Does anyone know if eating a roach can be harmful for a cat? Murray likes to eat them after ripping them to shreds. Sadly, we have what our landlord calls “Waterbugs”. I fail to see the difference between them and roaches, but he does. So our complaints aren’t always met with quick remedies. They come up from the basement, disgusting things.

Anyway, Murray and Tucker like to kill them and then Murray (who will eat anything) eats them. Can he get sick from this? Will the poison that they may have ingested from the basement affect Murray? Anyone know?

As far as I know, “waterbugs” are larger than roaches, usually big, shiny and black. And gross. As are roaches.

Our cats like to stalk and play with any bugs they see (and despite FOUR ultrasonic plug-ins at strategic locations throughout the apartment, and vigilant cleaning, we still get ‘em). They stop short of eating them, mostly because I try to take them immediately away. I’ve heard that roaches in particular have a very bitter taste, and that with most cats, the first one they eat will be the last, but Murray’s a different sort of cat, isn’t he. :)

But yeah. I’d worry about any toxins the little critters are carrying around.

He is very different. His new eats: cabbage, green beans, and (drum roll) zucchini. This cat will eat ANYTHING. And I mean it. Anything. He just doesn’t like fruit. For some reason. He’s an anti-fruitist.

I haven’t ever seen him eat them, for the record. But I have seen parts lying around. Today we found an ass. I assume he ingested the other part? But who knows. The other parts could just be hidden somewhere since he likes to hide things, too.

One more thing: OF COURSE roaches would taste bitter. Less likely to be eaten by critters. Man, I do wish they would just all die. I don’t care about the repercussions of knocking out an entire specie. heh

FACT: I’ve had waterbugs and silverfish and spiders in every other city I’ve lived in, but never roaches until moving to NYC.

Man, I hate roaches. Another reason to get the heck out of here.

yup. Amen to that.

I hate them toooo. My cats eat waterbugs. I will find antennae and legs scattered about the floor some mornings. Once I awoke to a pile of cat barf with PARTS in it. Eeew. As far as I know, they haven’t experienced any adverse effects…

yzz, my guys do the same thing. I just picked up a waterbug leg today as a matter of fact. They tear them apart. Somehow, and I have no idea how, they regularly decapitate them. Weird.

I haven’t found them in their poop or vomit yet, but I am sure it’s only a matter of time. Murray doesn’t vomit yet. That comes later, no? All my cats started vomiting later in life. We’ll see.

I hate those waterbugs. They’re way so big and scary.