Why Do Cats Eat Grass?
If you're a cat owner, you might have observed your feline friend nibbling on grass from time to time. Although this behavior might seem odd given that cats are obligate carnivores, grass can actually provide several benefits for them. Discover Why Do Cats Eat Grass? with Feline Fancy.
If you're a cat owner, you might have observed your feline friend nibbling on grass from time to time. Although this behavior might seem odd given that cats are obligate carnivores, grass can actually provide several benefits for them. Discover Why Do Cats Eat Grass? with Feline Fancy.
All cat owners know that their kitty enjoys the occasional nibble of grass, often followed by the cat throwing up their breakfast. Because of this reaction, many pet parents think that grass is a toxic plant for their felines and may reprimand them for grazing on it.
The compulsion for a cat to eat grass is certainly a strange one, especially since they’re obligate carnivores and don’t require vegetation to survive. However, when cats consume grass, it can actually provide numerous health benefits. Grass helps relieve constipation, offers natural stress relief, and can aid the digestive system. Grass contains folic acid, which is essential for a cat's digestive tract and overall health. It also helps remove intestinal parasites and other toxins, ensuring a safe cat environment.
Despite the occasional cat throwing up, eating grass can be beneficial and is generally safe for cats, including indoor cats. To help your cat and give them the option to nibble grass safely, consider providing cat safe grass indoors. Learn more about why cats like to eat grass and the health benefits it offers with Feline Fancy.
Why do cats eat grass?
Currently, researchers haven't pinpointed a definitive reason why cats eat grass. However, there are many theories about why your feline enjoys munching on your lawn. Grass might help when they have an upset stomach, provide essential folic acid, or relieve constipation.
1. Relieves with stomach upset
One prevalent theory behind why cats eat grass is that it aids in helping stomach upset. This behaviour is often associated with cats subsequently vomiting, as they lack the necessary enzymes to digest grass properly.
This behaviour suggests that cats may eat grass to help induce regurgitation, which can assist in clearing their digestive system of indigestible materials such as hair, feathers, or bones from prey. This inclination is observed similarly in dogs.
Understanding Why is my Cat Eating Grass and Vomiting? involves recognizing that grass contains essential nutrients like folic acid, beneficial for their digestive tract. Providing safe options for cats to nibble on grass, whether indoors or in the great outdoors, can offer health benefits such as aiding bowel movements and potentially removing intestinal parasites or toxins.
2. Grass juice includes folic acid.
Interestingly, grass juice includes folic acid, an essential vitamin also found in a cat’s mother’s milk. This vitamin aids digestion, supports cell growth, and contributes to hemoglobin production. According to Hill’s, if your cat feels deficient in these nutrients, they may seek out grass to supplement their diet. So, if you’re wondering why your cat eats grass?, this could be a significant reason, whether they graze on grass outdoors or consume it indoors to potentially remove toxins.
For those seeking comprehensive nutrition insights, explore "Foundations of Cat Feeding and Cat Nutrition."
3. It functions as a natural laxative.
Sometimes, items that a cat cannot digest may progress too far along the digestive tract and become lodged. In such cases, grass can effectively assist in breaking down these substances, making it easier for them to be passed. This suggests that grass could potentially aid in purging toxins and alleviating constipation in cats that graze outdoors or seek to consume it indoors.
Is it safe for cats to eat grass?
When eaten in moderation and provided it hasn’t been treated with pesticides or herbicides, it’s perfectly safe for cats to eat grass. However, if your cat eats grass a lot, it could get stuck in their nasal passages, causing excessive sneezing. If this happens, you should contact your vet immediately to have it manually removed. While grazing on grass outdoors can help remove toxins and aid digestion, it’s important to ensure the grass is free from toxic plants.
- If your cat’s in the habit of snacking on plants and grass, you should make sure that all of your houseplants are non-toxic. Certain popular houseplants like Kalanchoes and Lilies are actually poisonous to cats and can cause a mild to severe reaction.
If your cat ingests a toxic plant, it's crucial to promptly seek veterinary care. Discover which plants are harmful to your cat using our guide on toxic substances and poisonous foods.
To ensure your cat eats only safe grass, consider purchasing pots of cat grass. This will provide your feline with a designated area to graze, satisfying their natural inclination to munch on vegetation and preventing them from nibbling on potentially harmful houseplants.
FAQ's
1. Do cats eat grass when they have worms?
Yes, cats may eat grass when they have worms. This behaviour is thought to be a natural instinct aimed at self medicating. Eating grass can help cats expel intestinal parasites, including worms, by inducing vomiting or aiding in the passage of parasites through their digestive system.
2. Should indoor cats eat grass?
Indoor cats can safely eat cat grass or other safe grass varieties, which can aid in digestion, provide essential nutrients like folic acid, and offer behavioral enrichment by satisfying their natural instinct to graze.
3. Can cats eat grass head grass?
Yes, cats can eat grass, including the seeds and heads of grass. Grass heads typically refer to the flowering part of grass plants, which cats may nibble on as part of their natural grazing behaviour. However, it's important to ensure that the grass is free from pesticides or herbicides that could be harmful if ingested by cats.
4. What is the best grass for cats to eat?
The best grass for cats to eat is typically cat grass, which is specifically grown for pets and is safe for consumption. Cat grass varieties such as wheatgrass, oat grass, or barley grass are popular choices. These grasses are easy to grow indoors and provide a natural source of fiber and essential nutrients like folic acid, which can aid in digestion and overall health for cats.
5. Are there benefits to providing cat grass for indoor cats?
Yes, offering cat grass indoors can satisfy their natural urge to graze, provide mental stimulation, and potentially prevent them from nibbling on houseplants.
6. Can kittens eat grass?
Yes, kittens can eat grass. Like adult cats, kittens may exhibit curiosity and interest in nibbling on grass as part of their natural behaviour. Eating grass can provide kittens with fiber, essential nutrients like folic acid, and may help them explore their environment.
7. Can eating grass help cats with hairballs?
Yes, when cats eat grass it can help them expel hairballs by inducing vomiting or facilitating their passage through the digestive tract.