It is one of the oldest arguments for keeping a cat, and it long predates cats being kept for company at all. Cats came into human settlements because grain stores attracted rodents, and cats attracted to the rodents proved useful enough to tolerate. Several thousand years later people still say it: get a cat and you will not have bugs.
There is something in this, but rather less than the claim implies, and the parts that are true come with genuine risks to the cat. Here is what actually happens when a cat and a household insect population share a home.
Cats do hunt insects, and they enjoy it
Predatory behaviour in cats is not driven by hunger. It is a sequence of watching, stalking, pouncing and batting that is intrinsically rewarding, and it triggers on almost anything small that moves erratically. Flies, moths, crickets, beetles, spiders, mosquitoes and cockroaches all qualify.
This is why insect chasing is such a reliable feature of life with a cat. An indoor cat with limited stimulation will pursue a moth across three rooms with total commitment, and that is a genuine benefit, though not the one people usually mean. It is enrichment. A cat that hunts insects is exercising a behaviour it needs to express, and cats denied outlets for it are more prone to frustration, overgrooming and misdirected play.
Where the pest control claim falls apart
A cat reduces the number of visible insects in the rooms it uses. It does not control an infestation, and the difference is important.
- Cats hunt individuals, not populations. A cockroach problem lives in walls, drains and cavities. The few that cross the floor are a fraction of the colony, and killing them changes nothing about the source.
- Cats are opportunists, not patrollers. A cat sleeps for a large part of the day and hunts what happens to appear in front of it. Nothing is systematic about the coverage.
- Cats ignore most of what matters. Ants, termites, bed bugs, fleas, dust mites and larvae are not moving prey. A cat has no interest in them.
- Some insects fight back. Wasps, bees, hornets and certain ants sting, and a cat that gets stung in the mouth or throat can end up with serious swelling.
- Cats can add pests. A cat with outdoor access brings in fleas and ticks, and fleas establish in carpets and bedding readily.
The same qualification applies to the traditional claim about rodents. A cat presence, scent and hunting does suppress rodent activity in a space, and it is a real effect, but a serious rodent problem in a building needs exclusion and professional treatment. A cat is a deterrent, not a solution.
The risks worth taking seriously
This is the part of the subject that gets skipped, and it is the part that sends cats to the vet.
- Secondary poisoning. An insect that has eaten bait or been sprayed carries the pesticide. A cat that eats several poisoned insects is ingesting the product, and cats are particularly poor at metabolising many compounds.
- Insecticides themselves. Pyrethroids, especially permethrin, are dangerous to cats. Products marketed for dogs or for household use may contain them, and cats have been seriously poisoned by treated surfaces and by contact with recently treated dogs. Always check labels and always tell a pest control company that a cat lives in the house.
- Stings in the mouth and airway. Swelling from a sting inside the mouth or throat is an emergency.
- Venomous spiders and scorpions. Where they occur, a curious cat is at risk. Small cats and kittens are the most vulnerable.
- Toxic and irritant insects. Some caterpillars have irritant hairs. Certain beetles secrete defensive chemicals that blister. Fireflies contain compounds that are genuinely dangerous if eaten and have killed reptiles kept as pets.
- Parasites. Cockroaches and beetles can carry parasite stages. Fleas transmit tapeworm when swallowed, which is the most common route by which an indoor cat acquires it.
- Choking and gut irritation. Large, hard-bodied insects occasionally cause vomiting or, rarely, an obstruction.
Signs that need a veterinarian
Contact a veterinary professional promptly if you see swelling of the face, mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, drooling, pawing at the mouth, tremors or twitching, unsteadiness, seizures, dilated pupils with agitation, repeated vomiting, sudden lethargy, or any known contact with an insecticide. Tremors and twitching after exposure to a spot-on product or a sprayed surface should be treated as an emergency.
The sensible arrangement
Treat insect hunting as free enrichment and handle pest control separately. Deal with sources rather than individuals: screens on windows, food sealed and surfaces clean, standing water removed, gaps around pipes and skirting sealed, rubbish managed.
Where treatment is needed, use cat-safe methods and keep the cat out of treated areas for as long as the label specifies. Prefer sealed bait stations the cat cannot reach over sprays and open baits. Boric acid and diatomaceous earth are often recommended as lower-risk options, but they are not harmless and should be applied in cracks and voids rather than across open floors. Keep flea and tick prevention current, and never use a dog product on a cat.
And if you want a cat, want it for the reasons that hold up: company, character and about fifteen years of a small animal deciding your chair belongs to it. Our cat care guide covers nutrition, behaviour, grooming, enrichment and veterinary care in full.
Keep reading: Cat care guide · How to convince your parents to adopt a cat · Trusted sources and resources · New feeding trends for dogs and cats
Pet & Pet publishes educational content written and reviewed by Hugo Mellado. It is not veterinary advice and never replaces an examination by a licensed veterinarian. If an animal is unwell, contact a veterinary professional. Read our full Disclaimer.
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