Caterpillar FAQ: Fuzzy Orange Caterpillar, Hungry Caterpillar, Simparica, and Parts Procurement

I'm the office administrator for a 58-person heavy equipment dealer. I manage parts and service ordering—roughly $240k a year across 9 vendor accounts. I report to both operations and finance. And somehow, I'm also the person who answers the phone when the receptionist is out. That's why this FAQ exists.

Because in my six years doing this, I've learned that a lot of people search "caterpillar" and end up somewhere they didn't intend. Fuzzy orange caterpillars. Hairless caterpillars. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. One email actually asked me how Simparica works. I had to Google it myself—no, it has nothing to do with us.

So here's the FAQ I never expected to write:

• 1. Is Caterpillar named after the fuzzy orange caterpillar?
• 2. What about hairless caterpillars?
• 3. Why "hungry caterpillar" searches land here
• 4. How does Simparica work?
• 5. What does "harmon" have to do with parts?
• 6. Are genuine parts worth the premium?
• 7. How long does parts delivery actually take?
• 8. Can I order parts online myself?

1. Is Caterpillar the company named after the fuzzy orange caterpillar?

Yes, but not that one specifically. The story goes that a photographer took a picture of a Holt tractor fitted with early track technology, and the driver said the machine moved "like a caterpillar." The name stuck. So the insect connection is real—just not the fuzzy orange kind you find in the garden in October.

Here's the thing: the orange-and-black CAT logo is not a nod to the banded woolly bear caterpillar. That's a coincidence. We sell mining trucks, excavators, diesel engines, and parts. If you clicked hoping for insect photos, I'm sorry to disappoint. But if you need a replacement hydraulic pump for a 336 excavator? That I can help with.

2. What about hairless caterpillars?

This is the other query that brings people to us. Hairless caterpillars absolutely exist—many moth larvae are smooth, or only have tiny setae (that's the technical term for the fine bristles). Species like cutworms can do real damage to row crops. If you're dealing with that, your county extension office or a licensed pest control service is the right call. Not a heavy equipment dealer.

But since you're here: if the "caterpillar" you need is a hydraulic hose that is, uh, hairless (i.e., wire-reinforced rubber), our parts department can help you with that. That's the kind of caterpillar we actually deal in.

3. Why do people search "hungry caterpillar" and end up here?

Because of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I have three kids, so I've read that book maybe 400 times. It's a masterpiece: the little green guy eats through one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, and five oranges—and then he feels much better. It is a wonderful book. It is not, however, a parts catalog reference.

Caterpillar equipment is hungry in a different way. A 770G mining truck burns roughly 30 gallons of diesel per hour under load. That's the only hunger I can help you with.

4. How does Simparica work—and why would you ask us?

Simparica is a flea and tick medication for dogs. Its active ingredient is sarolaner, which works by interfering with the nervous system of fleas and ticks—blocking GABA and glutamate receptors, which causes the parasites to become paralyzed and die. It's given orally, once a month. If that's what you're actually looking for, your guess is kinda as good as mine about how you got here. Talk to your veterinarian.

(Not that I'm judging the search detour. I once spent twenty minutes reading up on how to identify a luna moth after a customer asked. Internet rabbits holes happen.)

5. What does "harmon" have to do with Caterpillar parts?

Now this is a question more procurement people should ask. "Harmon" refers to the Harmonized System (HS) codes used to classify goods for international shipping.

When I order a part from a dealer outside the U.S., the HS code determines the tariff rate. In 2023, I ordered a final drive motor for a 330 excavator and classified it as a "hydraulic power engine" instead of a "track-laying tractor part." The tariff difference—2.9% vs. 0.9%—doesn't sound huge. On a $31,000 part, it came to $620 of avoidable cost. My finance director still mentions it.

Takeaway: verify HS codes on international parts orders. It's not complicated, but it's easy to get wrong.

6. Are genuine Caterpillar parts worth the premium over aftermarket?

I went back and forth on this for weeks. Aftermarket wear items (like filters and belt kits) run 20–35% cheaper. On paper, the savings looked like a smart budget move. My gut said to check the actual failure data before switching anything.

So I pulled two years of work orders for two similar loader models—one maintained with OEM filters, one with aftermarket. The aftermarket-serviced machine had 11% more unscheduled downtime, mostly fuel-system related. Could have been that specific unit. But I couldn't prove the filters were innocent either.

Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), using aftermarket parts doesn't automatically void a warranty—the manufacturer has to show the part caused the damage.

But "doesn't void your warranty" and "won't complicate a claim" are two very different things. I'd rather avoid that conversation entirely.

What I do now: OEM for anything that touches fuel or hydraulics, quality aftermarket for structural wear parts like bucket shims. What I mean is, compare the total cost of ownership—i.e., not just the unit price, but the risk of unplanned downtime. And I do not trust price quotes that ignore that.

7. How long does Caterpillar parts delivery actually take?

It depends on where the part lives:

• Dealer local inventory: 1–2 days
• Regional distribution center: 3–5 business days
• Made-to-order: 2–4 weeks, no matter what anyone promises
• Harvest season (we supply ag customers): add 20%, minimum

I have mixed feelings about delivery estimates. On one hand, most dealer reps are genuinely trying to help. On the other, "estimated delivery" tends to mean "best-case scenario." In 2021, I passed a dealer's "four days" estimate to an internal customer. It showed up in eleven. I looked bad to my operations manager (which, honestly, I deserved) because I repeated someone else's optimism instead of adding a buffer. Now I quote a range, never a single date.

8. Can I order Caterpillar parts myself online?

You can, through your dealer's online parts portal, if you have your machine's serial number and the part number. That works fine for urgent, known orders.

Real talk: if you're ordering regularly, build a relationship with a specific parts rep instead. In 2022, one caught a mistake I'd made—I ordered a pump model that had been superseded (meaning a newer version replaced it). The system accepted my order fine, but the rep flagged it and got me the upgraded part at the same price. A self-service portal would have happily sold me a part that no longer existed.

That's the kind of thing that doesn't show up on a spreadsheet. But it's real.