When considering your cat’s weekly diet, why not add something she’ll actually get to hunt? Crickets are readily available in many pet stores and contain high amounts of protein and other essential nutrients, including taurine. In fact, Florence Dunkel, associate professor of entomology at Montana State University, notes that a 100 grams of insects contains more protein, calcium and iron than an equal amount of beef!

Crickets are also an ecologically sensitive – no land-clearing needed to raise them – and more sustainable feeding option than mass-produced farm animals. According to the United Nation’s, “Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed“, they use substantially less water and grain than livestock. Pound for pound, crickets require, “…12 times less feed than cattle, 4 times less feed than sheep, and half as much feed as pigs and broiler chickens.” In other words, the same amount of feed needed to produce 1 pound of beef will produce a full 12 pounds of crickets.

As if all that isn’t enough to perk your interest, crickets, like their genetic cousins, the ocean shrimp, are full of healthy Omega 3’s, making them as attractive on the menu as sardines or salmon oil. Unlike shrimp, however, crickets have zero cholesterol.

Plus, they’re just plain fun to catch! So drop a dozen in your tub and offer your kitty a super-nutritious snack and a chance to exercise her predator instincts. It’s a win-win! ♥