Can cats eat Christmas beetles?
Cats can eat Christmas beetles, however, they shouldn’t. While Christmas beetles are safe for cats to eat, their numbers are diminishing at an alarming rate.
Aside from their declining numbers, there is a small risk that Christmas beetles have been deliberately sprayed or accidentally exposed to insect spray, which can lead to secondary poisoning.
What are Christmas beetles?
Christmas beetles (Anoplognathus) are a type of flying beetle native to Australia recognised for their metallic exoskeleton. They are known as Christmas beetles due to the adult beetle emerging in December.
Christmas beetles are found across Australia with the exception of desert areas. In recent years their numbers have seriously declined due to the ever-increasing urban sprawl which takes out their natural habitat.
Conclusion
If your cat has eaten a Christmas beetle, the chances are that he or she will be fine. But where possible, try to prevent cats from hunting Christmas beetles due to their declining numbers.