases, if your cat loves eating flies, it’s a good thing. But don’t let them go to the point of eating too many flies and causing health problems or putting on weight. Cats with this habit may become overweight or even develop heart problems during their lifetime.
As cats begin to eat too much, they may also suffer from hair loss or skin problems as a result of chewing on their fur out of boredom. In these cases it’s important to try to teach cats not to chew their fur and skin. It is okay for cats to eat flies but should be too much of it.
There’s no need for cat parents to panic, but it’s important for them to realize that flies are perfectly healthy for your cat and the best food for them. Your cat will thank you later.
How can I stop my cat from eating flies?
There’s no need for you to worry about preventing your cat from eating flies if they’re doing it all by themselves. Just leave them alone and don’t try to stop them.
If you want to stop your cat from eating flies, you’ll have to find another way of doing it. The key lies in the word “prevent.”
First, we believe that it’s important for every cat parent to understand what’s going on in the mind of their pet at all times. That way they can be more prepared and better able to recognize the signs of a problem before it becomes serious.
Second, we believe that it’s important for every pet owner to set their own rules with respect to feeding their pets, just as we did above.
As we already said, it’s not a good idea for your cat to eat flies if you’re giving them too much of the wrong stuff. At one time or another every cat parent will have experienced the hard-to-avoid situation in which their pets will eat food that they shouldn’t.
The key to preventing this from happening is for parents to be able to recognize when something is wrong so it can be fixed before it becomes serious. In addition, it’s also very important for parents to teach their children the difference between what is right and what is wrong when it comes to treating pets with proper care.
Conclusion
Being able to know if cats eat flies, feline owners should keep a close eye on their cats and also give them the right supplements and diets to which they need to stay healthy. As you probably already concluded, flies should never be your cat’s main source of food.
In fact, it’s not a good idea to feed your pet flies even if they’re constantly asking for them, because it will make them get used to eating their food when they don’t really need to.
Remember that flies are not part of an ordinary cat’s regular diet. If you have pet cats and they’re frequently eating insects like houseflies or other bugs, then there may be something wrong with the toy ball you’re using at home.
If your cat has an unhealthy interest in flies or other insects, then maybe it’s time to try to find a new toy ball for them.
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