# Dried Whole Black Soldier Fly Larvae Consumption Supports Gestation, Lactation, and Growth in Cats

## TL;DR

This study shows that dried black soldier fly larvae can safely support the health and growth of pregnant, lactating cats and their kittens.

## Contribution

The first demonstration of the safety and efficacy of dried black soldier fly larvae in sensitive feline life stages.

## Key findings

- Kittens fed the DBSFL diet had higher body weights and better nutrient digestibility.
- No adverse effects were observed in queens or kittens on the DBSFL diet.
- DBSFL was more digestible for kittens compared to the control diet.

## Abstract

Insect-derived ingredients are sustainable sources of premium protein and energy for the pet food industry, although their safety and efficacy are yet to be established in the most sensitive life stages of cats and dogs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the consumption of dried whole black soldier fly larvae, as a source of protein and energy components, in these sensitive life stages of cats, including in pregnant and lactating cats, and their offspring. In the study, adult female cats—before, during, and after pregnancy—and their weaned kittens received either a control diet or a treatment diet that partially replaced chicken meal and poultry fat with dried whole black soldier fly larvae. Throughout the duration of the study, cat and kitten health and development were maintained. The dried whole black soldier fly larvae diet was also found to be more digestible by kittens than the control diet. This study is the first to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of dried whole black soldier fly larvae, and its protein and energy components, when fed to pregnant and lactating cats and their kittens.

This study evaluated the consumption of dried whole black soldier fly larvae (DBSFL) to meet the nutritional requirements of gestating and lactating cats and their kittens post-weaning. Queens (n = 8/treatment) were randomly assigned to a control diet or diets containing 20% DBSFL through gestation and lactation. Weaned kittens (n = 8/treatment) were maintained on their dams’ diet for 10-weeks. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the litter size, dietary intake, body weight, or fecal quality of the queens during the trial. The kittens receiving the DBSFL diet consumed more on an absolute or caloric basis than those fed the control diet at week 5 (p = 0.1) and week 10 (p = 0.03) and had higher body weights at weeks 6 through 10 (p < 0.05). The blood and urinalysis parameters were generally within normal ranges, with some variations observed between treatments that were not considered biologically significant. The dry matter, crude protein, and amino acid digestibility levels were higher in kittens fed the DBSFL diet (p = 0.05). These data are the first to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of DBSFL for the gestation and lactation of queens and for the growth of kittens, as well as its suitability in diets for cats of all life stages.