We all know how much cats like to eat meat, but it can seem very strange to see your cat eating grass. If they spend a lot of time outside, you’ve probably seen them feasting on foliage?
But is it really for taste? In this article, I tell you all about this eating habit of the cat
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Why do cats eat grass?
Cats eat grass naturally and in small amounts and this is nothing to worry about as it is safe for the cat. In fact, the grass is beneficial for the cat because it gives them several things justifying why they eat it.
To facilitate their digestion
Cats often get hairballs stuck in their stomachs because they stick up with their tongues and often swallow hair. The herb aids in digestion and eliminates hair. Broad-stranded grass has a laxative effect, while narrow-stranded grass improves digestion.
The laxative effect stimulates intestinal transit and helps to evacuate these elements while preventing potential constipation. This is called the cat’s purge. Without this purge, your cat would have problems with vomiting and even diarrhea in some cases, because it would have a throat or stomach clogged with hair.
In case of foreign element stuck
Cats can sometimes only eliminate foreign material by vomiting. They will then eat a lot of grass until they vomit to eliminate them. Outdoor cats are often exposed to elements that sometimes go into their body such as earth or bits of pebbles.
However, indoor cats can also eat grass to expel harmful substances such as household products.
To fill nutritional gaps
Cats can eat grass to fill in the lack of folic acid which helps in the formation of these cells and tissues. Grass juice is very rich in folic acid. If your cat exhibits pathological behavior with grass, this is likely the cause.
If this is the case, the problem may come from his diet, which will have to be adapted, or from his organism, in which case a veterinarian must be consulted to treat it, it may be, for example, parasites that feed on these nutrients.
What precautions to take?
While the grass itself is absolutely harmless to your cat, however, possible pesticides applied to it can contaminate it and cause it to cough and vomit .
Take catnip
You can then give him some catnip to make sure he doesn’t ingest anything harmful. This is particularly recommended for indoor cats and for outdoor cats with very close crop fields.
And if there are no crop fields near your house, there is little chance that it will become contaminated with natural grass. There are even plants that are poisonous to cats, so make sure the ones in your home are safe for him.
Take grasses to germinate
You can also go to a pet store and pick up ready-to-germinate grasses from the pet store. By going to a pet store, you will have many elements allowing cats to purge.
Balance his ration
If your cat often eats grass, it is because he has a diet that does not suit him and is indigestible. Make sure it has enough protein, minerals and fiber. Especially if it’s an indoor cat that doesn’t eat mice and birds that brings it all of these things.
Why Cats Eat Grass: The Final Word
Cats eat it to purge themselves and ensure proper intestinal function without foreign elements. As long as the grass is healthy and pesticide-free, it’s safe, and cats instinctively know which to choose.