# Insect meals in cat diets and their effects on digestibility, physiology, and gut microbiota

## TL;DR

This study shows that adding insect meals to cat diets up to 15% does not negatively affect digestion, blood parameters, or gut microbiota.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the suitability of insect meals in cat diets and their impact on gut health and physiology.

## Key findings

- Insect meals up to 15% had no negative effects on apparent digestibility or blood parameters in cats.
- Propionate levels were higher in insect-fed cats compared to the control group.
- No significant changes in gut microbiota diversity were observed with insect meal inclusion.

## Abstract

Insects are a valuable source of nutrients, but little is known about their nutritional value for companion animals. In this study, we evaluated the inclusion of three insect meals in cat diets (Cinerea cockroach, CC; Madagascar cockroach, MC; and Superworm, SW) at two different levels (7.5 and 15%) on apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC), blood parameters, fecal pH, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), phenol and indole production, and gut microbiota during six experimental periods of 15 days each. No differences were found for ADC, except for chitin in which MC registered the highest ADC. The fermentative product analysis showed that propionate displayed higher abundance in all insect treatments compared to the control group. Moreover, cats fed CC diet resulted in higher fecal butyrate while higher 4-methylphenol was registered in cats fed MC and SW diets. No significant differences were found for fecal pH and score, as well as no change in urea, creatinine, and blood count were registered. No differences were registered for total fecal SCFA, BCFA, phenol, and indole production compared to the control group or between insect meal fed groups. The fecal microbiota analyzed by gene 16S rRNA sequencing of cats did not register differences in alpha or beta diversity. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of insect meal up to 15% is a suitable alternative food for adult cats.