Cats are full of contradictions. They’re aloof but silly, cuddly but aloof, and every kitty parent knows that figuring out cat behavior means a lifetime of learning. even if you already know the answer to why cats wag their tails and why they purr, and you’re clear on why cats knead (because they’re making cookies, of course), there are other things cats do that are more or less a mystery. why do cats sleep so much? Why do they decide that 3 in the morning is a good time to run an obstacle course at your house? And why do cats eat grass? Here, the cat experts help us get to the root of that last one.
why do cats eat grass?
Although there isn’t a lot of specific research on why cats eat grass, there are a few reasons why you might notice this behavior in your cat, according to dr. pete lands, dvm, medical director and managing partner of washington ave animal hospital in philadelphia, pennsylvania.
It turns out that cats often have a number of underlying GI conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. So chewing on grass can be a way to soothe their GI tract, either to help things move a little faster or help them vomit up hairballs, explains dr. lands, which is why you might see your cat vomit after eating grass!
The herb is high in fiber, which can help with constipation. “Cats are notoriously poor water drinkers, and sometimes adding fiber to the diet just helps them poop a little easier,” says dr. angie krause, dvm, cva, ccrt, holistic veterinarian based in boulder, colorado.
It might also be worth investigating what you’re feeding that feline with. some cats eat grass to make up for nutritional deficiencies in their diet, such as folic acid, which helps form hemoglobin.
“if their diet at home is lacking in certain vitamins, minerals or nutrients, they may be trying to find them elsewhere,” says dr. lands “so one place you might find folic acid would be by eating grass, if that’s something that might be missing from your diet.”
you better start reading those labels! you wouldn’t want to make these dangerous mistakes as a cat owner.
Is eating grass related to stress?
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That said, eating grass can also be a sign that your kitty is stressed. “Some people say that if a cat is in a stressful environment, he may stress over eating, similar to how humans stress out or eat emotionally to help relax or calm them down,” says dr. lands says. we prefer brownies when we’re stressed, but if your cat is eating your dirt, he checks to make sure you’re avoiding these things you do that your cat secretly hates.
Is it good for cats to eat grass?
Eating a little weed now and then isn’t a big deal, but too much could lead to medical complications. “In the United States, most of our cats are indoors year-round, so if they do go outside and eat grass, you should probably call and talk to your vet,” says Dr. Lands In some cases, if a cat eats too much grass, he can get stuck in his stomach and require surgery to remove it. a visit to the vet will help identify any underlying conditions that may be causing your cat to eat grass. some cats may also enjoy the taste of dog food; we asked the experts if that’s safe.
However, some cats like the taste of grass, and in small amounts, it can provide valuable fiber for kitties with sensitive stomachs. dr. Krause has a cat with gi issues and grows cat grass for her cat to eat. “He’s the one that will eat grass until he vomits, no matter what kind of grass,” Krause says. “and so with him, when I grow weed for him, I look at how much he has available, because he’ll just cut it if I grow a ton.”
now that you know the answer to the question “why do cats eat grass?” Find out exactly what they’re trying to tell you with our guide to why cats meow.
sources:
- dr. pete lands, dvm, medical director and managing partner, washington ave animal hospital, philadelphia, pa
- dr. angie krause, dvm, cva, ccrt, holistic vet in boulder, colorado
