Many animals eat spiders, including cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, lizards, frogs, toads, and some birds. Spiders are not a main food for most pets, though, and eating one is usually harmless. A few things are worth watching, such as bites from a venomous spider or pesticide-treated bugs.
Cats and Dogs
Cats hunt anything that moves, and a house spider is an easy target. A cat that eats a common house spider is usually fine, since spiders are small and not poisonous when eaten. The risk is the spider biting the cat in the mouth. Dogs sometimes eat spiders they find while sniffing around. Call your vet if your pet seems unwell after contact with a black widow, brown recluse, or other venomous spider, or if the face or mouth swells.
Reptiles and Amphibians
- Geckos and anoles: small insect-eating lizards that eat spiders when they find them.
- Frogs and toads: will eat small spiders along with insects.
- Bearded dragons and leopard geckos: do well on commercially raised insects. Wild-caught spiders are not recommended because of venom and pesticide risk.
Birds and Poultry
Chickens, ducks, and many wild birds eat spiders when they scratch and forage. Wild birds such as wrens, chickadees, and warblers raise their chicks on insects and spiders.
Other Spiders and Insects
Some spiders eat other spiders, and so do mantises, wasps, and ants. Jumping spiders and cellar spiders both hunt other spiders on a regular basis. Our guide on what daddy long leg spiders eat covers one of the best-known spider hunters.
Should You Feed Wild Spiders to a Pet?
Generally, no. Wild-caught spiders can carry pesticides or parasites, and some are venomous. If a pet needs live food, buy feeder insects from a pet supplier.
Related: what pets eat spiders is our overview, along with what pet spiders eat and what you can feed a spider.
Bottom Line
Cats, dogs, chickens, lizards, frogs, and many birds will eat spiders, and a house spider is rarely a problem. Keep pets away from venomous spiders and call your vet if a bite or illness is suspected.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.
