Cats can eat crickets safely in small amounts as crickets are non-toxic and even provide some nutritional benefits such as high-quality protein, amino acids, iron, vitamin B12, and omega fatty acids. However, there are some risks to consider including potential digestive upset from the hard exoskeleton, possible parasite transmission, insecticide exposure, and small risks of mouth irritation from cricket bites. Wild crickets may carry pesticides or parasites, so it is safer to avoid feeding wild crickets intentionally. Overall, occasional cricket consumption is generally not harmful to cats and aligns with their natural hunting behavior, but care should be taken to avoid large quantities or repeated consumption without monitoring for adverse effects.