Cats cannot and should not eat leeches. Not only that, but cats should stay as far away from them as possible. These tiny worms are parasitic animals that will get stuck in an animal’s body and suck on their blood. Not only that, but they can transmit diseases too.
Leeches are nothing but bad news. They are not good for your cat – and probably not good for you either. Don’t try to feed your cat any leeches nor allow your cat to take a bite at one neither.
If you have a body of water near your house and suspect there are leeches in it, it’d be better if your cat is nowhere near that place as well. There’s a slim chance your cat will encounter a one in its lifetime; even so, you should make sure that never happens.
Do cats like to eat leeches?
Hardly any cat will try to eat a leech. Certain fish, turtles, and birds will eat leeches, but domestic cats and other felines stay far away from them. In certain cases, a cat will be interested and paw at a leech, but it won’t go further than that.
Believe it or not, cats know what’s good and bad for them. They know better than to try to eat garlic or spices – and they know better than to eat a leech. That won’t stop them from trying to play with one, though.
Even though cats won’t eat a leech, these small worms will definitely catch their attention. If your cat happens to find a leech, make sure you keep them away from each other. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Are leeches safe for cats to eat?
Leeches are nowhere near safe for a cat to eat. They can cause problems both inside and outside your cat – and it won’t be a nutritious meal if your cat manages to digest one. Letting your cat be near a leech is a losing move with no benefits.
Simply put, leeches are parasites. That should be enough information to let you know that it’s not something safe for a cat to eat.
A leech will try to parasite your blood from outside your body, by sticking to an arm, leg, or somewhere. They can also try the same thing from the inside after you swallow it – and that could mean big trouble.
What should I do if my cat eats a leech?
If you suspect your cat ate one or more leeches, go to the vet. Leeches are infamously known for getting stuck inside the digestive or respiratory system of domestic pets, causing them to die because of it. Go to the vet as well if your cat was around a leech.
Leeches are not a joke – nor are they worth having around. They cause nothing but trouble, especially for small pets, cats included.
Cats are smart enough to stay away from leeches, but they can still interact with them without knowing. For example, at a body of water filled with small leeches.
A cat eating a leech is nothing but bad news – and you have to act accordingly!