Do Ants Make Cats High?
WouterUnlike humans, cats are carnivores and are known to have a natural affinity for small prey. Ants are known to be a good source of protein, calcium and iron. They also contain alpha-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid.
However, eating ants may not be good for your cat. Depending on the species of ant your cat is eating, they may have digestive problems or be exposed to dangerous chemicals.
In addition, the pheromones that ants emit are also detected by cats. If your cat is exposed to a large amount of oleic acid, they may become aggressive. This is similar to the reaction that a cat has to catnip. Whether your cat is aggressive or not after eating ants, you should seek veterinary care.
It is important to remember that cats do not have the same ability to absorb Omega-3 fatty acids as other species, so if your cat eats ants that contain formic acid or other toxic chemicals, they may become ill. The symptoms of ant poisoning include diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy.
However, most native house ants do not contain enough toxins to cause harm. The magnitude of the ant problem varies by region. If your cat is fed outside, you may want to put a barrier in your cat’s food bowl to keep ants out.
If you feed your cat indoors, you may be able to get rid of ants by using a sugar water sponge. This can be left for several hours and washed to remove dead ants.
