Cats do a lot of weird things. One of the biggies is eating grass, often to throw it up just a few minutes later. Why do they do that? THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED!
The juices in grass contain folic acid, a vitamin essential to a cat's well-being. Folic acid, also present in the mother cat's milk, aids the production of oxygen in the cat's bloodstream. A folic acid deficiency may lead to anemia, and a young cat's growth can be stunted if she doesn't get enough of it. Cats eat grass as a natural laxative. It may add fiber and bulk to their diet, helping them pass worms or fur through their intestinal tract. Some experts believe cats eat grass to settle their stomachs, much as humans pop an antacid tablet.
Cats eat grass as a natural laxative. It may add fiber and bulk to their diet, helping them pass worms or fur through their intestinal tract. Some experts believe cats eat grass to settle their stomachs, much as humans pop an antacid tablet.
After munching away on grass, a short time later, cats inevitably upchuck those greens. Not because they're gagging on the veggie flavor. It's because cats' systems do not have the correct enzymes to digest plant matter. By regurgitating grass, the cat also expels other indigestible items she may have eaten -- which could include fur balls from grooming, or feathers and bones from any prey she has consumed. Clearing her digestive tract this way is healthy for the cat. It alleviates any feeling of discomfort, even if the process, and its end-products, may repulse her owner. So don't punish your cat for upchucking!
Eating grass is typically not harmful. If you have an outdoor cat though, you wouldn’t want her eating grass that has been chemically treated. The safest way to provide grass for your cat is to grow a pot of it for her. You can either purchase a “kitty greens” kit at your local pet product store or grow your own using rye, wheat or oat seeds. In fact, providing your cat with some safe kitty greens may help prevent her from nibbling on dangerous houseplants – which ARE toxic to cats.
