Cat Behaviour: Why Do Cats Eat Grass?

It’s summertime, which means that many cat owners will be allowing their feline friends to play outside in the yard. Not only do cats like to play and explore outside, but they also like to spend time nibbling on blades of grass. This behaviour is rather odd because our feline friends are mainly carnivorous… so why do cats eat grass?

Digestion: Because grass does not digest well in our feline friends’ bodies, they will choose to eat it to help them to regurgitate things such as excess fur or inedible objects such as feathers. Therefore, if your cat ever begins feasting on grass, and then immediately vomits the grass back up, it could be because he’s trying to help aide a stomach ache.

Extra Vitamins and Minerals: Despite being indigestible, it’s believed that some cats will still choose to nibble on grass to get the health benefits from it, such as Vitamins A and D, and some trace minerals. Cats may be trying to regulate their diet by getting nutrients that they are lacking in their everyday diet.

Taste: One final reason why some cats eat grass is because they like the taste. Although this may seem strange, every cat is different, and perhaps your kitty just loves the fresh taste of grass.

Overall, grass isn’t harmful for our cats to eat, and if they do choose to eat grass, it’s most likely to help them ease digestion. However, you should be cautious about the grass that your cat is eating. You want to make sure that the grass doesn’t have harmful chemicals on it such as pesticide or weed killer. If this worries you, consider planting cat grass in a small plant pot and place it either in your home or outside on your patio.

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