Why Cats Eat Grass - Fuzzy Rescue

One day a pet owner saw the cutest thing out in his yard. One of their dogs took a sip of grass and brought it to another dog who had an upset stomach. It actually put the grass in the sick dog's mouth! It's like animals evolved to know when and how to heal themselves. If wheatgrass shots are good for humans, then it stands to reason that grass can be beneficial for our pets too.

However, Cats are a little different. They are obligatory carnivores. This term means that they only have to eat meat. Why do cats eat grass if they only eat meat-derived protein?

The benefits of cats that eat grass

All types of grass are high in folic acid and fiber. Folic acid is an essential vitamin that cats need for development and strength. These enzymes increase the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, which leads to higher levels of oxygen. If your cat eats excessive amounts of grass, it could indicate that their diet is lacking folic acid.

If your cat has a balanced diet with adequate amounts of iron-rich protein, the reason she's eating grass may be because of its fiber content. Grass has natural laxative properties and is pet equivalent to a bowl of whole bran cereal. Your cat goes to the grass to move the ball of fur in its stomach towards the other exit.

Interestingly, you can tell what your cat is getting grass for by figuring out what kind of grass she loves to eat. If it prefers the broad-stemmed grass varieties (found in most garden lawns), it looks for fiber and its laxative properties. If your cat is heading for more prickly grasses (like the ones on the curb), it means your cat needs nutrients to cure an upset stomach.

What happens after my cat eats grass?

If your cat needs the grass for an upset stomach, it may vomit soon after eating the grass. This is purposeful so that anything that made her feel uncomfortable can be eliminated. The digestive system of cats does not contain the enzymes necessary to enable them to induce vomiting on their own. Eating a large amount of spiky blades of grass will help them vomit again naturally.

You can see on closer inspection Inspecting Your Cat's Vomitthat it contains mouse meat, feathers, parasites, and even tails or teeth. These objects irritated your cat's intestines and activated their instinct to eat grass. After a cat has eaten an irritant, it is always better to drive the substance off than to leave it in there. If all of this waste remains in your digestive tract, it can create problems.

If you have no control over what is being spread on the lawns around your home, consider investing in a wheatgrass grow kit for your cat. This is the perfect solution to make sure your cat only eats grass that has not been tainted with fertilizers and pesticides.