bugs in cat food

[cole99]

I found little white bugs in the cat food. What are they? Could they have come in the big bag of cat food or from the apartment? I keep a clean house, food is in a sealed container, what are they????? Can they cause harm to my kitties???

[davet]

bugs in food is a very common thing...there is no real way that the manufacturess can avoid them...they are complet;ly harmless and basicall are good nutrition, ie protein...however if you want to be sure they are dea--which is only for esthetics, place every new bag of food in the freezer for a day or so, or in this weather, place the bag outside if your in a cold climate...that will kill them or at least make the hibernate which is estehcically mor pleasing....but they are absolutly no problem except possibly mentally....i fforgget the name of the bug but when i get a chance will look them upppbut basically it is a no-worrier probnmlem

[COLE99]

Are you sure? I've never seen them before and I have had cats all my life.

[Traci]

Were the bugs alive or dead? If alive, they could be grain bugs (from cereal products)....if dead, they could be mites or other parasites that entered either from shipping, storage or from an unsanitary grocery shelf, or this could even be a rancid food bag. What is the brand of food, and where did you purchase it, did you also check expiration date on the bag?

One sure way of finding out if you have grain bugs in your home is checking in your pantry, cupboards where you keep flour, cereals, spagetti/noodles/macaroni, dry goods. If you see dead meal bugs near or on the packages, you've got a problem.

[davet]

re:am is sure...am positive back when i used to sell or dispense the perscription diets in canned and dried, i used to have clients bring back some od the dried with live bugs in them;;i think Traci said grain mites...your just lucky to have never seen them before but they are harmless and actually nutritious---if i can get my bug books unpacked i will find the actual type but that may be a while