If your cat eats maggots, you must act quickly to prevent them from entering the bloodstream.
Contact your veterinarian. Your doctor will perform a veterinary exam and diagnose the parasite infection.
Treatment is required to eliminate the worms from the cat’s system. So, what happens if my cat eats maggots?
Cats are natural-born hunters and will often catch and eat a fly or two without a second thought.
However, if your cat happens to catch a fly that has maggots attached to it, this could cause serious problems in your cat’s tummy.
The maggots will feed on the cat’s flesh, and the cat will begin to experience pain in their abdomen and blood loss.
Your cat’s stomach lining will also be damaged as the maggots continue to feed on their flesh.
What Happens If My Cat Eats Maggots?
If you do not want your cat to be exposed or affected by maggots, the best thing to do is keep your cat indoors and away from any source of flies outdoors.
If your cat eats maggot-infested food, there is a high risk of the maggots entering their bloodstream and affecting their internal organs.
It is also recommended that if your cat vomits or passes blood, you should make an immediate vet appointment.
Look out for changes in behavior in your cat such as loss of appetite, excessive grooming, weight loss or increase in water consumption.
The Dangers Of Eating Maggots In Cat Food
A maggot is the larval stage of a fly.
Maggots have a worm-like appearance, but they do not have eyes or mouths as they are unable to eat.
Their heads are usually smaller and narrower than their rear ends.
Maggots are larvae that feed and grow in organic matter such as dead animals or decaying plants.
Maggots may also be eaten accidentally since they’re regularly found in processed foods or leftovers.
Disastrous Allergies
In certain cats, the ingestion of maggots may give them allergic reactions such as breathing difficulties, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.
Cats with respiratory and asthmatic symptoms have been reported to die within a few hours after ingesting maggots.
Toxicity of Bacteria
Consumed maggots or maggot-infested food may also contain harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that can affect the cat’s health.
Ingesting most maggot-infested foods is dangerous, especially if the maggots are still moving.
Certain houseflies utilize animal and human feces as breeding grounds.
Maggots may also be infected or infested with bacteria such as E. coli.
An E.coli infection causes fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
Myiasis
Maggots infesting and feeding on the cat’s hair is called myiasis.
The nation that is most affected by myiasis is South East Asia.
Individuals who have a hard infestation can suffer from myiasis if they constantly scratch themselves.
Larvae may dwell in places, such as between the toes, in-between the buttocks, under the arms, in the eyes or the groin area.
Myiasis is a disease that affects certain animals such as canines, horses, goats and sheep and it’s transmitted to these animals through bites from flies and lice.
Humans are not immune to this infection and may also get infested from fleas that are infected.
During the hot, humid summer months, fly-strike or maggot infestation can occur when flies lay eggs on the animals’ skin.
While myiasis is most often seen beneath a dog’s neck or between the toes of a horse, it can also affect a person’s hair or body if the infestation isn’t treated.
Maggots may dwell in places, such as between the toes, in-between the buttocks, under the arms, in the eyes or the groin area.
Myiasis is not contagious because the maggots are not ingested by a person but get in contact with the skin.
Myiasis in the gastrointestinal system is called myiasis intestinalis.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Ferret Food?
Precautions to Take If Your Cat Eats Food With Maggots
In the event of your cat exhibiting symptoms of the maggots in his feces or skin, you ought to take him to the vet promptly for assessment.
This is especially important for visitors and those who live in environments where the flies and maggots are prevalent.
In most cases, you will absolutely not see the maggots because the maggots are underneath the skin.
In reality, even if your cat eats food that has maggots on it, the maggots will barely touch him.
Follow these steps to safeguard yourself from the fly and maggot menace in the house:
- Dispose of garbage regularly and limit the places in your house that flies can lay eggs.
- Choose from natural cleaners such as baking soda, vinegar and citrus oil.
- Dispose of any infested meats or goods in the trash or deep freeze them immediately if the infestation is severe.
- If your home has a more frigid climate, you should benefit from fly screens on doors or windows, especially in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms where flies are likely to enter.
- Dispose of garbage regularly and limit the places in your house that flies can lay eggs.
- Seal the garbage can tightly with a tight lid once the garbage bags are removed.
It’s imperative for cat owners to routinely examine the paws of their pets for any signs of injuries and infection.
Conclusion
The objective of this post is to inform you about something that can seriously affect the health of cats or even make the cat die.
You may contact your veterinary practitioner if your cat shows the signs and symptoms discussed in this post.
