Q: My two cats love chasing daddy long-legs spiders, and then eat them. Are these spiders dangerous and should I discourage them from their hunt?
A: Cats are obligatory hunters and will often hunt when they see something move, irrespective of whether or not they are hungry.
They may also only perform one part of the hunting exercise, for example, only stalk, or pounce, but not necessarily consume the pray.
It is for this reason that cats will hunt even when they are not hungry and have just eaten! Cats have been kept for this very reason for years – humans make use of cats’ behaviour to control pests, such as rats and mice.
The problem, off course, arises when cats hunt birds, which most people do not approve of. Unfortunately, cats find it hard to distinguish which pray is acceptable and which pray should be left undisturbed.
Cats often catch insects, and either just kill them, or also consume them.
Daddy long-legs spiders are not likely to cause any harm to the cat, as they are not poisonous to mammals. It appears that their venom is only effective against other insects.
Dr Frédérique Hurly, veterinarian and behaviourist
