---
title: "Scientists Say You Should Feed Insects to Your Dog or Cat"
description: "By transitioning pets to diets rich in insects, we could help save the environment and alleviate world hunger, experts told the BBC."
date: "2019-08-27"
modified: "2019-08-27"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/feed-insects-dog-cat"
categories:
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "insect protein"
  - "insects"
  - "pets"
  - "the digest"
---

# Scientists Say You Should Feed Insects to Your Dog or Cat

![By transitioning pets to diets rich in insects, we could help save the environment and alleviate world hunger, experts told the BBC.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/feed-insects-dog-cat.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Amazon/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Worm Food

Pet owners could soon trade in chicken and beef cat and dog foods for ones made from insects — a move that experts say could benefit both the environment and humanity.

"There’s a really exciting future for the use of insect protein for companion animals," Simon Doherty, president of the British Veterinary Association, [told *BBC News*](<https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49450935>). "It’s a fantastic opportunity — looking at insects to provide alternative sources of some of the nutrient ingredients we use in pet food diets."

## Earth Friendly

Insect farming is arguably much less of a burden on the environment than raising cattle or chickens.

In fact, Dutch firm Protix, which runs the [world’s largest insect farm](<https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8272-b%C3%BChler-congratulates-protix-opening-largest-insect-protein-facility>), estimates that producing one kilogram of insect-based food requires just 2 percent of the land and 4 percent of the water needed to produce the same amount of beef.

Other environmental benefits: insects can feed on human food waste, produce very low emissions, and don't require the use of fertilizer or pesticides.

## Feed Me

Additionally, pets currently consume up to 20 percent of all meat globally, the *BBC* wrote, so by transitioning pets to [insect-based foods](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/uk-fast-food-chain-edible-insects>), we could free up of those meats for human consumption.

"Round the world we are heating up the atmosphere and using up the land, but we have also to feed a growing population in need of protein," Protix founder Kees Aarts told the *BBC*. "We have to do something differently and insects are part of the solution."

**READ MORE:** [Insect-based food 'better for pets than top steak](<https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49450935>)' \[*BBC News*\]

**More on insect protein:** *[This UK Fast Food Chain Wants People to Eat Crunchy Bugs](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/uk-fast-food-chain-edible-insects>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)